Cleopatra (1963)

Cleopatra (1963)

Really two films in one the first being vastly superior to the second more famous half. Before the intermission the initial two hours of this historical drama focuses on Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and his relationship with the titled Queen of Egypt (Elizabeth Taylor). The tempestuous (love affair and) relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony (Richard Burton) though it may have been fascinating to audiences of the time given the off-screen affair between these stars is much less compelling even boring making the overall film only slightly above average despite its limitless budget which helped it earn four Oscars: Color Art Direction-Set Decoration Cinematography Costume Design and Special Effects. Only Harrison’s acting was Oscar nominated and rightfully so as his is easily the best performance in the film which was also nominated for Best Picture Editing Sound and substantially original Musical Score. Harrison was to win the Best Actor Oscar playing Henry Higgins (in his next film My Fair Lady (1964)) a character whose attitude towards women was not unlike Caesar’s. Another noteworthy performance was given by Roddy McDowall as Caesar’s heir Octavian in the film’s second half the best scene of which is his dressing down by Cleopatra near its end. Directed and co-written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (A Letter to Three Wives (1949) & All About Eve (1950)) this 4+ hour version also boasts a cast which includes Hume Cronyn and Martin Landau among others. If not for the director’s (or editor’s?) proclivity for showing every lead character’s prolonged entrance and exit (to showcase the expensive sets?) the film could easily run nearer to 3 hours as one released version does.

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