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Cleopatra
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation Search Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation by Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton Rex Harrison Pamela Brown George Cole Search Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton Rex Harrison Pamela Brown George Cole
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Released: 2006-02-07 Rating:  More Details: Cleopatra Cleopatra @Amazon Cleopatra @aStore |
Description
Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Taylor star in one of the greatest screen spectacles ever made - the story of the Queen of the Nile and her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The film is distinguished by superb performances from Burton and Harrison (nominated for an Oscar), but at its center is Elizabeth Taylor in one of the most glamorous roles of her career. Astounding in scope and grandeur, the picture won Oscars for cinematography, sets and special effects. It's famous moments include moviedom's most flamboyant entrance - Cleopatra's dazzling arrival in Rome. Bolstered by a talented supporting cast and utterly stunning backdrops, here is a truly epic portrayal of the woman who conquered two of Rome's greatest soldiers, affected the course of history, and became synonymous with beguiling beauty - Cleopatra.
This 1963 extravaganza, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, is certainly an epic historical drama with all the elements: elaborate sets, intricate costuming, name actors, a factual basis, and an overlong script (just over four hours). But the acting is well performed and the backdrops are lush, making this a film worth seeing. Elizabeth Taylor is Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen who seduces Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) in a political move to hold onto her empire. When Caesar is killed in the Roman Senate, Cleopatra looks to Marc Antony (Richard Burton) for his support, practically enslaving him with her wiles. Taylor is dramatic in her role, at times overly serious, but stunning nonetheless as the woman described as "well versed in the natural sciences and mathematics. She speaks seven languages proficiently. Were she not a woman one would consider her to be an intellectual." While the film does seem to drag at moments, it deserves the four Oscars it won for cinematography, art direction-set direction, costumes, and special effects. Don't confuse this Cleopatra with the 1934 version directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Claudette Colbert. --Jenny Brown
Customer Reviews:
CLEOPATRA DVD
This is the best version of a movie about Cleopatra that I have seen. I saw it back when it was first released in the theater, and this DVD only enhances everything I remember about the movie. I recommend it highly to anyone who either enjoys Elizabeth Taylor movies and/or movies about Cleopatra. Thanks again for having it available for purchase.
Lavish and thoroughly entertaining; all bask in the glory of the Queen!
I've been a fan of the swords and sandals epics for a long time now. Sure, they aren't all great films, but for the most part they are all entertaining to say the least ("ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?"). When you add a layer of `biopic' on top of that, you have really peeked my interest. Throw the deliciously captivating Elizabeth Taylor in the mix and I am salivating in my seat.
I'll take four hours of that please!
Now, I was thoroughly entertained when watching `Cleopatra', but as my opening paragraph outlines for you, that is not something that should be a shock. This film is right up my ally. The four hour running time may be daunting, but I nestled in my bed (forget the couch) on a rainy Saturday afternoon and just soaked it all in. Despite my thorough enjoyment, I must say that this film was not everything it could have been.
Let's start with the good.
When you think of beautiful and lavish set pieces (which are total requirements for any epic worth its weight) you automatically think of `Cleopatra'. The film is one eye-popping image after another. The costumes are perfectly tailored to embellish the beauty of the stars (talk about three beautiful people) and the scenery is so worth chewing on that at times you can be drawn away from the events as your eyes focus in on the gorgeous surroundings. When you add to that sharp editing and crisp music you have a stunning and captivating canvas. I also loved the overall tone of this film. Some have complained that it was too `talky', but politics are some of the most important and interesting aspects of films of this nature and thus they need to be discussed. In fact, it can be these `politics' that carry the entire film (just look at `Spartacus', a film that fails miserably in scenes that DON'T involve the political side of things). I actually admired the script here, the way in which it is woven, truly fleshing out the entirety of this gigantic story.
One of my issues is the tonal shift when the two halves of the story break. The first half of the film concerns Cleopatra and her husband, Caesar. The second half involves Cleopatra and her lover, Mark Antony. For me, the film feels like two separate films. Overall it works, but it does lack fluidity in that department.
You can feel the `shift'.
When you consider the acting, first and foremost SHOULD be Elizabeth Taylor. I mean, she plays Cleopatra, and the films title IS `Cleopatra'. Sadly, when I think of the acting in `Cleopatra' I immediately think of Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. The fact remains that, while the film is about Cleopatra, the true stars are the men who fell under her spell. Taylor is stunning to watch, but she also overworks a lot of her scenes. Harrison and Burton on the other hand completely melt into their roles and present to us two distinctly dynamic (and extremely memorable) portrayals of these two very important historical figures. Taylor gets lost in the shuffle, and thus Cleopatra as a woman gets lost because we are so enamored with Caesar and Mark.
In the end I can recommend and revel in this films majesty because, despite a few flaws, the film really is captivating and beautifully done. Sure, it can feel longwinded at times, but isn't that what you expect from any biographical epic trying to give us `what we paid for'?
Talk like an Egyptian. 
'Cleopatra' is a four-hour, very talky and plotty yarn, set against some of the most elaborate and exquisite scenery ever put on film. It is also the ultimate example of Hollywood excess and movie star ego. With a very literate script and an outstanding cast, 'Cleopatra' should have been a blockbuster, and yet it comes across as a lumbering behemoth, beautiful and intelligent while also plodding and distant. Scene after scene goes by, with endless dialogue and exposition but very little action. It's as if Manckiewicz were filming a stage production, rather than a big budget feature. Kudos to the set and costume designers for their almost overwhelmingly elaborate creations, and extra kudos to Rex Harrison for virtually carrying the first two hours of the film. Cleopatra is a relic of a Hollywood age gone by; the age of the epic specatcle. Though worth the 4 hour time investment, it is not one of the all-time greats, and yet its sheer star power in the form of Elizabeth Taylor makes it a classic despite itself.
very enjoyable
From a technical view, very interesting to see an example of things that can be accomplished when trying larger scale approaches. I understand it can sometimes be very different, easier or challenging, from what little i'd read. But not much help there, just more wide eyed newbie tech chatter.
The movie itself, i loved it but still need to watch it a bunch more times to really appreciate it. Great so far and glad i got it as don't get to see it on TV often where it's a longer film (4 hours).
Nice change too from back in school days, drudge digging that stuff out of history books (actual work involved) anyway good story great visually. Truly the worst thing i shouldn't perpetuate all the heat it took when it came out; hear it got a some bad press. Go into it open, up for an epic, tells a great story.
A grand tribute to a time from history
Cleopatra is a majestic and sumptuous film. The stage sets of Rome and Alexandria are nothing short of amazing, especially given that none of it is computer generated. For anyone who has watched the HBO series "Rome" this will be a treat to watch. The HBO series portrayed a grittier side of Roman life, and never dealt at all with the two years Cleopatra lived in Rome with Julius Caesar so watching "Cleopatra" is almost like seeing six more episodes of the series with the focus on life in Alexandria where the Macedonian lived.
Elizabeth Taylor puts in a fine performance as Cleopatra, as does Rex Harrison portraying Julius Caesar, Roddy McDowell playing Octavian, and Richard Burton as Antony. Relying mostly on Plutarch's "Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans" Cleopatra covers the years that she knew Caesar before his death, and then up to her own death. The difference between HBO's representation of her apparently debaucherous final years living with Antony are in striking contrast to the elegant presentation we have here. It is constantly mentioned in writings about her that she was a highly educated woman who knew many languages. And if she were living today she would have mingled easily with the intelligentsia. It would have been interesting to see more of this side of her. She was not known to have been overly beautiful, but it is this glamorous angle that is usually presented. Perhaps someday someone will make a film from this point of view. Elizabeth Taylor, however, does convey convincingly a complex woman who lives with great fervor.
This movie is 248 minutes long but I wished that there had been more. I would have liked to see a reconstruction of the Library of Alexandria before it was burnt, and more about Cleopatra's life before she met Julius Caesar.
This movie is a magnificent spectacle of pomp and pageantry. Some of the sets are nearly beyond belief, such as the grandeur of the palaces of Alexandria, and the grand procession of Cleopatra's entrance into Rome as she is regally attired and perched on the extended legs of a colossal black stoned sphinx being pulled through the gates of Rome by hundreds of men. The quality of this DVD is also splendid and richly showcases the breathtaking colors and textures of the film. It is hard to imagine that this movie is almost fifty years old.
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