Cleopatra
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Movie Reviews of Cleopatra
Movie Review: BETTER THAN YOU THINK
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not ashamed to admit I love this film and always have--even though at times I have been teased, ridiculed and even insulted for it. It came out when I was a highschool freshman, and I instantly fell in love with Liz. That's one place to start in considering this movie: at the time it was made, Liz (as Elizabeth Taylor was known in all the media) was at the absolute peak of her luscious physical perfection. It is entirely possible that there has never been a more gorgeous creature on two legs on the face of the earth. The fact that she looks stunning in such extreme makeup and headdresses says a lot. Then there's the impeccable credentials of the writer/director, Joseph L. Mankeiwicz, who had won Oscars for writing and directing two years in a row (A Letter to Three Wives, 1949; and All About Eve, 1950). While there is no denying the eye-popping visuals of this film--the costumes, the sets, the action sequences, and (of course) Liz Taylor in her prime--it has a literary and witty screenplay that seldom is given the credit it deserves. One example: When Cleopatra compliments Marc Antony on his Greek-style garb aboard her barge, he explains, "I have a fondness for almost all Greek things," to which she retorts, "Being an almost all-Greek thing, I am flattered," a reference to the historical Cleopatra's lineage. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won four. Contrary to popular belief, it did NOT lose money, even though it was the most expensive film made up to that time (and, if you adjust for inflation, of all time). When it opened in the original reserved-seat roadshow run, it was sold out for four solid months. The New York Times gave it a glowing review.
So why is it thought of by many as a flop? The major problem was with the advance hype the movie generated, a phenomenon that has never been matched. When Fox advertised it with the slogan, "The motion picture the world has been waiting for," that was no idle hype. The movie was literally years in the making, for most of which time you couldn't pass a magazine rack without seeing at least a half-dozen publications with Liz and Burton on the cover. Their adulterous affair (both were married, he to Sybil, she to Eddie Fisher) during the filmmaking process made headlines and marked the true birth of the paparazzi in Italy, where it was filmed. It even earned a condemning editorial in the Vatican newspaper (although not, as sometimes reported, by the Pope himself). The film was parodied on prime-time television even before it opened. As a result, many people were just waiting for a chance to pounce on it, eager to denounce it as a flop, regardless of how it turned out.
Cleopatra also suffered because of its great length. It is reported that Mankeiwicz wanted to edit it as two three-hour films, but that Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck would not permit it, resulting in a film that ran slightly over four hours--for a few weeks, at least. It debuted in New York at four hours and six minutes; by the time it opened elsewhere, it had been trimmed by 22 minutes. And as its first run continued for the following months, it got progressively shorter as exhibitors whittled it down to allow for more showings per day. I went to see it four times during its first run, and each time after the first would realize that more scenes were missing.
This DVD release, like the original VHS release (and first telecast), restores the film to its original premiere running time of 246 minutes, including scenes that moviegoers outside of New York never got to see in the theater. The original three-disc DVD version (apparently available now only through used DVD outlets) included an outstanding AMC-produced documentary on the incredible history of this film, which is well worth seeking out. But the film really speaks for itself. Divorced from the hype and scandal and rumors, it stands up very well on its own. I have shown it to numerous younger viewers who have never seen it, and they are without exception delighted by it. The performances are uniformly strong (especially Rex Harrison and Roddy McDowall), the production values unexcelled, and the technical transfer is stunning in both video and audio (Alex North's exquisite score is among the films greatest assets). Forget the urban myths; this is a great flick.
Movie Review: Corrected Running Times for the Five Star and Awards Series DVDs
Summary: 5 Stars
There seems to be a great deal of confusion regarding the various running times attributed to "Cleopatra", and which version is available on home video as of early 2011. Let me try to help those readers who have been seeking to purchase the most complete version possible.
When director and editor Joseph L. Mankiewicz first screened the rough cut for Fox executives back in 1963, the film ran approximately 5 and a half hours. Mankiewicz conceived the film being released as two separate features, the first detailing Cleopatra's relationship with Julius Caesar and the second exploring her liaison with Marc Antony. Fox head Darryl F. Zanuck adamantly refused Mankiewicz' plan: Fox had so much money invested in the film that the studio was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Zanuck wanted to rush the film into theatres quickly and recoup as much money as possible while the public was still fascinated by the real-life romantic scandal taking place between Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra) and Richard Burton (Antony). He ordered Mankiewicz to edit the film down to a cut that ran a little over four hours (248 minutes). This is the version that was shown to reviewers and early "roadshow" audiences.
However, when it came time to send the film into general release, theatre owners complained that the movie was so long, it could only be shown once per evening. Zanuck agreed and had the film cut again, down to about 222 minutes, and then a second time to a little over three hours in length (192 minutes) so that it could be shown twice per evening and thus, theoretically, bring in twice as much money, and quickly. This 192 minute theatrical version thus became the most complete edition of the film that most original audiences ever saw.
However, with the advent of the home video revolution and the consequent revival of interest in the film, Fox searched their vaults and came up with a print of the four hour "roadshow" edition, and it is this print which is currently available on DVD in both the out-of-print 3-disc "Five Star Collection" and the current 2-disc "Award Series" releases. Although various press releases advertise the DVDs as running 193 minutes (including, at present, the Amazon Item Descriptions), they are incorrect. The DVDs run approximately 248 minutes, with the feature spread out over two discs. (The third disc in the "Five Star Collection" edition contains a wealth of bonus materials, including vintage multiple trailers and newsreel clips, an extensive gallery of publicity stills and portraits, and best of all, the AMC original full-length documentary, "Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood.")
So ... if you've been avoiding a purchase because you want the most extensive cut of the film available, wait no longer! 50 years after the film was released, with the hullaballoo over the film's cost and the scandal over the Taylor-Burton affair no longer dominating viewers' minds, "Cleopatra" is definitely worth a look. The performances are not nearly as bad as the initial reviewers claimed (Taylor and Burton were both lambasted while Rex Harrison received an Oscar nomination and won the National Board of Review's Best Actor accolade), and the production values are dazzling. "Cleopatra" may have cost a mint and nearly sunk Fox financially, but for sheer visual spectacle it can't be beat. The film scooped up Oscars for Cinematography, Art Direction & Set Decoration, Costumes and Special Effects, and it deserved every one of them. It also should have garnered Roddy McDowall the Supporting Actor Oscar, but Fox mistakenly designated him as a Leading Actor, and he failed to be nominated by the Academy in that category.
As a postscript, I should mention that the search for the missing footage that would restore Mankiewicz' original vision of the film as a five-and-a-half hour blockbuster continues as of this writing. Hopefully, we will all someday see "Cleopatra" as it was intended to be seen. Until then, the 248 edition currently available is definitely recommended.
Movie Review: One of A Kind Love Affair!
Summary: 5 Stars
Amazing film, but how do you write a movie review for a four hour movie?? I won't write a plot summary but instead take a look at the actors, actresses and the themes in the film.
A War Movie:
In many ways this film is a war film. We have Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and his lieutenant Ruffio (Martin Landau) grinning while they've put down a civil war by Pompeo. Amazing scenes of the Roman legions, the burning of the funeral pyres.
Later in the film, Marc Antony (Richard Burton) is convinced to fight against Octavius (Roddy McDowell) because he is in love with Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) and wants to have Egypt as their own empire. He loses miserably on the high seas. The burning boats, his abandonment of his men for Cleo's barge -- just amazing imagery.
Political Movie:
The scenes of the Senate in Rome are interesting. Great to see several character actors I've seen in other films and Carroll O'Connor as one of the assassins of Caesar who would later make TV history in the 70s as Archie Bunker. The arguing as they held their red and white togas in check was humorous. The intrigue as Octavius convinces one and all that a fight with Egypt is the way to go.
The spearing of Cleo's advisor during this near riot outside the Senate building was horrific and true to form. William Shakespeare could not have written this better (oh wait, he did! But I digress.).
Romantic Film:
Of course the themes of love pepper this film, but more than what you might think. Rex Harrison as Caesar suffering from seizures, falling for Cleopatra and she having a son by him, all very nice.
Liz Taylor plays several nearly nude scenes during the time with Caesar that are quite tasteful yet sexy -- the bath with the vestal virgins, the wild dancing & dinner entertainment, the colors and the pageantry. Amazing.
As we know the story of the suicides of Antony and Cleopatra does not make the scenes less horrific and interesting. And Roddy McDowell as the crestfallen Octavius who wanted more than anything to march her through Rome for political purpose was dashed.
Pageantry:
The pageantry of the film, the amazing costumes and the tightly controlled production values with the cast of thousands (no CGI in those days) with war ships and amazingly realistic sets, it's no wonder that 20th Century Fox nearly went bankrupt with such an amazing film.
Cleopatra must have been in at least ten or fifteen different gowns and dresses, and many wigs, jewelry, bracelets and necklaces to set back Tiffany's! I believe the film won an Academy Award for Best Costumes.
Bottom Line:
This film has everything -- from costumes and designs, from war and strategy, political intrigue, in-fighting, betrayal, death by sword or suicide, and yes a bit of overacting on the parts of Burton and Taylor. But hey, it's an epic! Highly recommended.
Movie Review: A Spectacle that Time has Favored.
Summary: 5 Stars
I can remember as a 19 year old in the early 1960's all of the media frenzy involving the making of this film and it's two principle players: Taylor and Burton. They were household words and having one of their countless affairs, off and on again. If my memory serves me, lovely Liz was still married to Eddie Fisher (in name only) and nearly died during the filming of "Cleopatra." No film since "Gone With the Wind" drew more public attention and the expectations were just too high when finally released. The critical reviews were mostly negative, dwelling more on the troubled making of the film, rather that the film itself. This surely affected the public at the box office, and it was far from a smash hit.
But this film is a legend and a real "gem" that time has favored over the years. It is well-crafted by the great Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and takes it's place with the great epics of movie history like: "Ben Hur, "Spartacus," and "Quo Vadis." This is one of Mankiewicz"s better films, his second effort at a Roman theme since filming Brando in "Julius Ceasar" in 1953. Our fascination with Roman history continues to this day with the brilliant HBO series: "Rome."
Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz is one of those greats of movie history, both as a director and screenwriter. A collection of his films is essential to any real film collection. I got hooked on Mankiewicz after seeing "A Letter to Three Wives" for the first time. His films are a proud part of my film collection, and "Clepatra" is one of my favorites.
Movie Review: Entertainment and Scholarship
Summary: 5 Stars
This 1963 film from 20th Century Fox, albeit oboviously compressed in time, offers a great opportunity for insight into the classic struggle of Rome's movement from a Republic to rule by dictatorship. Subtle references such as Cleopatra's teasing of Caesar's balding by referencing his cognomen (nickname) "Julius" (means full head of hair), the burning of the great library of Alexandria, and the propaganda used by rullers of the time (Cleopatra claiming to be Isis and Caesar claiming to be related to Venus through Aeneas), give opportunity for scholarship; all the while being thoroughly entertained. Scenes like the death of Pompey, the mention of Caesar's pride, his 10th Legion, Cleopatra's references to Caesar's writings "Commentarii", Cleopatra's grand entrance into Rome with her son, Caesarian, the naval battle at Actium between Antony and Octavian, are all rich with generally accurate historical facts. The Latin word for school and fun are the same..."ludus, -i". This cinema offers both.