Julius Caesar
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.15 You Save: $10.82 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $7.99 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Julius Caesar
Movie Review: A must have for your DVD collection of classic films
Summary: 5 Stars
This magnificent film was made more than 50 years ago but you would hardly notice it except for some minor details like its B&W format.
One possible reason is that it is more a theatrical play than a typical movie. Another, that its plot is more deep and elaborated than the average stories of the films of those times (after all it is based on a Shakespeare's work). But without minimizing the weight of those factors, the most probably reason for the timeless enchant of this version of Julius Caesar is the quality of the actors in charge of the story's major players.
Although Louis Calhern was not considered to be a particularly gifted actor, in this film, as a credible Julius Caesar, he gives us what probably was his most brilliant performance. John Gielgud in the rol of Cassius show us why he will later become one of the great supporting actors of the century. The performance of James Mason -in those times at the peak of his career- as a complex Brutus is just magnificent. But the jewel of the crown is without any doubt the impersonation of Marc Anthony by a young and incredibly gifted Marlon Brando. This magnificent crew makes the difference that allows the viewer to enjoy a real masterpiece.
The 5 stars rating given to this item also includes a recognition to the DVD edition's good quality.
Movie Review: Friends, Romans... lend me your New York accents!
Summary: 5 Stars
That Brando should read Shakespeare is one level of madness. That he should be Marc Anthony in "Julius Caesar" is yet another form of madness. As much as I cringe when he begins his famous speech...(Friends, Romans, countrymen... lend me your ears...), it is Brando who suddenly comes to life and shrugs off Stanley Kowalski (Streetcar Named Desire) and takes on this role with an incredible sense of timing. The supporting cast is about as star studded as it gets - Louie Calhern, James Mason, John Gielgud, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, Edmund Obrian, all nominated for Academy Awards at some point in their careers (or winners). Director, Joe Mankiewwicz wrote "Citizen Kane" and directed "All about Eve," the most nominated film of all time! Miklos Rozsa (Ben Hur) wrote a stirring score. Art direction by Cedric Gibbons (who won for this film) is one of the most nominated Art Directors of all time. DP Joseph Ruttenberg ASC was nominated for his cinematography. And finally, John Houseman ("Minds full of mush!" from the Paper Chase) produced. How much better do you get? You don't! This film is full of surprises in the depth of its performances. For being Shakespeare, it doesn't take a degree in English lit to get it. So get it!Movie Review: Stabbed in the Back
Summary: 5 Stars
I like this film version of Julius Caesar. Metaphorically speaking, Caesar's contemporaries stabbed him in the back while literally stabbing him to death. The assassins' disdain was over Caesar's intentions to introduce radical change to the seat of Roman law. However, the assassins took matters into their own hands and circumvented conventional Roman law. What I like best about this film is Joseph Ruttenberg's cinematography, Miklós Rósza's score, the intelligent and captivating flow of William Shakespeare's dialogue and Brando's convincing performance as Marc Antony juxtaposed against James Mason's conundrum of an intelligent but emotional Brutus. Of coarse this is all made possible by producer John Houseman under the direction of Joseph L. Mankiewicz. This is an incredibly enthralling production and seems to have fallen by the wayside in terms of its cinematic importance. This film seems to have suffered the same fate as Julius Caesar, stabbed in the back by time and remembered in name only. This DVD remedies that fate of posterity.
Movie Review: A Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Arguably this is the best filmed adaptation of Caesar and one of the finest Hollywood versions of any Shakespearean play (produced by John Houseman and directed by Joseph Mankiewicz--no slouches, they). Except for Louis Calhern, who doesn't outlive the Ides of March, the cast--including James Mason (Brutus), John Gielgud (Cassius), and Edmund O'Brien (Casca)--is impeccable. The revelation is, of course, Brando's Antony. His rendering of the funeral oration that turns the masses against the assassins remains spellbinding: the performance that convinced even hardened Brits that Americans--method actors, no less--could play Shakespeare. The disc contains only a few extras: an introduction by TCM's Robert Osborne; an interesting if brief conversation with Dennis Hopper and Laurence Fishburne; a hodgepodge of Shakespearean trailers. The remastering is hardly pristine but nice enough at the price.Movie Review: JOSEPH L. MANKIEWICZ, OPUS 12
Summary: 5 Stars
****1/2 1953. Adapted from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (Shakespeare, William, Works.) and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Five nominations for the Academy awards but only one win in the Best Art Direction category. An all-star cast with Marlon Brando, James Mason, Deborah Kerr, John Gielgud, Louis Calhern, Greer Garson and Edmond O'Brien. The high points of this adaptation are Marlon -Mark Antony- Brando's speech at the Capitol, John -Crassus- Gielgud and James -Brutus- Mason's quarrel before the battle of Philippi and, of course, Louis -Caesar- Calhern's assassination. The quality of this Warner DVD is very good and the 20 minutes interview of Dennis Hopper, Laurence Fishburne and John Avildsen interesting. A DVD for your library.