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This article is about the 1963 film. For other uses, see Cleopatra (disambiguation). Cleopatra (in Greek, Κλεοπάτρα) may refer to Historical women Cleopatra I of Egypt Cleopatra II
Cleopatra

original movie poster
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Produced by Walter Wanger
Written by Carlo Mario Franzero
Sidney Buchman
Ben Hecht
Ranald MacDougall
Joseph L. Joseph Leo Mankiewicz ( February 11, 1909 – February 5, 1993) was an American Academy Award -winning director Walter Wanger ( July 11, 1894 – November 18, 1968) was an Academy Award -winning American Film producer Sidney Robert Buchman ( March 27, 1902 &ndash August 23, 1975) was a Film Writer and producer who worked on Ben Hecht (pronounced hekt) ( February 28, 1894 &ndash April 18, 1964) was an American screenwriter director producer playwright Ranald MacDougall ( March 10, 1915 - December 12, 1973) was an American Screenwriter who scripted such films as Mankiewicz
Starring Elizabeth Taylor
Richard Burton
Rex Harrison
Roddy McDowall
Martin Landau
Hume Cronyn
George Cole
Music by Alex North
Cinematography Leon Shamroy
Jack Hildyard
Editing by Dorothy Spencer
Elmo Williams
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) June 12, 1963
Running time Premiere version:
243 Min
General release:
192 Min
Director's cut:
320 Min
Language English
Budget $44 million
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Cleopatra is a 1963 film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall ( September 17, 1928 – October 3, 1998) was an English -born Martin Landau (born June 20, 1931) is an Academy Award -winning American Film and television Actor. Hume Blake Cronyn, OC ( July 18, 1911 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian - American Actor of George Edward Cole OBE (born April 22, 1925 in Tooting, London, England) is an English Actor. Alex North ( December 4, 1910 – September 8, 1991) was an American Composer responsible for the first Jazz Leon Shamroy ( 16 July 1901, New York City &ndash 7 July 1974, Los Angeles) was an American film cinematographer Jack Hildyard, BSC ( March 17, 1908, London &mdashSeptember 1990 London was a British Cinematographer who worked on more than Dorothy Spencer (February 2 1909-May 23 2002 was the multiple Academy Award -nominated American Film editor most recognized for editing several of director Elmo Williams (born April 30, 1913 in Lone Wolf Oklahoma) is an Academy Award -winning veteran film and television editor director producer Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The year 1963 in film involved some significant events Events January 28 - Filming begins on Dr Joseph Leo Mankiewicz ( February 11, 1909 – February 5, 1993) was an American Academy Award -winning director The screenplay was adapted by Sidney Buchman, Ben Hecht, Ranald MacDougall, and Joseph L. Mankiewicz from a book by Carlo Mario Franzero. Sidney Robert Buchman ( March 27, 1902 &ndash August 23, 1975) was a Film Writer and producer who worked on Ben Hecht (pronounced hekt) ( February 28, 1894 &ndash April 18, 1964) was an American screenwriter director producer playwright Ranald MacDougall ( March 10, 1915 - December 12, 1973) was an American Screenwriter who scripted such films as Joseph Leo Mankiewicz ( February 11, 1909 – February 5, 1993) was an American Academy Award -winning director The film starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall and Martin Landau. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall ( September 17, 1928 – October 3, 1998) was an English -born Martin Landau (born June 20, 1931) is an Academy Award -winning American Film and television Actor. It was photographed in 70 mm Todd-AO by Leon Shamroy and Jack Hildyard. Todd-AO is an extremely high definition Widescreen Film format developed in the mid 1950s

Cleopatra chronicles the struggles of Cleopatra, the young Queen of Egypt, to resist the imperialist ambitions of Rome. Cleopatra VII Philopator (in Greek, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ; January 69 BC &ndash 30 BC was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

Contents

Production

The film is infamous for nearly bankrupting 20th Century Fox. Originally budgeted at $2 million[1], it was made at a cost of $44 million — the equivalent of more than $300 million in 2007 dollars (see the list of most expensive films to produce), making the movie still the second-most costly ever produced worldwide and the most expensive in United States. This is a non-definitive list of the most expensive films, both non-adjusted (top and adjusted (bottom for Inflation. This was partly due to the fact that the film's elaborate, complicated sets, costumes and props had to be constructed twice, once during a botched shoot in London and once more when the production relocated to Rome. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

Filming began in London in 1960. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mankiewicz was brought into the production after the departure of the first director (Rouben Mamoulian), who had in mind African-American actress Dorothy Dandridge for the lead role. Rouben Mamoulian ( October 8, 1897 &ndash December 4, 1987) was an Armenian - American film and Theatre African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Dorothy Jean Dandridge ( November 9, 1922 &ndash September 8, 1965) was an American Actress and Popular singer [2] He inherited a film which was already $5 million over budget and had no usable footage to show for it. This was in part because the actors originally hired to play Julius Caesar (Peter Finch) and Marc Antony (Stephen Boyd) left due to other commitments. This article is about the actor For the poet see Peter Finch (poet. Stephen Boyd ( July 4, 1931 &ndash June 2, 1977) born William Millar, was an Irish -born actor from Glengormley Mankiewicz was later fired during the editing phase, only to be rehired when no one else could piece the film together.

Elizabeth Taylor was awarded a record setting contract of $1 million. This amount eventually swelled to $7 million due to the delays of the production, equivalent to over $47 million today. Taylor became very ill during the early filming, at one point was even rushed to an emergency room where a tracheotomy had to be performed to save her life. Tracheotomy and tracheostomy are Surgical procedures on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (the windpipe [The resulting scar can be seen in some shots. ] All of this resulted in the film being shut down. The production was moved to Rome after six months as the English weather proved detrimental to her recovery, as well as being responsible for constantly deteriorating the costly sets and exotic plants required for the production (the English sets were utilised for the spoof Carry On Cleo). Carry On Cleo is the tenth film in the ''Carry On'' film series and was released in 1964. During filming Taylor met Richard Burton and the two began a very public affair. Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. The love affair between Taylor and Richard Burton made headlines worldwide. Moral outrage over the scandal brought negative publicity to an already troubled production.

The cut of the film which Mankiewicz screened for the studio was six hours long. This was cut to four hours for its initial premiere, but the studio demanded (over the objections of Mankiewicz) that the film be cut once more, this time to just barely over three hours to allow theaters to increase the number of showings per day. Due to the cuts certain details are left out of the film, such as Rufio's death. [3] Mankiewicz unsuccessfully attempted to convince the studio to split the film in two in order to preserve the original cut of the film. The film has now been released to DVD in its 243-minute premiere version, and efforts are under way to locate the remaining footage.

The arduous process and enormous cost of completing Cleopatra resulted in the end of the sword and sandal epic. Sword and sandal films or pepla (singular= peplum) are a Genre of adventure or Fantasy films that have subjects set in Biblical

Synopsis

The film opens with the defeat of Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation The Battle of Pharsalus was a decisive battle of Caesar's Civil War. Caesar pardons the captured officers while the dead are cremated.

Pompey has fled the scene and makes his way by ship to Egypt, where he hopes to enlist the support of the young Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII and his sister Cleopatra. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator ( Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Θεός Φιλοπάτωρ, Ptolemaĩos Theós Philopátōr, lived 62 BC/61 BC– Cleopatra VII Philopator (in Greek, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ; January 69 BC &ndash 30 BC was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt Pompey believes they will come to his aid as he was on good terms with their father. Ptolemy Neos Dionysos Theos Philopator Theos Philadelphos ( Ptolemaĩos Néos Diónusos Theós Philopátōr Theós Philádelphos) New Dionysus, God Beloved

Caesar follows Pompey to Egypt and arrives in Alexandria in early October, 48 BC. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Gaius Julius Caesar, Ptolemy's advisors believe the Romans will fight their way to the palace, thus enraging the Egyptian people against them, but Caesar orders his retinue to put away their swords and instead shop their way through the crowd in the market. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Caesar enters the palace and meets the boy Pharaoh, along with his advisors, who seem to do most of the thinking for the Pharaoh. As a gesture of 'goodwill' from the Egyptians, Caesar is presented with the severed head of Pompey, who Ptolemy had ordered killed because his advisors had said it would please Caesar. As Caesar settles in at the palace, Apollodorus arrives disguised as a rug peddler bearing what he says is a gift from Cleopatra. After dismissing his officers, Caesar unrolls the rug and finds Cleopatra concealed within. After a short, hostile but not altogether unenlightening conversation, Cleopatra leaves for her chambers with an escort of Roman soldiers. Later, however, she returns, escorted by Apollodorus, to a spyhole in the head of a Sphinx which is carved into one wall of Caesar's rooms and listens to Caesar's briefing about her from his generals.

She is still spying on Caesar when he dismisses his generals, then suffers from an epileptic seizure. Epilepsy is a common chronic Neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Days later, in her baths, she has a heated audience with Caesar in which she demands access to her throne room and warns Caesar that her brother has surrounded the palace with his soldiers and that he is vastly outnumbered. Caesar demurs her warnings as factors already taken into consideration, and insists that he can hold the wall for the time being.

Caesar orders the Egyptian fleet burned so he can gain control of the harbor. A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored The fire spreads to the city burning many buildings, including the famous Library of Alexandria. The Royal Library of Alexandria or Ancient Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was once the largest library in the ancient world Cleopatra angrily confronts Caesar about the fire, but he refuses to pull Roman troops away from the fight with Ptolemy's forces. She rages at him, and somewhere in the middle of the fight, Caesar begins kissing her to silence her; it is obvious from their comments that he thinks to make her submissive to his will through sex. She vows he won't like her this way, but before he can respond, Ptolemy's troops attack one of the palace gates. The Romans succeed, and the armies of Mithridates arrives to reinforce the Roman legions. Mithridates or Mithradates (in Greek, Mιθριδάτης or Mιθράδάτης) is the Hellenistic form of an Iranian Theophoric

The following day, Caesar passes judgment regarding the conflict between Ptolemy and Cleopatra. He sentences Ptolemy's lord chaimberlain to death for arranging an assassination attempt against Cleopatra, and rules that Ptolemy and his tutor shall be sent out to join Ptolemy's vastly outnumbered troops. Though not to be executed, it is certain that both will die. Cleopatra is crowned sole Queen of Egypt. Soon afterwards, Caesar marvels at the largesse Cleopatra has shown him, at the wealth of Egypt; they discuss their future together, and she tells him of her fertility and promises to bear him sons.

They later continue their discussion at Alexander's tomb. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' She dreams of ruling the world together with Caesar and informs him that she has become pregnant. Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Once his son is born, Caesar accepts him publicly, which becomes the talk of Rome and the Senate. The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome.

Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) confronts Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison)
Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) confronts Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison)

Caesar now returns to Rome for his triumph, while Cleopatra remains behind in Egypt. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and A Roman triumph ( la [[wikttriumphus triumphus]], Old Latin la triumpus, attested as the exclamation la TRIVMPE in the Carmen Arvale; via Two years pass before the two would see each other again. After he is made dictator for life, Caesar sends for Cleopatra to come to Rome. She arrives in Rome in a lavish procession, and wins the adulation of the Roman people. The Senate is growing discontent amid rumors that Caesar wishes to be made King, which is anathema to the Romans.

On the Ides of March, the Senate is preparing to vote to award Caesar additional powers. The Ides of March ( Latin: Idus Martiae is the name of the date 15 March in the Roman calendar. Despite warnings from his wife Calpurnia and Cleopatra, he is confident of victory and leaves for the Senate. Calpurnia Pisonis ( 1st century BC) daughter of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, was a Roman woman, third and last wife of Julius Caesar Caesar is attacked as he makes his way to the Senate. He is stabbed by various senators and dies at the foot of a statue of Pompey.

After the funeral pyre, Octavian is named as Caesar's heir, not Caesarion, his son by Cleopatra. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was "Heir" and "Heiress" redirect here For the men and women fragrances endorsed by Paris Hilton see Heiress (fragrance. Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion (little Caesar Greek: Πτολεμαῖος ΙΕʹ Φιλοπάτωρ Φιλομήτωρ Καῖσαρ Realizing she has no future in Rome, Cleopatra returns home to Egypt. Caesar's assassins, among them Cassius and Brutus, are killed at the Battle of Philippi, and Marc Antony establishes a second triumvirate with Octavian and Lepidus, a politician with much power. For the Roman consul see Gaius Cassius Longinus (consul 171 BC. For others with this cognomen see Albinus (cognomen. Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (born circa 85 BC died 43 BC was a Roman politician The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (the Second Triumvirate See also the Second Triumvirate (Argentina which held power in 1812 Marcus Aemilius Lepidus ( Latin: M·AEMILIVS·M·F·Q·N·LEPIDVSborn ca 90 BC died 13 BC, was a Patrician Roman politician They decide that the empire will be split between them: Lepidus will receive Africa, Octavian will take Spain and Gaul, while Antony will take control of the eastern provinces. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western The rivalry between Octavian and Antony is becoming apparent.

While planning a campaign against Parthia in the east, Antony realizes he needs money and supplies, and cannot get enough from anywhere but Egypt. Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran After refusing several times to leave Egypt, Cleopatra gives in to his requests and meets him in Tarsus. Tarsus ( Greek Ταρσός is a City, and a large district in Mersin Province, Turkey, from the city of Mersin and near (40

Cleopatra has prepared a lavish feast and a dance in honor of Bacchus. To this feast, she wears a collar of gold coins cast with Caesar's image. Telling Antony that she will return to Egypt at sunrise and warning him against playing in Tarsus while Octavian consolidates his power in Rome, Cleopatra watches him become drunker and drunker. She then signals a slave who has been costumed to be her double to emerge during the Bacchanalia and sneaks out when Antony pounces on the girl. When Antony realizes this, he goes to her chamber and tears down the curtain, demanding that she hear him, that she take him seriously for himself, rather than treat him forever as a shadow of the mighty Caesar. She softens to him, and they make love. It is later that she admits to having seen him during one of his tours in Egypt when she was a child, and having fallen in love with him then. Antony admits to having fallen in love with her during her procession into Rome for Caesar's coronation.

Octavian takes the opportunity to use their affair in his smear campaign against Antony. When Antony must later return to Rome to address the situation brewing there, Octavian traps Antony into a marriage of state to Octavian's sister, Octavia. A marriage of state in ancient use is a diplomatic marriage or union between two members of different Nation-states or internally between two power blocks usually in authoritarian Octavia Minor (69 - 11 BC also known as Octavia the Younger or simply Octavia, was the sister of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus (known also Cleopatra flies into a rage when she learns of the marriage, feeling betrayed.

When he next sees Cleopatra, he is forced to kneel to her in public, and is humbled. She demands that a third of the Empire be awarded to Egypt in return for her aid. Antony acquiesces to her request and divorces Octavia. Octavian clamors for war against Antony and his "Egyptian whore". The Senate votes for war and Octavian murders the Egyptian ambassador, Cleopatra's tutor Sosigenes, on the Senate steps. Sosigenes of Alexandria was named by Pliny the Elder as the Astronomer consulted by Julius Caesar for the design of the Julian calendar.

Richard Burton as Marc Antony
Richard Burton as Marc Antony

The war is decided at the Battle of Actium on the west coast of Greece. The Battle of Actium was the decisive engagement in the Final War of the Roman Republic between the forces of Octavian and the combined forces of Mark Antony Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία After pursuing what he believes to be Octavian's ship, he is trapped by Agrippa and his fleet is scuttled to a ship. Agrippa redirects here For other uses of the name see Agrippa (disambiguation. Seeing Antony's ship burning, Cleopatra assumes him dead and orders the Egyptian forces home. When he realizes that Cleopatra is leaving without him, Antony is enraged and heartbroken. The pair return to Alexandria, where their romance is badly damaged by Antony's realization that he has lost his honour after abondoning his troops to pursue Cleopatra while they are being slaughtered by Augustus' forces, and by the perception that Cleopatra abandoned him. Octavian's army is fast approaching, and Cleopatra somehow manages to convince Antony to retake command of his troops and fight Octavian. Antony's soldiers, however, have lost faith in him after Actium and abandon him during the night; Rufio, the last loyal man in Antony's camp, is killed. Antony tries to goad Octavian into single combat, but is finally forced to flee into the city.

When he returns to the palace, Cleopatra has already gone into hiding at her tomb. Apollodorus, not believing that Antony is worthy of his queen, tells Antony this in such a way that convinces Antony she is dead; he then falls on his own sword, believing he has lost everything. Apollodorus takes the dying Antony to Cleopatra, and he dies in her arms. Before she can even grieve him, however, Octavian's army captures the city and Cleopatra is brought before Octavian as a prisoner.

Octavian makes his intentions clear to Cleopatra: when he returns to Rome in glory, she will be his ultimate prize. He therefore urges her to swear that she will not harm herself. Cleopatra swears the oath, but not before noticing that Octavian wears Pompey's ring on his finger. It is the ring Caesar's daughter gave to Pompey, which was given to Caesar after Pompey's death, and he had in turn given it to his son before his return to Rome. Knowing that Caesarion has been killed, she makes the oath contingent on the life of her son. Octavian, not thinking that she would have any idea that her son is dead, agrees to the condition.

In her chambers, she gives her final orders to her handmaidens and makes preparations for her journey. Begging to be allowed to join her, her handmaidens bring her a basket of figs with an asp concealed within. Ficus is a Genus of about 850 Species of woody Trees Shrubs Vines Epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes in the family Asp is the modern Anglicization of the word Aspis which in Antiquity referred to any one of several Venomous snake species found in the Nile Cleopatra slips her hand inside and is bitten. By the time Agrippa and Octavian come for her, both of her handmaidens have laid their Queen out properly, clothed in the golden costume she had worn during her entrance to Rome, and have been bitten by the asp as well. One is dead; the other, dying. Octavian turns from the room, thwarted and enraged.

Agrippa demands: "Was this well done of your lady?" The dying servant replies: "Extremely well, as befitting the last of so many noble rulers. "

Cast

Soundtrack

Main article: Cleopatra (Soundtrack 1963)

The music of Cleopatra was scored by Alex North. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress Cleopatra VII Philopator (in Greek, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ; January 69 BC &ndash 30 BC was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Marcus Antonius (in Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N ( c January 14 83 BC&ndash August 1, 30 BC known in English as Mark Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall ( September 17, 1928 – October 3, 1998) was an English -born Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Martin Landau (born June 20, 1931) is an Academy Award -winning American Film and television Actor. Hume Blake Cronyn, OC ( July 18, 1911 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian - American Actor of Sosigenes of Alexandria was named by Pliny the Elder as the Astronomer consulted by Julius Caesar for the design of the Julian calendar. Andrew Keir ( April 3, 1926 &ndash October 5, 1997) was a Scottish actor who rose to prominence featuring in a number of films from Agrippa redirects here For other uses of the name see Agrippa (disambiguation. Kenneth Haigh (born March 25, 1931 in Mexborough, Yorkshire) is a British Actor. George Edward Cole OBE (born April 22, 1925 in Tooting, London, England) is an English Actor. Flavius was the name of a Gens in Ancient Rome, meaning "blond" For other persons named Pamela Brown see Pamela Brown (disambiguation. Cesare Danova ( March 1, 1926 - March 19, 1992) born Cesare Deitinger in Bergamo, Italy was a television and screen actor Francesca Annis (born 14 May 1945) is a British actress, particularly well known for her film and television appearances most recently Grégoire Aslan ( 28 March 1908 - 8 January 1982) was an Armenian actor Pothinus (early 1st century BC to 48 or 47 BC a Eunuch, was Regent for Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Peter Grant, ( 5 April 1935 &ndash 21 November 1995) was an English Music manager. The soundtrack of this movie was created by Alex North and was produced in 1963 It was released several times, first as an original album, and later versions were extended. The most popular of these was the Deluxe Edition or 2001 Varèse Sarabande Album.

Reception and Impact

When the end of principal photography was finally in sight, it became clear that in order for Cleopatra merely to break even it would have to be one of the two or three most successful films made up to that time. Cleopatra went on to a $48 million take in North America, making it the highest-grossing film of the year. Twentieth Century Fox's share of the receipts ($26 million) returned just over half of the film's total cost. As a result of the continual pouring of money into the long-delayed production, the studio was forced to undertake drastic retrenchments. Worldwide box-office receipts and television sales eventually recouped most of the film's cost. Meanwhile, Twentieth Century Fox's fortunes were restored with the release of The Sound of Music in 1965, which became one of the most popular films in cinema history. Rodgers and Hammerstein 's The Sound of Music is a Musical film directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews in the lead role

A contributing factor to the film's problems was the hype, both internal and public, which surrounded Cleopatra. Billed as the next great cinematic masterpiece, Fox continued to invest more and more money into the project, confident that audiences would adore it. Yet as production continued to falter, the top studio executives took much more direct and personal control of the project, further complicating the project. Films that were to be funded from the profits of Cleopatra were delayed or canceled, further tying the fate of the studio to the one film. The extensive marketing campaign reflected how optimistic—or desperate—Fox was about the movie, releasing posters with new release dates every few months as production ground on.

When the film was finally released, the problems that had plagued production were finally fully evident. Historians criticized the inaccurate depictions of Octavian as a weak-stomached yet power-mad teenager and disliked the rewrite of how and why Julius Caesar was killed. Stage actors cited the disjointed script and directing styles as the root of the movie's problems (what they were basically seeing is the actors and director improvising for over four hours, since no actual shooting script had ever existed. ) Critics found the acting to be over the top in many scenes, scoffing that it took a special class of film maker to get such great actors to act so badly. And as talented as the actors may have been, the extreme length and breadth of Cleopatra made it difficult for audiences to grasp the general plot and theme; the two halves tending to focus more on Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony, respectively, than on Cleopatra herself.

Part of the fallout of chaotic production was a shifting away from the traditional "studio-system" prevalent in Hollywood up to that time. While studios would continue to finance major films, financial burdens would increasingly be shifted onto independent production companies as a way to buffer the "parent" studio from a loss. Indeed the financial situation at Fox was so dire in the wake of Cleopatra that the studio executives were forced to sell most of the studio's large backlot in Los Angeles to developers. This area today forms the core of the Century City area in Los Angeles.

Awards and nominations

1963 Academy Awards

1963 Golden Globes, USA

References

  1. ^ Null, Christopher. Cleopatra Review
  2. ^ Bogle, Donald. Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography. New York: Amistad. 1997. pgs. 488-89.
  3. ^ Cleopatra from Johnny Web

Also, Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood, a 2001 television documentary

See also

External links

Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Cleopatra VII Philopator (in Greek, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ; January 69 BC &ndash 30 BC was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now The Ptolemaic dynasty (sometimes also known as the Lagids, from the name of Ptolemy I's father Lagus) was a Hellenistic Macedonian royal family Sword and sandal films or pepla (singular= peplum) are a Genre of adventure or Fantasy films that have subjects set in Biblical Caligula is a 1979 Film directed by Tinto Brass, with additional scenes filmed by Giancarlo Lui and Penthouse Heaven's Gate is a 1980 Western movie depicting the Johnson County War, a dispute between land barons and European immigrants in Wyoming
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