Cleopatra poster

1963·251 min·Released

Cleopatra

“The motion picture the world has been waiting for!”

Drama
History
Romance

Determined to hold on to the throne, Cleopatra seduces the Roman emperor Julius Caesar. When Caesar is murdered, she redirects her attentions to his general, Marc Antony, who vows to take power—but Caesar’s successor has other plans.

7.1(854 votes)

Popularity5

Videos

Cleopatra Blu-Ray - Official® Trailer [HD]

Cast & Crew

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor

Cleopatra

Richard Burton

Richard Burton

Marcus Antonius

Rex Harrison

Rex Harrison

Julius Caesar

Pamela Brown

Pamela Brown

High Priestess

George Cole

George Cole

Flavius

Hume Cronyn

Hume Cronyn

Sosigenes

Cesare Danova

Cesare Danova

Apollodorus

Kenneth Haigh

Kenneth Haigh

Brutus

Andrew Keir

Andrew Keir

Agrippa

Martin Landau

Martin Landau

Rufio

Roddy McDowall

Roddy McDowall

Octavian - Caesar Augustus

Robert Stephens

Robert Stephens

Germanicus

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John Chard

Written on 9/26/2014

On Your Knees! On your knees! It's something that Cleopatra her self shouts at a stunned Mark Antony, but it could quite literally have been shouted by many in Hollywood at 20th Century Fox as their gargantuan epic threatened to sink them. The trials and tribulations surrounding the film are stuff of legend, all of which makes for a film itself, but I will not go over old ground, there's a couple of great documentaries available out there and they are required viewing. They also help to explain somewhat why Cleopatra is not the genre defining classic many hoped it would be. Truth is is that no film could have lived up to the expectation that surrounded Cleopatra, as it is, with flaws and all, it's still a enjoyably lavish spectacle, harking back to a time when grandiose meant something. In fact a time of film making we could do with in today's day and age of retreads, remakes and soppy sequels. Split in to two narratives, that of Caesar & Cleopatra and Antony & Cleopatra, film basically deals with how Rome sought to conquer Egypt as Cleopatra clung on grimly in power and affairs of the heart. A cast of quality thespians stand straight backed and deliver the plot machinations, set to the backdrop of magnificent ornate sets, period costuming, piercing photography and a pulse pounding musical score. Quite simply the grandeur and scope is stunning in its presentation. Not all the dialogue works, and there are passages of exchanges that come off as undernourished; while soap operatics take a hold in the second part of the film. Yet for the historical epic fan there is just too much that is great for this to be ignored or considered a stinker. From Rex Harrison - Elizabeth Taylor - Richard Burton & Roddy McDowall, to the opulence seeping from every pore, Cleopatra is a joyous eye opening experience. Yes! Flaws and all. 8/10

CinemaSerf

Written on 6/1/2024

An excellent example of what you can do when money is no object - except, here, in the writing department where this is simply no substitute for a succinct and creative hand at the typewriter. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton successfully - if a little too theatrically - carry off their portion of this epic tale of the life of probably the world's most famous woman of antiquity. Rex Harrison, much less so as Caesar - but combined I think this is actually a far better film than the critics at the time declared. The cinematography and scale of the production are unsurpassed as are the costumes, and married with Alex North's suitably orchestral score, you really do get a sense of the opulence and grandeur of Cleopatra's court. Unfortunately, the supporting cast - Roddy McDowell; Martin Landau and Andrew Keir in particular don't quite cut it and so the story sort of fizzles out towards the end. Nonetheless, we will never see the likes of a film like this again and we ought to celebrate that.

Media

8 1/2 and Cleopatra Win Costume Design: 1964 Oscars

8 1/2 and Cleopatra Win Costume Design: 1964 Oscars

"America America" and "Cleopatra" winning Art Direction Oscars®

"America America" and "Cleopatra" winning Art Direction Oscars®

"Cleopatra" winning the Oscar® for Special Effects

"Cleopatra" winning the Oscar® for Special Effects

Hud and Cleopatra Win Cinematography: 1964 Oscars

Hud and Cleopatra Win Cinematography: 1964 Oscars

Dan Ireland on CLEOPATRA

Dan Ireland on CLEOPATRA

Cleopatra Blu-Ray - Official® Trailer [HD]

Cleopatra Blu-Ray - Official® Trailer [HD]