{"id":39512,"date":"2017-10-25T13:27:54","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T20:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39512"},"modified":"2021-02-03T16:03:51","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T23:03:51","slug":"cleopatra-1963","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39512","title":{"rendered":"Cleopatra (1963)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;A woman, too, must make the barren land fruitful. She must make life grow where there was no life. Just as the Mother Nile feeds and replenishes the Earth, I am the Nile.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Poster-300x228.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-39515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Poster-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Poster-128x97.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Poster-768x583.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Poster.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter helping Queen Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) banish her brother &#8212; Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII (Richard O&#8217;Sullivan) &#8212; and become the sole ruler of Egypt, Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and Cleopatra begin a romance which results in the birth of a boy and joint plans to rule the world. When Caesar is killed on the Ides of March, however, Cleopatra is dismayed to learn that his adopted son Octavian (Roddy McDowell) is next in line as dictator of the Roman Empire. She gains solace and hope in an affair with General Mark Anthony (Richard Burton), but Anthony&#8217;s allegiance to Rome and Egypt remains conflicted.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ancient Greece and Rome<\/li>\n<li>Egypt and Egyptology<\/li>\n<li>Elizabeth Taylor Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Hume Cronyn Films<\/li>\n<li>Jealousy<\/li>\n<li>Joseph L. Mankiewicz<\/li>\n<li>Martin Landau Films<\/li>\n<li>Rex Harrison Films<\/li>\n<li>Richard Burton Films<\/li>\n<li>Roddy McDowell Films<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Star-Crossed Lovers<\/li>\n<li>World Domination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIt&#8217;s impossible not to begin a review of this epic historical drama by noting its infamy &#8212; not only as the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056937\/trivia?item=tr0642648\">costliest movie in Hollywood history<\/a>, but one whose production drama alone could fill a mini-series; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0282417\/?\">indeed, a documentary about the making of the film lasts two hours<\/a> (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/71069\/cleopatra#articles-reviews?articleId=102758\">TCM&#8217;s article <\/a> for a full breakdown of exactly how costs very quickly spiraled out of control). Setting aside its legendary production, however, the film that exists today &#8212; that is, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056937\/trivia?item=tr0614104\">&#8220;full&#8221; four-hour+ version<\/a>, rather than the truncated three-hour+ version that was released in theaters (to the public dismay of writer\/director Manckiewicz and Taylor, among others) &#8212; remains a reasonably engaging (if over-long) saga of opulence, narcissism, treachery, and high drama among the elite ruling class. The Oscar-winning sets, costumes, make-up, art design, and cinematography are reason enough to check this movie out at least once; literally no expense was spared to (re)create a vision of ancient Egypt and Rome fantastic enough to represent the delusional grandeur of such fabled rulers. <\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth Taylor was a notorious diva throughout the making of this film, which most definitely <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/h-IxtDdeL7Y\">translates onto screen<\/a>. To her credit, she puts forth a Cleopatra both hopelessly entitled and surprisingly sympathetic &#8212; albeit not without a healthy dose of campiness; my favorite unintentionally hilarious scenes include her infamous carpet-roll-out emergence, her &#8220;Mother Nile&#8221; speech (see quote above), and her appearance in countless over-the-top outfits and hairstyles. Other performances throughout the film &#8212; this was an all-star cast, for sure &#8212; are fine as well; despite not working from a coherent script, and\/or having much of their scenes left on the cutting room floor, the characters seem reasonably well-formed &#8212; at least, enough to understand the general tenor of the complex, back-stabbing politics at play in this era. <\/p>\n<p>Speaking of politics, watching this film in 2017, one can&#8217;t help taking note of the portrayal of Caesar as a Trump-like dictator. When Caesar complains that he &#8220;must wish what needs commanding&#8221;, one of his senators asks him in horror, &#8220;Do you suggest that the Senate no longer deliberate the welfare of Rome? Do you suggest an end to the process of Roman Law?&#8221; &#8212; to which Caesar replies, &#8220;I must <em>be<\/em> the law!&#8221; without any hint of awareness that his request is unreasonable. When Caesar humble-brags by insisting, &#8220;I want no more meaningful privileges and considerations, no more honors designed to pacify me. I&#8217;d far rather have nothing &#8212; remain what I am at heart, a humble man, anxious only to serve.&#8221;, we once again hear eerie echoes of the current U.S. President (&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/the-fix\/wp\/2016\/07\/18\/donald-trump-is-way-more-humble-than-you-could-possibly-understand\/\">I think I&#8217;m much more humble than you would understand<\/a>,&#8221; Trump stated in all earnestness to Barbara Walters during an interview). <\/p>\n<p>Suffice it to say that this film remains an especially timely and potent reminder about the cyclical nature of humanity &#8212; including our group-like tendency to adore spectacle and &#8216;royalty&#8217;, the seemingly inescapable lust for power and domination, and the corrupt inner workings of love and politics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Diehard fans will likely want to read producer Walter Wanger&#8217;s memoir <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/My-Life-Cleopatra-Hollywood-Classic\/dp\/0345804058\"><em>My Life With Cleopatra: The Making of a Hollywood Classic<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Majestic sets, costumes, and make-up <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056937\/trivia?item=tr0644504\">[<em>according to IMDb Trivia, &#8220;The budget for Elizabeth Taylor&#8217;s costumes, $194,800, was the highest ever for a single screen actor. Her 65 costumes included a dress made from 24-carat gold cloth.&#8221;<\/em>]<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Costumes.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets4.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets2.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Cleopatra&#8217;s justly celebrated grand entrance into Rome<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Sets3.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Entrance.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography2.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography-1024x461.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-39524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography-128x58.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Cleopatra-Cinematography.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, as an infamous Oscar-winning epic. Listed as a Sleeper and a Camp Classic in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056937\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1963\/06\/13\/archives\/the-screen-cleopatra-has-premiere-at-rivoli4hour-epic-is-tribute-to.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/review\/174\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s216cleop.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/71069\/cleopatra#articles-reviews?articleId=102758\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/cleopatra\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;A woman, too, must make the barren land fruitful. She must make life grow where there was no life. Just as the Mother Nile feeds and replenishes the Earth, I am the Nile.&#8221; Synopsis: After helping Queen Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) banish her brother &#8212; Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII (Richard O&#8217;Sullivan) &#8212; and become the sole ruler of Egypt, Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and Cleopatra begin a romance which results in the birth of a boy and joint plans to rule the&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39512\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39512"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68375,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39512\/revisions\/68375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}