{"id":80851,"date":"2022-02-02T09:45:01","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T16:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80851"},"modified":"2022-04-14T20:24:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T03:24:53","slug":"julius-caesar-1953","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80851","title":{"rendered":"Julius Caesar (1953)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julis-Caeasar-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julis-Caeasar-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julis-Caeasar-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julis-Caeasar-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julis-Caeasar-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julis-Caeasar-Poster.png 655w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nShortly after Roman general Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) returns home from battle, several conspirators &#8212; including Cassius (John Gielgud), Brutus (James Mason), and Casca (Edmond O&#8217;Brien) &#8212; plot to assassinate him in order to prevent him from becoming dictator; however, they don&#8217;t realize how vengeful Marc Antony (Marlon Brando) will become upon the death of his beloved mentor.\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>Assassination<\/li>\n<li>Deborah Kerr Films<\/li>\n<li>Edmond O&#8217;Brien Films<\/li>\n<li>George Macready Films<\/li>\n<li>Greer Garson Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>James Mason Films<\/li>\n<li>John Gielgud Films<\/li>\n<li>Joseph L. Mankiewicz Films<\/li>\n<li>Louis Calhern Films<\/li>\n<li>Marlon Brando Films<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>Shakespeare<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMarlon Brando impressed critics (and earned his third Academy Award nomination in a row) by transforming from mumbling Stanley Kowalski in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44325\"><em>A Streetcar Named Desire<\/em> (1951)<\/a> to assertive statesman Marc Antony in this faithful adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Julius_Caesar_(play)\">Shakespeare&#8217;s historic play<\/a>, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz on sets left over from <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80485\"><em>Quo Vadis<\/em> (1951)<\/a>. The first half of the storyline is the most powerful, as we see loyal Mason torn over his decision to participate in the assassination of his friend and leader: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason-1024x752.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"470\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason-1024x752.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason-768x564.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason-368x270.png 368w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Gielgud-Mason.png 1263w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Caesar ignoring pleas from his wife Capurnia (Greer Garson) to stay home, given premonitions she&#8217;s had: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson-1024x747.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"467\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson-1024x747.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson-370x270.png 370w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Garson.png 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The death scene itself, with one of the most famous lines in all of history (&#8220;Et tu, Brute?&#8221;), is well filmed: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Et-Tu-Brute.png 1259w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; as is Antony&#8217;s famous response and speech to the masses: &#8220;Friends, Romans, countrymen &#8212; lend me your ears!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding-1024x745.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"466\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding-371x270.png 371w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Antony-Holding.png 1269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gorgeous Deborah Kerr barely registers as Brutus&#8217;s wife Portia &#8212; though that&#8217;s more a function of the storyline than her character, who essentially disappears: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80861\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason-368x270.png 368w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Kerr-Mason.png 1269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The remainder of the narrative focuses on vengeance for Caesar&#8217;s death, though it&#8217;s surprisingly action-free (other than the Battle of Philippi). Viewers will likely be most curious throughout to listen for famous lines of dialogue and turns of phrase, including the following: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Caesar:<\/strong> &#8220;Cowards die many times before their death. The valiant never taste of death but once.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Calpurnia:<\/strong> &#8220;Caesar, I have never stood on ceremonies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Antony:<\/strong> &#8220;Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Antony:<\/strong> &#8220;This was the most unkindest cut of all.&#8221; <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Watch for Edmond O&#8217;Brien as Casca, who gets to speak the line, &#8220;It was Greek to me.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me-1024x753.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"471\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me-1024x753.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me-768x565.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me-367x270.png 367w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-It-Was-Greek-to-Me.png 1271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>James Mason as Brutus<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5-1024x748.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5-1024x748.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5-768x561.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Mason5.png 1271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Marlon Brando as Antony<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2-768x572.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Brando2.png 1261w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost-1024x753.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"471\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost-1024x753.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost-768x565.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost-367x270.png 367w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Julius-Caesar-Ghost.png 1271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look as a finely mounted Shakespearean production. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0045943\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1953\/06\/05\/archives\/julius-caesar-and-two-other-arrivals-shakespeare-tragedy-filmed-by.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/79974\/julius-caesar#articles-reviews?articleId=33745\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/julius-caesar\/review\/2030277795\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.&#8221; Synopsis: Shortly after Roman general Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) returns home from battle, several conspirators &#8212; including Cassius (John Gielgud), Brutus (James Mason), and Casca (Edmond O&#8217;Brien) &#8212; plot to assassinate him in order to prevent him from becoming dictator; however, they don&#8217;t realize how vengeful Marc Antony (Marlon Brando) will become upon the death of his beloved mentor. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80851\"> 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-80851","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\/80851","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=80851"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83005,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80851\/revisions\/83005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}