{"id":84809,"date":"2022-06-13T11:57:43","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T18:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84809"},"modified":"2022-06-13T14:08:12","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T21:08:12","slug":"fall-of-the-roman-empire-the-1964","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84809","title":{"rendered":"Fall of the Roman Empire, The (1964)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;The fall of Rome &#8212; like her rise &#8212; had not one cause, but many.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-Poster-197x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-84810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-Poster-197x300.png 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-Poster.png 547w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nNear the end of his life, ailing Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) shares his wish that General Livius (Stephen Boyd) should become the new leader of a more egalitarian Rome rather than his son Commodus (Christopher Plummer), and asks his daughter (Sophia Loren) &#8212; who is in love with Livius &#8212; to marry an Armenian leader (Omar Sharif) to build alliances with the East.\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>Alec Guinness Films<\/li>\n<li>Ancient Greece and Rome<\/li>\n<li>Anthony Quayle Films <\/li>\n<li>Christopher Plummer Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama <\/li>\n<li>James Mason Films<\/li>\n<li>John Ireland Films <\/li>\n<li>Mel Ferrer Films <\/li>\n<li>Omar Sharif Films<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Sophia Loren Films <\/li>\n<li>Stephen Boyd Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nFollowing the success of <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84673\"><em>El Cid<\/em> (1961)<\/a>, Anthony Mann helmed and Samuel Bronston once again produced this similarly big-budgeted historical epic inspired by English historian <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_History_of_the_Decline_and_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire\">Edward Gibbons&#8217; six-volume series <em>The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire<\/em><\/a>, with a prologue written by Will Durant. It focuses on a specific moment during the Roman Empire &#8212; 106 AD &#8212; when imperial succession from Marcus Aurelius to Commodus led to the start of more overt corruption and decadence. Much like Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and Messala (Stephen Boyd) in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81345\"><em>Ben-Hur<\/em> (1959)<\/a>, Plummer and Boyd play lifelong friends-turned-rivals: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd-604x258.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Boyd.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; who even engage in a chariot race at one point (the parallels between the two films are stark). In addition to featuring Sophia Loren as gorgeous Lucilla: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Loren7.png 1292w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; there are plenty of big-name actors in the cast, beginning with Alec Guinness during the first hour: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness-1024x426.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"266\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness-1024x426.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness-604x251.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Guinness.png 1309w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and including other, somewhat poorly defined characters, such as Mel Ferrer&#8217;s blind seer Cleander: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer-1024x441.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"276\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer-1024x441.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer-768x330.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer-604x260.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ferrer.png 1313w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; James Mason&#8217;s virtuous Greek Timonides: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3-604x258.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Mason3.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; John Ireland as Northern tribal leader Ballomar: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland-604x258.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Ireland.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Omar Sharif (showing up just a few brief times) as Loren&#8217;s Armenian spouse Sohamus. Plummer&#8217;s role as Commodus is by far the juiciest, and he&#8217;s compelling throughout, playing a man convinced that he truly is beloved by the gods. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform-1024x441.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"276\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform-1024x441.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform-768x331.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform-604x260.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-Uniform.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Plummer&#8217;s performance &#8212; as well as the gorgeous cinematography and sets &#8212; make this worth a one-time look, though it&#8217;s not must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Christopher Plummer as Commodus<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Plummer-If-I-Am-To-Be.png 1303w\" 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\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar-1024x432.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"270\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar-1024x432.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar-604x255.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire-Hail-Caesar.png 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dimitry Tiomkin&#8217;s score <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look for its historical relevance and Plummer&#8217;s performance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0058085\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2556fall.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=6735&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1964\/03\/27\/archives\/screen-romans-versus-barbariansspectacles-and-melees-in-fall-of.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/74487\/the-fall-of-the-roman-empire#articles-reviews?articleId=86666\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The fall of Rome &#8212; like her rise &#8212; had not one cause, but many.&#8221; Synopsis: Near the end of his life, ailing Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) shares his wish that General Livius (Stephen Boyd) should become the new leader of a more egalitarian Rome rather than his son Commodus (Christopher Plummer), and asks his daughter (Sophia Loren) &#8212; who is in love with Livius &#8212; to marry an Armenian leader (Omar Sharif) to build alliances with the&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84809\"> 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-84809","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\/84809","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=84809"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84850,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84809\/revisions\/84850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}