lukechong
"Cleopatra" isn't the worst motion picture ever made, but it came mighty close to bankrupting Twentieth Century Fox, and is now more remembered for its elaborate sets, turgid script, sturdy but less than inspired directing of Mankiewicz and for extravagant budget overruns. Costing US$44 million at the time of release, it was undoubtedly the most expensive film then made. A director-commissioned cut was said to have existed as two three-hour features, but the present movie, at 4 hours and 8 minutes, is still far too long. The second half is almost unwatchable, RIchard Burton being the chief culprit. His Marc Antony has the charisma of a desert camel, and convinces as the greatest nincompoop in Roman history.The rest of the cast is competent professionally. Elizabeth Taylor dons a black wig and black graphic eyeliner, but her acting here doesn't flatter her. Rex Harrison is I suppose decent enough but lacks romantic ardor; while Roddy McDowall is gratingly effete--a good or bad thing depending on your perspective. The movie's first half is watchable while tension drops significantly in the second; perhaps the best scene comes right at the end, at the death of Cleopatra, much pilfered from Shakespeare. As costume period epics go "Cleopatra" is worth watching, if only for its lavish sets and fine 70mm cinematography--but be forewarned, much of the second half comes across as bloated and soporific.
Jim Colyer
Rex Harrison is Julius Caesar with a British accent. Elizabeth Taylor is Cleopatra, and Richard Burton is Marc Antony. Cleopatra gives the first half of this long movie to Caesar and the second half to Antony. It makes use of my 3 years of Latin. I saw it that summer with my first girl friend. Egypt meets Rome! I admit the history was over my head at age 17, but I have since grown into it. Caesar was murdered by his friends, while Cleopatra and Antony committed suicide. We only catch a glimpse of the cobra as it slithers away. In 1963, Hollywood was not yet willing to shock audiences. Wimpy Roddy McDowell plays wimpy Octavian, who went on to inherit the Roman Empire. The summer of 1963 was a season of overblown productions, another of which was How the West Was Won.
FountainPen
What does it take for someone to rate this epic motion picture 1/10 ?
Well, you could ask "valgreet" who says the movie is "Just about unwatchable". That IMDb member of 12 years has, in that time, reviewed only about as many flicks. I think it is a shame that the absurd 1/10 rating should appear. Over several decades, I've watched a few thousand movies, and have reviewed hundreds, here on IMDb and elsewhere. There is NO way anyone could possibly justify a rating below 7/10, all factors considered. A rating of 1/10 or 2/10 is especially vicious, I feel.
"Cleopatra" is a landmark film, especially noteworthy in many areas, and certainly not just for the presence of Burton and Taylor. It is a picture that any serious moviegoer needs to see, preferably on as large a screen as possible.
9/10.
jacobs-greenwood
Really two films in one, the first being vastly superior to the second, more famous half. Before the intermission, the initial two hours of this historical drama focuses on Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and his relationship with the titled Queen of Egypt (Elizabeth Taylor). The tempestuous (love affair and) relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony (Richard Burton), though it may have been fascinating to audiences of the time given the off-screen affair between these stars, is much less compelling, even boring, making the overall film only slightly above average despite its limitless budget which helped it earn four Oscars: Color Art Direction-Set Decoration, Cinematography, Costume Design, and Special Effects.Only Harrison's acting was Oscar nominated, and rightfully so, as his is easily the best performance in the film, which was also nominated for Best Picture, Editing, Sound, and substantially original Musical Score. Harrison was to win the Best Actor Oscar playing Henry Higgins (in his next film, My Fair Lady (1964)), a character whose attitude towards women was not unlike Caesar's.Another noteworthy performance was given by Roddy McDowall, as Caesar's heir Octavian, in the film's second half, the best scene of which is his dressing down by Cleopatra near its end.Directed and co-written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, this 4+ hour version also boasts a cast which includes Hume Cronyn and Martin Landau, among others. If not for the director's (or editor's?) proclivity for showing every lead character's prolonged entrance and exit (to showcase the expensive sets?), the film could easily run nearer to 3 hours, as one released version does.
AD
