loading...
Stewart Granger Collection - Caesar And Cleopatra
1945
In this film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's lavish epic, the venerable Julius Caesar (Claude Rains) meets Cleopatra (Vivian Leigh) under the Sphinx in ancient Egypt. Although the Roman Emperor finds her childishly innocent, she is capable of seizing the throne from her brother and cold-bloodedly committing murder. .. Read more
| Starring | Claude Rains, Vivien Leigh, James Mason, Jean Simmons |
|---|---|
| Director | Gabriel Pascal, Arthur Crabtree, Anthony Asquith, Leslie Arlis |
| Genres | Drama |
loading...
-
Critics' reviews (2)
View all -
Legend has it that garrulous Hungarian producer Gabriel Pascal managed to convince George Bernard Shaw he was the only person who could do justice to the great man's plays. Unfortunately, Pascal wasn't content to be merely producer here: he also directed, and with astounding ineptitude. The production went grossly over budget, which might account for both the film's excessive length and its failure to recoup its costs. There's no denying the Technicolor is splendid, but, despite the spirited efforts of Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh as the titular couple — he's suave, she's lovely — there's no sexual chemistry at all, and the script is far too wordy. Stewart Granger smoulders, despite the boot-polish make-up, but Flora Robson is quite ludicrous as Ftatateeta; the high style isn't needed here. It's still worth a look, though not to be taken too seriously.
-
Britain's most expensive film is an absurd extravaganza for which the producer actually took sand to Egypt to get the right colour. It has compensations however in the sets, the colour, the performances and the witty lines, though all its virtues are thea
-
Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Perfect rainy day matinee
'Caesar and Cleopatra' has aged markedly since it was made in 1946 - which is just as well. It is the patina of age that gives this curious film a certain fascination for a modern audience.
Bernard Shaw's dialogue is positively Victorian ('Harken ye to this!') and was out of date even when the film was released. The plot is slight and unconvincing, the Roman soldiers have broad Cockney and Scottish accents, the relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra lacks chemistry.
Yet it is still an enjoyably watchable melodramatic farce, and we don't see much of that in modern cinema; even the mob act in a deliciously camp over-the-top manner, they look like refugees from the silent screen.
The strongest aspects of the film are the central performances of Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh. She looks terrific and speaks wonderfully; he is a mixture of aloofness and compassion - a James Bond prototype, idly swatting aside the plots laid against him.
By no means a great film, just an unmissable one. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Looks Good, Sounds Long !
"Caesar and Cleopatra" is a typical Gabriel Pascal affair ( not that there are that many to cite ! ) - reverential, worthy, and extremely long. At least the Technicolor is fabulous, as is Claude Rains' performance, stealing the scenes as only he can. Hardly a minute goes by without some well-known Brit strolling across the screen, if only to spout dialogue that feels and sounds un-natural. There is so much talking in this movie that - apart from the lush photography - it might have been better served as a radio play. The less said about Vivien Leigh's performance, the better - she is blown off the screen by Rains' naturalism and comes across as prissy and irritating.
This is a film best taken in little chunks - swallowing the epic in one go is ponderously indigestible. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Uneventful epic (ish)
This is completely different to what I expected from the premise, and I found it quite strange in terms of the plot as well as the casting. Vivien Leigh, while very beautiful, is too old to be taken seriously as the immature and naïve Cleopatra. Her relationship with Julius Caesar is very much father/daughter and some might find this hard to accept. It is quite uneventful but very theatrical, which is not surprising since it's based on the Shaw play.
My favourite parts of this film are the costumes and the sets, the former being a stunning and unusual take on classical style. Stewart Granger's toga is however, disturbingly short, and on its own merit may be a very good reason to rent the film!
This production is not at all accurate historically and certainly not epic, in fact, I found it a bit dull so 2 stars for the pretty dresses. :)
-
- likeabalalaika from Cornwall
- Posted 14 Nov 2006 23:37
-
Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Uneventful epic (ish)
This is completely different to what I expected from the premise, and I found it quite strange in terms of the plot as well as the casting. Vivien Leigh, while very beautiful, is too old to be taken seriously as the immature and naïve Cleopatra. Her relationship with Julius Caesar is very much father/daughter and some might find this hard to accept. It is quite uneventful but very theatrical, which is not surprising since it's based on the Shaw play.
My favourite parts of this film are the costumes and the sets, the former being a stunning and unusual take on classical style. Stewart Granger's toga is however, disturbingly short, and on its own merit may be a very good reason to rent the film!
This production is not at all accurate historically and certainly not epic, in fact, I found it a bit dull so 2 stars for the pretty dresses. :)-
- likeabalalaika from Cornwall
- Posted 14 Nov 2006 23:37
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Perfect rainy day matinee
'Caesar and Cleopatra' has aged markedly since it was made in 1946 - which is just as well. It is the patina of age that gives this curious film a certain fascination for a modern audience.
Bernard Shaw's dialogue is positively Victorian ('Harken ye to this!') and was out of date even when the film was released. The plot is slight and unconvincing, the Roman soldiers have broad Cockney and Scottish accents, the relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra lacks chemistry.
Yet it is still an enjoyably watchable melodramatic farce, and we don't see much of that in modern cinema; even the mob act in a deliciously camp over-the-top manner, they look like refugees from the silent screen.
The strongest aspects of the film are the central performances of Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh. She looks terrific and speaks wonderfully; he is a mixture of aloofness and compassion - a James Bond prototype, idly swatting aside the plots laid against him.
By no means a great film, just an unmissable one.
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Perfect rainy day matinee
'Caesar and Cleopatra' has aged markedly since it was made in 1946 - which is just as well. It is the patina of age that gives this curious film a certain fascination for a modern audience.
Bernard Shaw's dialogue is positively Victorian ('Harken ye to this!') and was out of date even when the film was released. The plot is slight and unconvincing, the Roman soldiers have broad Cockney and Scottish accents, the relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra lacks chemistry.
Yet it is still an enjoyably watchable melodramatic farce, and we don't see much of that in modern cinema; even the mob act in a deliciously camp over-the-top manner, they look like refugees from the silent screen.
The strongest aspects of the film are the central performances of Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh. She looks terrific and speaks wonderfully; he is a mixture of aloofness and compassion - a James Bond prototype, idly swatting aside the plots laid against him.
By no means a great film, just an unmissable one. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Looks Good, Sounds Long !
"Caesar and Cleopatra" is a typical Gabriel Pascal affair ( not that there are that many to cite ! ) - reverential, worthy, and extremely long. At least the Technicolor is fabulous, as is Claude Rains' performance, stealing the scenes as only he can. Hardly a minute goes by without some well-known Brit strolling across the screen, if only to spout dialogue that feels and sounds un-natural. There is so much talking in this movie that - apart from the lush photography - it might have been better served as a radio play. The less said about Vivien Leigh's performance, the better - she is blown off the screen by Rains' naturalism and comes across as prissy and irritating.
This is a film best taken in little chunks - swallowing the epic in one go is ponderously indigestible. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Uneventful epic (ish)
This is completely different to what I expected from the premise, and I found it quite strange in terms of the plot as well as the casting. Vivien Leigh, while very beautiful, is too old to be taken seriously as the immature and naïve Cleopatra. Her relationship with Julius Caesar is very much father/daughter and some might find this hard to accept. It is quite uneventful but very theatrical, which is not surprising since it's based on the Shaw play.
My favourite parts of this film are the costumes and the sets, the former being a stunning and unusual take on classical style. Stewart Granger's toga is however, disturbingly short, and on its own merit may be a very good reason to rent the film!
This production is not at all accurate historically and certainly not epic, in fact, I found it a bit dull so 2 stars for the pretty dresses. :)-
- likeabalalaika from Cornwall
- Posted 14 Nov 2006 23:37
-
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Funny film
This is a good / funny film.It's not a serious film like Cleopatar with. E.taylor. It's based on a play with some comics scenes like when Cleopatar's brother waves his thong to her. At the begining I was surprised about this film but I finish enjoying it.
Also it's not a love story. When Cleo met Ceasar she was about 16/17 and he was around 60. So they relasionship was more father/daughter or teacher/student rather than lovers. Also ceasar tells her about Marc anthony and she falls in love with him.(M.A.). Usually I don't wath films twice but I think I will watch this very soon again. -
a work of art
this was a huge sucess as i thought it be a
drama production that i would be extremely bored for the entire duration of it.instead it was a fantastic DVD that had a great storyline and i watched it again and again. -
Lavish nostalgic curiosity
In 1945 this was the most expensive British film ever, and I clearly remember seeing it when first released.
There is good acting here. However Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh as Caesar and Cleopatra have absolutely no chemistry between them, and a youthful Stewart Grainger is probably the most convincing as Apollodorus. There are good supporting performances. Flora Robson as Cleopatra’s chief nurse wears extraordinary costumes and wigs, which I feel is all part of the fun. Stanley Holloway, an incredibly funny man, cannot keep a straight face in his role as an Egyptian General, probably the most inappropriate casting of his career.
One wonders what modern viewers will make of the George Bernard Shaw play on which the film is closely based. The role of Cleopatra is written in a very childish fashion for the first part of the film which makes Vivien Leigh (looking absolutely lovely) appear too old for the part.
The original Technicolor was good for its time, and the restoration of both film and sound is excellent.
I thoroughly enjoyed this as a nostalgic curiosity and also as the kind of lavish spectacle British cinema could achieve in 1945. -
Amuzing
This movie was rather silly. It is a farce, and I hope it was intentionally so. I am not the first to point this out, but Claude Rains (Caesar) and Vivien Leigh (Cleopatra) have no chemistry. Individually, though, i think they did well.
Leigh was very well spoken and had to go from being very childish to a maturing adult. Rains as Caesar was excellent. Even so, I do think the whole thing was rather rediculous, not funny enough to be a comedy, not serious enough to be a depiction of history.
2/5 stars
- < Prev
- 1
- Next >
Critics' reviews (2)
-
Legend has it that garrulous Hungarian producer Gabriel Pascal managed to convince George Bernard Shaw he was the only person who could do justice to the great man's plays. Unfortunately, Pascal wasn't content to be merely producer here: he also directed, and with astounding ineptitude. The production went grossly over budget, which might account for both the film's excessive length and its failure to recoup its costs. There's no denying the Technicolor is splendid, but, despite the spirited efforts of Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh as the titular couple — he's suave, she's lovely — there's no sexual chemistry at all, and the script is far too wordy. Stewart Granger smoulders, despite the boot-polish make-up, but Flora Robson is quite ludicrous as Ftatateeta; the high style isn't needed here. It's still worth a look, though not to be taken too seriously.
-
Britain's most expensive film is an absurd extravaganza for which the producer actually took sand to Egypt to get the right colour. It has compensations however in the sets, the colour, the performances and the witty lines, though all its virtues are thea
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
- Stewart Granger Collection - Caesar And Cleopatra
- DVD: £4.43
Free Delivery - RRP £15.79 (you save: 72%)
In this film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's lavish epic, the venerable Julius Caesar (Claude Rains) meets Cleopatra (Vivian Leigh) under the Sphinx in ancient Egypt. Although the Roman Emperor ... -
Related user collection
Celebrity collection
David Baldacci (10)
90.6% from 15 members
