Cleopatra
CLEOPATRA (PG)
D: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
20th Century Fox (Walter Wanger)
US đşđ¸Â 1963
243 mins (original version: 520 mins)
Historical/Drama
W: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Ranald McDougall & Sidney Buchman [based on the book âThe Life and Times of Cleopatraâ by Carlo Maria Franzero and historical accounts by Plutarch, Suetonius & Appian]
DP: Leon Shamroy
Ed: Dorothy SpencerÂ
Mus: Alex North
PD: John DeCuir
Cos: Irene Sharaff, Vittorio Nino Noverese & Renie
Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra VII), Richard Burton (Mark Antony), Rex Harrison (Julius Caesar), Hume Cronyn (Sosigenes), Roddy McDowell (Octavian), Martin Landau (Rufio), Kenneth Haigh (Brutus)
The film that came close to bankrupting 20th Century Fox with its supposed production budget of approximately $44m in 1963 money, according to the studio at least.
Producer Walter Wanger had wanted to make a historical biopic about Cleopatra for many years, originally hiring director Rouben Mamoulian, with the production set to take place in the UK. Elizabeth Taylorâs services were secured for a then-record $1m, the shoot moved to the warmer climate Italyâs Cinecitta studios with sets already built and scrapped in England, and the production went into filming with new director Joseph L. Mankiewicz without a completed script, as Mankiewicz had hoped to present two separate films, the first focusing on the politics and relationship of Cleopatra & Julius Caesar and the second part on Cleopatraâs affair with Mark Antony.
The mess behind the scenes are difficult to disguise in the finished film, certainly in the shorter cut of 243 minutes, if you donât have the sanity of mind to watch the 520 minute version.
The production design, cinematography and sets are highly impressive, as are the costumes for the most part, but many of Irene Sharaffâs outfits for Elizabeth Taylor look far too modern, as though the actress was going for drinks in Milan shortly after the dayâs shooting, and with a new gown in practically every scene, the audience could possibly have a lot of fun with whether itâs appropriate or not. Taylor herself makes a terrible Cleopatra, she seemed far too old, overacts throughout, winks and mugs at the camera and itâs abundantly clear she only did it for the money.
Rex Harrison delivers the best performance of the entire film as Caesar, but once The Ides of March transpire itâs a long slog as thereâs over half the running time left.Â
The iconic scene featuring Cleopatraâs entrance into Rome is still impressive, featuring all the filmâs strongest assets, but one good 10-minute scene in a 4-hour film isnât enough to stave off the boredom.
The Academy Awards saw enough in it to nominate it for Best Picture for 1963, presumably because it was one of the âfilm eventsâ of the year, but I honestly think this is one of the worst films to ever be nominated for Best Picture, even if certain elements of the film are quite good.
5/10
