In 2017, electronics manufacturer Samsung had a 68-minute YouTube video made that showed nothing more than a spinning washing machine. The reason for this publication was a survey among 2,000 British people who were asked to name the most boring films of all time. Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, placed 20th.
This Thursday, June 8, the historical epic will be shown on ServusTV at 8:15 PM. Despite the storied, catastrophic production history, director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (“Everything about Eva”) has managed to create an impressive monumental spectacle that film buffs must see. If you prefer to watch “Cleopatra” without commercials due to its very long running time, you can switch to the Blu-ray, which is available from online retailers such as Amazon:
That’s what “Cleopatra” is about
Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) has just won the decisive battle in Rome and then heads for Egypt, where his opponent Pompey is said to be hiding. There the infamous commander meets the handsome Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) who rules the land along the Nile along with her brother, Pharaoh Ptolemy (Richard O’Sullivan). Because the regent is not too firmly in the saddle, Caesar knows how to distinguish himself by offering his help against the rivals at home.
With seductive charm, Cleopatra conquers Caesar and increasingly uses his power to his own advantage. The son Caesarion arises from the love between the two powerful people. However, Caesar’s association with Cleopatra soon drew criticism from the Romans. The previously undisputed dictator of the Roman Empire is exposed to an intrigue that also involves his right-hand man, Mark Antony (Richard Burton) and Ocatvian (Roddy McDowall)…
Long but not boring!
In the 1960s, “Cleopatra” almost caused the traditional 20th Century Fox studio to collapse. The reason for this is the more than turbulent recordings, including a constantly revolving personnel carousel, a bitter dispute about the final version, sky-high costs and the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. In the end, the budget was $44 million, which would be ten times that today.
However, with the sale of the television rights in the 1970s, “Cleopatra” moved into the profit zone and gradually ceased to be seen as an artistic or commercial flop. Instead, the audience recognized that the too long historical film is a character piece enriched with grandiose visual values, which even today manages to impress with its stylish staging and polished dialogues.
In the official FILMSTARTS review, “Cleoptra” received an excellent rating of 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 – so the film just missed out on the status of a masterpiece. In his review, our author Andreas Staben says: “The essence of ‘Cleopatra’ is not in the spectacle, but in the intimate drama of three people between desire and ambition.”
The official MOVIE STARTS review of “Cleopatra”
That’s exactly what you should be prepared for when you watch Cleopatra. While the equipment is truly impressive in its gigantomania and obsession with detail, the focus is on the development of the characters, who drive an intriguing and intimate role-playing game in a frenzy of love and power games. In terms of acting, the film – no wonder given the name – is also beyond dispute. Especially Elizabeth Taylor, who dominates the film with her majestic presence, is a stunner here.
From a production point of view, the film’s showpiece is the eight-minute sequence in which Cleopatra enters Rome: “A colorful procession of exotic dancers announces the high guest. In the huge replica of the forum, thousands of extras see the queen enthroned through the Arch of Titus on a sphinx meters high. She steps down and the dignitaries of Rome are literally at her feet.” An exciting moment that – in what is already a very memorable film – is guaranteed not to be forgotten.