Cleopatra (3 Disc Special Edition) [1963]

Amazon.co.uk Review

Still the most expensive movie ever made, Cleopatra nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. It also scandalised the world with the very public affair of its two major stars, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. But Joseph L Mankiewicz's 1963 epic deserves to be remembered for more than its off-screen troubles. An extravagantly elaborate production, the sets and costumes alone are awe-inspiring; Mankiewicz's own literate screenplay draws heavily on the classics and Shakespeare; while the supporting cast, led by Rex Harrison as Caesar and Roddy McDowall as his nephew (and future emperor) Octavian, are all first-rate thespians and generally put in more convincing performances than either of the two leads.

Mankiewicz's original intention was to make two three-hour films: the first being Caesar and Cleopatra, the second Antony and Cleopatra. But before the film's completion, and following a boardroom coup worthy of Ancient Rome itself, legendary mogul Darryl F Zanuck took back control of Fox and insisted that Cleopatra be cut to a more economical length. A heartbroken Mankiewicz was forced to trim his six-hour vision down to four. This was the "roadshow" version shown at the film's premiere and now restored here for the first time. Then following adverse criticism and pressure from cinema chains Zanuck demanded more cuts, and the final released version ran a mere three hours--half the original length.

Capitalising on the feverish publicity surrounding Burton and Taylor, the shortened version played up both their on- and off-screen romance. This longer four-hour roadshow version allows for a broader view of the film, adding some depth to the politics and manipulation of the characters. But the director's original six-hour edit has been lost. Perhaps one day it will be rediscovered in the vaults and Mankiewicz's much-maligned movie will finally be seen the way it was meant to be. Until then, Cleopatra remains an epic curiosity rather than the complete spectacle it should be.

On the DVD: this handsome three-disc set spreads the restored four-hour print of the movie across two discs. The anamorphic widescreen print looks quite magnificent and Alex North's wondrous score comes up like new in Dolby 5.1 sound. There's a patchy and only intermittently revealing commentary from Chris Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewicz, Martin Landau and Jack Brodsky. Much better is the comprehensive two-hour documentary that occupies disc three, which tells in hair-raising detail the extraordinary story of a film production that became totally out of control. This is accompanied by some short archival material, but the documentary alone is a compelling reason to acquire this set. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews:

Two movies in one.......2008-02-01

With more than $25m in advance bookings in the kitty before it even opened, 20th Century Fox's notoriously out-of-control nightmarish production of Cleopatra is far from the biggest flop of all time but is certainly the most notorious. Indeed, it only has one major problem. Unfortunately, it's Elizabeth Taylor. When she's off the screen and Joseph L. Mankiewicz concentrates on Harrison's Caesar (the screen performance of his lifetime) and the events surrounding the death of the Republic, it becomes a different class of film altogether: intriguing, witty and absolutely riveting. And then the Queen of Hollywood comes on speaking Americanese ("I've done nothing but rub you up the wrong way.") and ruins it all.

Burton's Marc Antony is also a major problem. We have to take his greatness entirely on trust - we see him win no battles, nor does Mankiewicz attempt his own take on his famous oration at Julius Caesar's funeral. What we do see is Burton at his hammiest, flagon of wine constantly in hand, giving us a petulant drunken schoolboy much given to breathy intonations and snorts of outrage. His love scenes with Taylor, the odd well-written exchange aside, strike no sparks but all too-often come across as a camp rehearsal for Virginia Woolf. Still, he does at least get better as he goes along. The same cannot be said for Hume Cronyn, who is simply inept beyond belief here.

Unfortunately, when Harrison dies, so does the film, or very nearly, only showing signs of recovery in the last half hour as Roddy McDowall's superbly realised Octavian takes centre stage. There's still much to admire - the sombre opening, some beautiful writing, North's score, the lavish production design and some fine supporting performances from the likes of Martin Landau and George Cole (yes, George Cole) - but it is definitely a case of taking the rough with the smooth.

This is the uncut four-hour roadshow version, and the restored sequences, among the best in the film, really do make a difference. However, be sure to get the three-disc edition for the excellent two-hour documentary on the making of the film not included on the two-disc set.

should be six stars...no, 10 stars, no, 100 stars!.......2007-10-28

As someone in my 30s I have a low tolerance for "old" movies often seen as "classics", "masterpieces" by everyone else. Such words are all too frequently used today and seldom with any credible justification. But not in the case of 'Cleopatra'; such words insult this film, for they do not say enough, they are so inadequate. After watching this movie twice on digital tv's Film4 channel, and despite its incredible length of over 4 HOURS, I would gladly watch it over and over again. I would never tire of it. Just as I never tire of watching the LOTR trilogy all the way through, I know great films when I see them. Indeed truly great films are to be savoured, and 'Cleopatra' is no exception.

I could go on, enthusing about this film's magnificent set-pieces, its spectacular and detailed set designs, its learned and established cast (Liz Taylor is just gorgeous as Cleopatra, sublime), but I won't. Suffice it to say, if there were ever a movie to deserve the mantle of "classic", and "masterpiece", it is without a doubt 'Cleopatra'. This glorious, sumptuous, lavish film simply has not been, and never will be surpassed. Accept no imitations; this is the only movie about this enigmatic queen that you should ever see, either on the small screen or big. It set the standard for any historical drama, and nothing has come close to challenging it. If 'Cleopatra' were remade today, with all the money and trickery available to modern day movie-making, it would be utterly terrible, barely a faint shadow of this great classic. Indeed, I would find such a remake offensive, blasphemous. 'Cleopatra' is simply a gem, a treasure to rival the great queen herself. One can only hope it lives on in legend as long as she has.

DVD Print Quality Simply Outstanding.......2005-11-17

For a film that is now more than forty years old this DVD is simply outstanding. The film itself is contained on two DVDs and the extra features can be found on the third DVD. But if you view the film you will feel that this has just been produced, such is the quality. Sure the special effects are not there, so obvious in modern films like the 2004 epic Troy, but everything is done on a grand scale. The film remains the most expensive film ever made and you can understand why. Whereas today many of the grand sets would be done on computers, 20th Century Fox had to produce everything as a real set. So when you see Cleopatra's grand entrance to Rome this is the real deal, not pixels. The colours are vivid, the sound very powerful and the acting of the two main stars - Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton - is highly charged. Impressive historical entertainment.

The Cleo that we all know and love.......2005-02-26

Enough time, thought, and money have been put into this production that I am bound to overlook a few of the most important items about this film. The movie is more than just the actors are. The characters are very well portrayed. The set and costumes are dazzling. They really showed up in the scene when Cleopatra enterd Rome. And the navel battle was spectacular.

Every one is going to have a favorite Cleo and find flaws in the others. However this Cleo will always the one others are gauged by.

First class - all the way!.......2004-01-05

The ultimate Cleopatra - starring a gorgeous Liz Taylor and v.young and handsome Richard Burton as the tormented Marc Antony with Rex Harrison playing the ageing Julius Caeser. Everything about this movie screams class - sets, direction, diaglogue, action - it all adds to the watcher's enjoyment of this grand spectacle.
You find yourself drawn into Cleopatra's world - her loves and betrayals. Inspired casting of various well known faces including Roddy McDowall, Martin Landau, Hume Cronyn; makes this one of the most star oriented films for its time

Average customer rating:

The Cleo that we all know and love
WONDERFUL BUT LONG

Cleopatra (Special Edition) [1963]
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor , Martin Benson , Herbert Berghof , Hume Cronyn , and Cesare Danova
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ECXWHW
Release Date: 2006-03-06

Customer Reviews:

The Cleo that we all know and love.......2007-04-09

Cleo's have come and gone. There have been many films and books depicting Cleo as she really was to great melodramatic Cleo. Three other popular Cleo's were the Claudette Colbert (1934), Vivien Leigh (1945), and Leonor Varela (1999). There were many more variations between those years.
The one Cleo that will always stand out and lets not forget Mark, is the one staring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (1963). I was old enough to enjoy it on the big screen. Rex Harrison made a good Caesar; watch him have a similar attitude in "The Honey Pot" (1967).
Enough time, thought, and money have been put into this production that I am bound to overlook a few of the most important items about this film. The movie is more than just the actors are. The characters are very well portrayed. The set and costumes are dazzling. They really showed up in the scene when Cleopatra enterd Rome. And the navel battle was spectacular.

Every one is going to have a favorite Cleo and find flaws in the others. However this Cleo will always the one others are gauged by.

WONDERFUL BUT LONG.......2006-06-06

This is a wonderful but very long movie that goes over two discs.
A classic love story with two brillant actors taking the led, Richard and Liz steal the movie with wonderful lines and classic acting.
The extras are not up to much and some are very dated but this still gets a 5 star rating.
Let us hope the remake is just as good.

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