Cleopatra (1912)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Charles L. Gaskill

Writer:

Victorien Sardou (play)

Release Date:

13 November 1912 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

The fabled queen of Egypt's affair with Roman general Marc Antony is ulimately disastrous for both of them.

Plot Keywords:

Slave | Queen | Marc Antony | Cleopatra | Suicide

Cast

Helen Gardner	...	Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (as Miss Gardner)
Pearl Sindelar	...	Iras, Attendant to the Queen (as Miss Sindelar)
Miss Fielding	...	Charmian, Attendant to the Queen
Miss Robson	...	Octavia, Wife of Antony
Helene Costello	...	Nicola, a Child (as Miss Helene)
Charles Sindelar	...	Marc Antony, a Triumvir and General (as Mr. Sindelar)
Mr. Howard	...	Pharon, a Greek Slave and Fisherman
James R. Waite	...	Venditius, a Roman Soldier (as Mr. Waite)
Mr. Osborne	...	Diomedes, a Rich Egyptian (as Mr. Osborn)
Harry Knowles	...	Kephren, Captain of the Guards to the Queen (as Harley Knowles)
Mr. Paul	...	Octavius, a Triumvir and General
Mr. Brady	...	Serapian, an Egyptian Priest
Mr. Corker	...	Ixias, Servant to Ventidius

Also Known As:

Helen Gardner in Cleopatra (copyright title)

Runtime:

88 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Tappan, New York, USA

Company:

Helen Gardner Picture Players

Trivia:

Shakespeare's play was produced in London circa 1606-7' - Sardou's play, Cléopatre, opened in Paris on 23 October 1890.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power (1999) (V)

An prestigious antique but no masterpiece

"Cleopatra" (1912), directed by Charles Gaskill, which premiered on Turner Classic Movies in August 2000, stars stage actress Helen Gardner in the title role. In spite of when it was made (1912), I was prepared to witness a prestigious production handicapped by some overacting and bad camera shots. However, what makes the movie unbearable for me to watch is the really bad sound track that accompanies it: bongo drums, off screen chanting, etc. An organ score would have been sufficient. Presented in correct silent film speed, "Cleopatra" plays at 90 minutes, but again, complaining about the score, made it seem like it runs at 190 minutes. "Cleopatra" was obviously filmed in a studio sound stage, with backdrops moving about like a painted curtain. Had it been done a few years later under the direction of DW Griffith, then possibly it would have become a masterpiece as his 1916 production of INTOLERANCE. But because of that new underscoring (there I go again), maybe "Cleopatra" would have been somewhat bearable. I recommend the present version for insomniacs only.