Cleopatra (1917)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

J. Gordon Edwards

Writers:

Adrian Johnson (writer)
Émile Moreau (play)

Release Date:

14 October 1917 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The Vampire Supreme

Plot:

The story of Cleopatra, the fabulous queen of Egypt, and the epic romances between her and the greatest men of Rome, Julius Caesar and Antony. |

Plot Keywords:

Ancient Egypt | 1st Century B.c. | Historical | Lost Film | William Shakespeare

Cast

Theda Bara	...	Cleopatra
Fritz Leiber	...	Caesar
Thurston Hall	...	Antony
Alan Roscoe	...	Pharon (as Albert Roscoe)
Herschel Mayall	...	Ventidius
Dorothy Drake	...	Charmian
Delle Duncan	...	Iras
Henri De Vries	...	Octavius Caesar
Art Acord	...	Kephren
Hector Sarno	...	Messenger (as Hector V. Sarno)
Genevieve Blinn	...	Octavia

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

Newport Beach, California, USA

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

According to the studio, this film cost $500,000 to produce and 2,000 people were employed behind the scenes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mondo Mod (1967)

Praise upon a film in memory only

Like many of Theda Bara's film, the classic "Cleopatra" does not exist in print form. We can only remember it in stills and the written word. Theda (Born Theodosia Goodman, July 29 1885) was at the very height of her fame in mid 1917, she was as a big a star as Chaplin, Pickford or Fairbanks. Fox chose this time to star her in what would become her most successful and famous film. The film was shot during the summer of 1917, and released that October. This was to be the Cleopatra to end all Cleopatra's, which meant big name casting and lavish sets and costumes. The publicity for the film began in April 1917, stating that ancient prophecies predicted Theda would play Cleopatra! The film was directed by J. Gordon Edwards, and Thurston Hall played Antony. Theda was well cast as Cleoptra, they were both about the same age when the action takes places, and Theda wore the very skimpy costumes to a "T". Fox spent $50,000 on the sets, which included hundreds of rugs, tapestries and hangings. The production employed 30,000 people with actors, extras, carpenters, costumers, and crew, as well as 2,000 horses. The film opened on October 14th 1917 in Los Angeles, and it was so successful that Theda was cheered and pelted with flowers at the end of the film. Too bad we can't see this classic movie, we can only imagine how good it was. Pity.