Julius Caesar (1953)

The assassination of the would be ruler of Rome at the hands of Brutus and company has tragic consequences for the idealist and the republic.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gielgud

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlon Brando	...	Mark Antony
James Mason	...	Brutus
John Gielgud	...	Cassius
Louis Calhern	...	Julius Caesar
Edmond O'Brien	...	Casca
Greer Garson	...	Calpurnia
Deborah Kerr	...	Portia
George Macready	...	Marullus
Michael Pate	...	Flavius
Richard Hale	...	Soothsayer
Alan Napier	...	Cicero
John Hoyt	...	Decius Brutus
Tom Powers	...	Metellus Cimber
William Cottrell	...	Cinna
Jack Raine	...	Trebonius

Storyline

Brutus, Cassius, and other high-ranking Romans murder Caesar, because they believe his ambition will lead to tyranny. The people of Rome are on their side until Antony, Caesar's right-hand man, makes a moving speech. The conspirators are driven from Rome, and two armies are formed: one side following the conspirators; the other, Antony. Antony has the superior force, and surrounds Brutus and Cassius, but they kill themselves to avoid capture.

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Plot Keywords:

army | murder | speech | roman | assassination | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) (original release) Stereo (DVD Release)

Color:

Black and White Black and White (tinted) (1969 UK re-release)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The one scene in the play involving Cinna the Poet, in which he is mistaken for Cinna the Conspirator and killed by the angry mob, was filmed but deleted before release.

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Goofs

Still inside Brutus' tent, the black jar on the table changes its place repeatedly between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Flavius: Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home:/ Is this a holiday? what! know you not,/ Being mechanical, you ought not walk/ Upon a labouring day without the sign/ Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?

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Connections

Referenced in Dead Poets Society (1989)

User Reviews

Moving, captivating!

If you know about Shakespeare, then I strongly suggest you rent/buy this movie. Many people, as well as I, think it's the best version of 'Julius Caesarfor many reasons. It goes along with the events very accurately, and if you've read Shakespeare's book, you'll see it's like having the very thing acted out on screen. I also might add that the acting is excellent, especially Gielgud, who was my personal favorite. However, all the actors were wonderful, from Ceasar to Lucius. Even the battle scene reminded me a bit of some of the scenes in Spartacus...

There's just something about this movie that is very appealing. The powerful (and sometimes funny) Cassius is the most captivating character. A lot of the times I could just feel his anger- Brutus, of course, is a very melancholy character, but for him I didn't feel as much as I did for some of the others. Marc Antony was superb, and his presentation of near insanity (Okay, so he's crazy!) that builds up throughout the movie is breathtaking.

You must read the book, or else you probably won't be able to follow this movie. Really all you need to do is go through it with someone who knows how to translate it into easier terms, and then it's like learning a language, and you'll know exactly what the people are talking about, and feel very smart! Lol, this is a classic. A must see!

[And may Cassius, Brutus, Caesar, Calpurnia, Casca, and all the other actors who portrayed these characters, rest in peace!]