IMDb > The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
The Agony and the Ecstasy
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The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   2,005 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Carol Reed
Writers:
Irving Stone (novel)
Philip Dunne (screen story and screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Agony and the Ecstasy on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 October 1965 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | History more
Tagline:
From the age of magnificence comes a new magnificence in motion pictures more
Plot:
The biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Charlton Heston Dies at 84
 (From IMDb News. 6 April 2008)

User Comments:
Creating A Wonder more (44 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Charlton Heston ... Michelangelo

Rex Harrison ... Pope Julius II
Diane Cilento ... Contessina de'Medici
Harry Andrews ... Bramante
Alberto Lupo ... Duke of Urbino
Adolfo Celi ... Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini ... Paris De Grassis
John Stacy ... Sangallo
Fausto Tozzi ... Foreman
Maxine Audley ... Woman
Tomas Milian ... Raphael
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy
more
Runtime:
138 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Latin
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Rex Harrison did not get along with Charlton Heston at all during filming. Twelve years later, while filming Crossed Swords (1977), he avoided him completely. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: On the eastern wall of the Sistine Chapel, we can see two frescoes that have been painted by Arrigo Paludano in 1571 and Matteo da Lecce, thirty years after Michelangelo completed the Last Judgement (1541). They replaced the first paintings by Signorelli and Ghirlandaio destroyed by a partial collapsing of the wall. Obviously, they couldn't be shown if the action takes place between 1508 and 1512. more
Quotes:
[repeated exchange]
Pope Julius II: When will you make an end?
Michelangelo: When I am finished!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Big Trouble (1986) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 15 people found the following comment useful.
Creating A Wonder, 17 May 2006
7/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

The Agony and the Ecstasy is the story of the creation of the Sistine Chapel Roof painting, the time and money it took while Pope Julius II was busy establishing his Papacy as a political force.

Back in those days the Pope was far more than the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He ruled a considerable piece of real estate in the center of the Italian peninsula that were called the Papal States. They varied in geographic size depending on how relatively strong the Pope or his enemies were at a given time. The Papal States were the last independent entity to join a united Italy in 1870.

The Borgias had been nibbling away at the Papal States for years and their triumph became complete when one of their's became Pope Alexander VI in 1491. When Giuliano Della Rovere became Julius II in 1503 succeeding Alexander VI he had it in mind to reclaim the states from the Borgias and their backer the French monarchy. Those are the folks you see Rex Harrison fighting at the beginning of the film.

In fact Harrison's identity as the warrior Pope is made clear right at the beginning of the film when after we see this figure on a white horse killing some foes in battle, he takes off his helmet and some attendees put his papal vestments right over his armor.

But Julius II wanted to be known as a patron of the arts as well as the warrior Pope. His uncle Pope Sixtus VI had built the Sistine Chapel which is today the personal chapel of the papal residence. According to Wikipedia its dimensions are exactly what the Bible lays down as the dimensions King Solomon built his temple. But who knows what Solomon had decorating his roof.

It's a big bare spot and who to fill it with something good. Julius II decided on Michelangelo Buonarrati who's got quite a resume of creativity to recommend him even though it's mostly sculpture.

The film is the story of the creative differences between Michelangelo and Julius. Michelangelo is knowing he's created something for the ages, but he won't see the big picture of the here and now of Renaissance European politics which Julius II has to deal with.

Sir Carol Reed directed The Agony and the Ecstasy and does a marvelous job of creating the look and atmosphere of the Renaissance in Italy. Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison playing Michelangelo and the Pope give outstanding performances.

If the film has a weakness is that it really is a two man show with no other characters developed in any way. The rest of the mostly Italian cast just serve as a crowd.

If you're either a patron of the arts or a Catholic who would like to know how the Sistine Chapel acquired its legendary roof than by all means see The Agony and the Ecstasy.

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Differences between book and movie? scottyg109
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Intermission? porcacultor
Wasn't Michelangelo gay? mrjones7
Loved this bit.. sametic
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