Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)

At the height of the Roman Civil War, a young Cleopatra meets a middle-aged Julius Caesar, who teaches her how to rule Egypt.

Director:

Gabriel Pascal

Writers:

George Bernard Shaw (scenario) (as Bernard Shaw), George Bernard Shaw (dialogue) (as Bernard Shaw)

Stars:

Claude Rains, Vivien Leigh, Stewart Granger

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Claude Rains	...	Caesar
Vivien Leigh	...	Cleopatra
Stewart Granger	...	Apollodorus
Flora Robson	...	Ftatateeta
Francis L. Sullivan	...	Pothinus
Basil Sydney	...	Rufio
Cecil Parker	...	Britannus
Raymond Lovell	...	Lucius Septimius
Anthony Eustrel	...	Achillas
Ernest Thesiger	...	Theodotus
Anthony Harvey	...	Ptolemy
Robert Adams	...	Nubian Slave
Olga Edwardes	...	Cleopatra's Lady Attendant
Harda Swanhilde	...	Cleopatra's Lady Attendant
Michael Rennie	...	1st. Centurion

Storyline

Cleopatra hasn't been on the throne of the pharoahs of Egypt very long when Julius Caesar pays a visit. Caesar finds the prospect of romance more tempting than he expected, since Cleopatra is a rare woman who is bright as well as beautiful. And for Cleopatra, a friendly relationship with the most powerful man in the world may pay dividends in the future.

---

Plot Keywords:

character names as title | cleopatra character | julius caesar character | egypt | 1st century b.c. | 

---

Taglines:

Days of magnificent adventure... nights of maddest revelry... a temptation in Technicolor!

---

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History | Romance | War

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 September 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Caesar and Cleopatra

Filming Locations:

Egypt

Box Office

Budget:

£1,278,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$4,905,000, 31 December 1945

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,705,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gabriel Pascal Productions, Independent Producers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min 128 min (Encore-Action Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Flora Robson played "Ftatateeta", a servant of Queen Cleopatra, played by Vivien Leigh. In Fire Over England (1937), Leigh played "Cynthia", a servant of Queen Elizabeth I, played by Robson.

---

Goofs

In the opening scene, very strong multiple shadows in different directions give away the locations of very close stage lights.

---

Quotes

Julius Caesar: Is it sweet or bitter to be a queen?
Cleopatra: Bitter.
Julius Caesar: Cast out fear, and you will conquer Caeser.

---

Connections

Featured in Larry and Vivien: The Oliviers in Love (2001)

User Reviews

Rains a Perfect Caesar in this Magnificent Shavian Spectacle

Cleopatra and Julius Caesar carry on an arch flirtation, while spouting epigrams courtesy of George Bernard Shaw, in this literate, exuberant and thoroughly enjoyable movie. "Caesar and Cleopatra" stands out against the typical British production, which tends to be drab and morose. (Other notable exceptions are the works of Pressberger & Powell, the Korda brothers and Olivier.)

Claude Rains is perfectly cast as the cynical, world-weary and "ready for the knife" Julius Caesar. I'm not sure if it's makeup, or perhaps lighting, but Rains's face looks like it was taken from one of those memorial portraits in the Roman catacombs. In any case, while it may be Caesar's countenance we see, it's Shaw's voice we hear. I love Claude Rains in everything, but there's an intimacy with Rains here that makes "Caesar and Cleopatra" one of my Rains favorites.

And Vivian Leigh. What can I say? Her Cleopatra is Scarlett O'Hara, except that while Scarlett's flirtations were matters of the heart, Cleopatra's were purely matters of state. In the beginning Cleopatra is a sheltered, naive...well, princess. By the end, she has learned well at Caesar's knee and possesses the ruthlessness and guile of statecraft - she is a queen.

Another delight is Stewart Granger's swashbuckling Apollodorus, and Flora Robson has a delicious part as Cleopatra's nursemaid Ftatateeta. Robson is well qualified as a tutor of royalty, having herself played Queen Elizabeth in "Fire over England".

Like another classic British spectacle, "The Four Feathers," "Caesar and Cleopatra" is one of the treasures in my film archive which I view repeatedly alone.