Julius Caesar (1953)

The growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate Caesar but they have both sorely underestimated Mark Antony.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Louis Calhern, Marlon Brando, James Mason

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 7 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:

bust sculpture | julius caesar character | marc antony character | brutus character | calpurnia character | 

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Taglines:

MGM's acclaimed production of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director John Huston described Brando's intense Method acting in the film as "like a hot furnace opening in a dark room."

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Goofs

When Caesar is in the top of the stairs talking to Cassius, Brutus, and others just before he is murdered, the people behind him change 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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Alternate Versions

Also shown in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Peter Boyle/Al Jarreau (1976)

User Reviews

Rare Excellence

Watching Julius Caesar in 2007, I still think it is a work of art. Being a Shakespeare student myself, I know that his plays are very demanding and on that Joseph L. Mankiewicz has stood up to my expectations.

While reading , we form a picture in our mind of the setting ,the dialog, the expressions,how the characters would look and how they would move on stage and I found that the same were portrayed on screen. The director truly made his vision come to life!

All the actors were great, again kudos to the director. Marlon Brando was just superb as Antony. His funeral oration was an indescribable masterpiece. I didn't expect it to be that good! Among the others,James Mason did quite a good job as Brutus. Louis Calhern, though had a small bit, didn't fail to leave an impact as the great and mighty (and ambitious) Julius Caesar. I also liked Greer Garson as Calpurnia.

Coming to the actors Octavius Caesar was a disappointment, I blame the editor of the script for this. Octavius was supposed to be brought out as the heir of Ceasar. The prevalence of Caesarism, which was not properly brought out in the movie.

The dialog is picked up directly from the play, but quite a bit has been cut off.....which was the only other disappointing thing in the movie. Shakespearean language is not all that difficult to understand in the movie mainly because we can see it being enacted out. All that you simply fail to understand is simply not all that important.

Overall the movie was great and I will not forget to watch it a day before my tests! Julius Caesar was a great feat in the history of cinema.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Julius Caesar

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$2,070,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,831

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1