Historic , big-budgeted and breathtaking epic movie with stunningly mounted battle scenes , but overlong , and a little boring pacing ; being many years later remade by Oliver Stone (2003) in a mammoth version . The movie centers Alexander the Great (Richard Burton at his stormy best and subsequently played by Colin Farrell) , the famous Greek conqueror of the fourth century and disciple of Aristoteles , he was born in Pella and died Babylone (356-323 B.C) . He was son of Philip II (Fredric March and in Oliver Stone's rendition played by Val Kilmer) , King of Macedonya , who vanquished the Greeks in Queronea , unified the cities and Greece in the league of Corinto , but he was cruelly murdered . It starts the year 326 B.C. in a divided , troubled , bloody Greece . Olympia (a delightful Danielle Darrieux , later performed by Angelina Jolie) , Alexander's mother , will stop at nothing to rule over for her son and proclaim him King . Alexander , disciple of Aristoteles (Barry Jones , after interpreted by Christopher Plummer), will fight Persians commanded by Dario the Great (Harry Andrews) who will be vanquished in Granico, Issos and Gaugamela. Alexander conquered Tracia , destroyed Tebas , submitted Capadocia, Lydia , Biblos , Sidon , Tiro , Jerusalem , Susa , Babylone , Persepolis (with firing included), Mesopotamia , Asyria and founded Alexandropolis . Alexander resolved the Gordian knot (by king Gordio) whose prophecy would become him as Emperor of Asia . But a vengeful Alexander kills various friends and generals as Cleitos (Gustavo Rojo) , Parmenius (Niall MacGuinnis) and Philotas (Ruben Rojo) . Emperor Alexander married Babylonian princess named Roxana and arrived in Samarcanda , Khiver pass (Afganistan) , Hifasis and India , crossed the Hindo-Kush where he was infected by fevers and died at 33 years old (323 before Christ) . The empire will split amongst various generals : Ptolemy inherits Egypt and Palestina ; Antioco : Antioquia ; Seleuco takes Syria , and Casandro rules over Macedonia and Greece . So mighty ... it staggers the imagination !The Mighty Story of a Conqueror Who Believed He Was a God!.The colossus who conquered the world! .Conqueror of conquerors! Spectacle of spectacles! The colossus of motion pictures!
Big budget epic about the legendary Greek conqueror . Here we find Alexander is the result of a dysfunctional royal family who wishes create an idealized world modeled in Greek style , this he does by conquering all around the world before dying at the age of 33 years old . The overall casting is important , the remarkable ¨middle order actors¨ include prestigious British actors as Peter Cushing , Stanley Baker , Niall MacGuinnis , Claire Bloom, Michael Hordern as Demosthenes , Helmut Dantine , Barry Jones and Spanish players as Marisa De Leza as Euridice , Gustavo Rojo , Ruben Rojo , Julio Peña , Virgilio Texeira and many others . The great main and secondary casting help to overcome the sluggish developing . Film runtime results to be overlong and a little bit tiring because of the running is about two hours and some and it tires too much. At the picture there are historic events , overwhelming battles , spectacular scenarios and gorgeous landscapes . First-rate production design : impressive temples , palaces , monuments..,the several battle scenes are effectively staged by a cast of thousands , featuring loads of arrows and spears . Grateful acknowledge meant is made of the co-operation shown by the Spanish government , its Army, the Ministry of Information and Turismo and to the officials and people of the various localities in Spain in which this film was made , such as : Madrid , Manzanares , El Molar and Malaga. Colorful and riveting cinematography by Robert Krasker , in Technicolor and Cinemascope ; similar to extraordinary and fascinating Mario Nascimbene's musical score , being well conducted by Franco Ferrara . Robert Rossen's direction is nice , though some moments seem to be a bit confusing and embarrassing . Rating : Although is a much underrated epic , it turns out to be a good movie .
