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IMDbPro

Kleopatra

Original title: Cleopatra
  • 19631963
  • K-12K-12
  • 3h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
32K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,571
280
Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rex Harrison in Cleopatra (1963)
The story of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt who wants to stabilize her power by using the tensions in the Roman Empire.
Play trailer1:04
3 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt experiences both triumph and tragedy as she attempts to resist the imperial ambitions of Rome.Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt experiences both triumph and tragedy as she attempts to resist the imperial ambitions of Rome.Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt experiences both triumph and tragedy as she attempts to resist the imperial ambitions of Rome.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
32K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,571
280
  • Director
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
  • Writers
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz(screenplay)
    • Ranald MacDougall(screenplay)
    • Sidney Buchman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Elizabeth Taylor
    • Richard Burton
    • Rex Harrison
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
  • Writers
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz(screenplay)
    • Ranald MacDougall(screenplay)
    • Sidney Buchman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Elizabeth Taylor
    • Richard Burton
    • Rex Harrison
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 252User reviews
    • 88Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos3

    50th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition
    Trailer 1:04
    50th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition
    Cleopatra: (50th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]
    Trailer 1:02
    Cleopatra: (50th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]
    Halloween Costume Creations
    Video 1:50
    Halloween Costume Creations

    Photos251

    Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor, Francesca Annis, and Isabel Cooley in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor and Isabel Cooley in Cleopatra (1963)
    Roddy McDowall and Andrew Keir in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor and Rex Harrison in Cleopatra (1963)
    Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Hume Cronyn, and Isabel Cooley in Cleopatra (1963)
    Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, and Roddy McDowall in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison, and Loris Loddi in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor and Loris Loddi in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963)
    Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963)
    Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elizabeth Taylor
    Elizabeth Taylor
    • Cleopatraas Cleopatra
    Richard Burton
    Richard Burton
    • Mark Antonyas Mark Antony
    Rex Harrison
    Rex Harrison
    • Julius Caesaras Julius Caesar
    Pamela Brown
    Pamela Brown
    • High Priestessas High Priestess
    George Cole
    George Cole
    • Flaviusas Flavius
    Hume Cronyn
    Hume Cronyn
    • Sosigenesas Sosigenes
    Cesare Danova
    Cesare Danova
    • Apollodorusas Apollodorus
    Kenneth Haigh
    Kenneth Haigh
    • Brutusas Brutus
    Andrew Keir
    Andrew Keir
    • Agrippaas Agrippa
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • Rufioas Rufio
    Roddy McDowall
    Roddy McDowall
    • Octavian - Caesar Augustusas Octavian - Caesar Augustus
    Robert Stephens
    Robert Stephens
    • Germanicusas Germanicus
    Francesca Annis
    Francesca Annis
    • Eirasas Eiras
    Grégoire Aslan
    Grégoire Aslan
    • Pothinusas Pothinus
    • (as Gregoire Aslan)
    Martin Benson
    Martin Benson
    • Ramosas Ramos
    Herbert Berghof
    Herbert Berghof
    • Theodotosas Theodotos
    John Cairney
    John Cairney
    • Phoebusas Phoebus
    Jacqueline Chan
    Jacqueline Chan
    • Lotosas Lotos
    • (as Jacqui Chan)
    • Director
      • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    • Writers
      • Joseph L. Mankiewicz(screenplay)
      • Ranald MacDougall(screenplay)
      • Sidney Buchman(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In 48 B.C., Julius Caesar (Sir Rex Harrison) pursues Pompey from Pharsalia to Egypt. Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII (Richard O'Sullivan), now supreme ruler after deposing his older sister, Cleopatra VII (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), attempts to gain favor with Caesar by presenting the conquerer with the head of Pompey, borne by his governors, Pothinus (Grégoire Aslan) and Achillas (John Doucette). To win Caesar's support from her brother, Cleopatra hides herself in a rug, which Apollodorus (Cesare Danova), her servant, presents to Caesar. The Roman is immediately infatuated. Banishing Ptolemy, he declares Cleopatra Egypt's sole ruler and takes her as his mistress. A son, Caesarion (Loris Loddi), is born of their union. Caesar, however, must return to Italy. Although he is briefly reunited with Cleopatra during a magnificent reception for the Queen in Rome, Caesar is assassinated shortly thereafter, and Cleopatra returns to Egypt. When Mark Antony (Richard Burton), Caesar's protégé, beholds Cleopatra aboard her elaborate barge at Tarsus some years later, he is smitten and becomes both her lover and military ally. Their liaison notwithstanding, Antony, to consolidate his position in Rome, marries Octavia (Jean Marsh), sister of the ambitious Octavian (Roddy McDowall). The marriage satisfies no one. Cleopatra is infuriated, and Antony, tiring of his Roman wife, returns to Egypt. There he flaunts his liaison by marrying Cleopatra in a public ceremony. Sensing Antony's weakness, Octavian attacks and defeats his forces at Actium. Alarmed, Cleopatra withdraws her fleet and seeks refuge in her tomb. —alfiehitchie
    egyptqueenepicpeplumsword and sandal502 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The motion picture the world has been waiting for!
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • K-12
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Writer and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz hoped that this movie would be released as two separate movies, "Caesar and Cleopatra", followed by "Antony and Cleopatra". Each was to run approximately three hours. Twentieth Century Fox decided against this and premiered the movie at 4 hours 3 minutes. More cuts pared the movie to three hours fourteen minutes for general release. It is hoped that the missing two hours will be located, and that one day a six-hour "Director's Cut" will be available.
    • Goofs
      When Caesar is saying goodbye to Cleopatra in Alexandria before sailing back to Rome, one of his aides hurries him by warning, "Caesar, I'm afraid the tides will soon be against you." In fact, the Mediterranean Sea has no tides, or, more precisely, its tides are so minimal that they don't affect navigation. No ship sailing from a Mediterranean port would have to worry about catching a tide.
    • Quotes

      Cleopatra: How DARE you and the rest of your barbarians set fire to my library! Play conqueror all you want, Mighty Caesar! Rape, murder, pillage thousands, even millions of human beings! But neither you nor any other barbarian has the right to destroy one human thought!

    • Alternate versions
      Premiered at a length of 243 minutes. A week after the premiere, the film was reduced to 222 minutes, and edited further to 194 minutes for general release. The 194-minute version was the default broadcast television version for years; home video and cable television releases are of the full-length cut.
    • Connections
      Edited into Marilyn: Something's Got to Give (1990)

    User reviews252

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A Film Of Two Halves
    First of please note this is a review of the recent restored DVD version of the film not the savagely cut older version of the film.

    Having watched the documentary on this film it seems amazing this film was ever completed how the director managed to get anything even vaguely coherent to the screen is a minor miracle in itself. Cleopatra is a luscious period epic and it's clear no expense was spared on either scenery or costumes, gorgeous to look at but somehow unsatisfying at the end. The movie seems to lose it's way half way through as Rex Harrison departs so for me does the quality of this movie.

    It's difficult to tell whether this is due to over the top performances from Taylor and Burton or the forced cuts to reduce the running time. Roddy McDowell is the highlight of the 2nd half of the film and i'm sure Joaquin Phoenix must have researched his role for Gladiator here, McDowell's Octavian is chilling in the extreme. But the rest of the 2nd half of the movie descends into melodrama, where the 1st gave us the excellent Harrison restrained and regal as Ceaser the 2nd gives us real life lovers Burton and Taylor locked in an over-acted doomed romance. But throughout the film there are supporting actors giving first class performances that without the cuts would be interesting to see Martin Landau, Andrew Keir, Hume Cronyn and George Cole all have their moments it's just a shame there aren't more of them.

    If I could split my vote over the two halves of the movie the first half would get 9/10 the 2nd 6/10 as I can't I'm going with a 7/10 overall.
    helpful•90
    31
    • no-skyline
    • Nov 2, 2005

    FAQ13

    • Is 'Cleopatra' based on a book?
    • How historically accurate is this movie?
    • Where is Alexandria located? How far is it from Rome?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 11, 1963 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • 20th Century Studios (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cleopatra
    • Filming locations
      • Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • MCL Films S.A.
      • Walwa Films S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $44,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,777,778
    • Gross worldwide
      • $57,777,778
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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