Titus (1999)

Titus returns victorious from war, only to plant the seeds of future turmoil for himself and his family.

Director:

Julie Taymor

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Julie Taymor (screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Osheen Jones

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Osheen Jones	...	Young Lucius
Dario D'Ambrosi	...	Clown
Anthony Hopkins	...	Titus Andronicus
Jessica Lange	...	Tamora
Raz Degan	...	Alarbus
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Chiron
Matthew Rhys	...	Demetrius
Harry Lennix	...	Aaron
Angus Macfadyen	...	Lucius
Kenny Doughty	...	Quintus
Blake Ritson	...	Mutius
Colin Wells	...	Martius
Ettore Geri	...	Priest
Alan Cumming	...	Saturninus
Constantine Gregory	...	Aemelius

Storyline

War begets revenge. Victorious general, Titus Andronicus, returns to Rome with hostages: Tamora queen of the Goths and her sons. He orders the eldest hewn to appease the Roman dead. He declines the proffered emperor's crown, nominating Saturninus, the last ruler's venal elder son. Saturninus, to spite his brother Bassianus, demands the hand of Lavinia, Titus's daughter. When Bassianus, Lavinia, and Titus's sons flee in protest, Titus stands against them and slays one of his own. Saturninus marries the honey-tongued Tamora, who vows vengeance against Titus. The ensuing maelstrom serves up tongues, hands, rape, adultery, racism, and Goth-meat pie. There's irony in which two sons survive.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | year 400 | bow the weapon | housefly | hunt | 

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Taglines:

The fall of an empire is nothing compared to the descent of man.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violent and sexual images

Details

Official Sites:

Polish distributor Official site to Titus

Country:

USA Italy UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

11 February 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tit Andronik

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,313, 26 December 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,921,350, 21 May 2000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,007,290, 19 May 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clear Blue Sky Productions,Overseas FilmGroup,Urania Pictures S.r.l.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

162 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Chiron (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and Demetrius (Matthew Rhys) dress as Rape and Murder, Titus grabs Rape and begins to grind up against him. Jonathan Rhys Myers had no idea that Sir Anthony Hopkins was going to do this, and his reaction in the film is completely genuine.

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Goofs

When Aaron speaks saying: "Come on, my lords, the better foot before: Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit Where I espied the tiger fast asleep." His actually says "panther" as opposed to "tiger" (as is written in the original play).

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Quotes

Lucius: [Last lines of the film] Go some of you, bear Saturninus hence, and give him burial in his father's grave. My father and Lavinia shall forthwith be closed in our household's monument. As for that ravenous tiger, Tamora, no funeral rite nor man in mourning weeds, no mournful bell shall ring her burial! But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey! Her life was beast-like and devoid of pity. And being dead, let birds on her take pity!

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Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Matrix Reloaded (2015)

User Reviews

Beautiful adaptation

This film demonstrates how a stage director can combine the unique atmosphere of theater with the stark realism--and fantastic effects-- of film and make a beautiful, moving masterpiece. The words are Shakespeare, the staging is fabulous, the costumes and sets are remarkable and memorable. Jessica Lange and Anthony Hopkins and Alan Cummings radiate. Seeing Titus leaves one exhausted and exhilarated, believing one has seen true, gifted, timeless film making.

Titus is one of Shakespeare's little-known, earlier works, and it is a violent, disturbing tragedy. The producer and director took incredible risks to bring this remarkable experience to you. I know you will be moved.