4/30/2020 Roman Empire Movies
This movie isn't to everyone's taste though. It's no longer than Ben-Hur, but it does feel very long. I'm a huge fan of Ancient Rome, from the wars, the politics, the religion, and the culture. The Fall of the Roman Empire is one of the most visually beautiful movies of all time. With the mixture of many perfect performances and a riveting. For everything to do with the Roman Kingdom, Republic and the Empire up until the fall of the Western Empire. Feel free to post about Roman architecture, military history, art, archaeological finds and anything else that has links to ancient Rome.
Running time188 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$16 millionBox office$4.8 millionThe Fall of the Roman Empire is a 1964 American directed by and produced by, with a screenplay by, Basilio Franchina. The film stars, and.The film was a. Critics criticized the script as void of emotion and humanity and the directing as misguided, but showed some praise for the large spectacles. It features the largest outdoor film set in the history of film, a 92,000 m 2 replica of the.The film's name refers not to the final, which did in fact survive for centuries after the period depicted in the film, but rather to the onset of corruption and decadence which led to Rome's. It deals extensively with the problem of imperial succession, and examines both the relationship between father and son on the background of imperial politics as well as the nature and limits of loyalty and friendship.The film's plot is only loosely based on actual historical events.
However, in the long-established view of Roman history, is considered as the last of the whose time is considered the best of Roman imperial history. Is generally considered to have fallen far below the standard set by his father and the four earlier Emperors, and his reign is considered as the beginning of the decline – though that would still take several centuries. Contents.Plot In the winter of 180 AD, the Roman emperor to keep from invading his northern territories on the Danube frontier (a war which in fact had been ongoing for over a decade, with no end in sight as of 180).
His deputies are the ex-slave Timonides, a closet, and the stern and honest general Gaius Livius. Livius has close connections with the imperial family, being the lover of Aurelius' philosopher daughter and a friend of her brother. Nevertheless, he is amazed to hear that Aurelius wants to make him his heir. Despite his military obligations the emperor has egalitarian ideals, dreaming of a day when Rome grants equal rights to men of all nations.
He knows that he will not live to achieve this end, and trusts Livius to do so more than his charismatic but brutal son. The discovery that his father has effectively disinherited him hurts Commodus immensely, and damages the almost brotherly relationship he had enjoyed with Livius.Aurelius summons all the governors of the Roman Empire to his headquarters, intending to announce Livius' future accession. Before he can do so he is poisoned by Commodus' cronies, who hope to secure their own political future by putting their friend on the throne. Sure enough, Livius feels that a non-aristocrat such as himself would never be accepted as emperor without Aurelius' explicit backing; he lets his old friend take the position instead. Commodus, who was not part of the murder plot, is left feeling helplessly angry at his deceased father. He dedicates himself to undoing all of Aurelius' policies; this involves blatant favoritism towards and, which are enriched by ferocious taxation of the provinces that were to be their equals.Meanwhile, Livius' army scores an important victory on the frontier, capturing the German chieftain and his aides. Timonides wins the Germans' trust by successfully undergoing an, having his hand thrust in a fire; with his help, Livius decides to put Aurelius' policy into effect despite disapproval from Commodus.
Lucilla helps convince Livius to defy the emperor, since she loved her father as much as Commodus hates him. A speech by Timonides persuades the to let the German captives become peaceful farmers on Italian land, thereby encouraging their fellow barbarians to cooperate with Rome instead of fighting it. Commodus is furious, and sends Livius back to his frontier post in what is effectively a sentence of banishment. Lucilla is forced to go to, with whose king she shares a loveless.Commodus is compelled to recall Livius in order to put down a rebellion by Rome's eastern provinces. When he arrives at the site of the unrest, Livius is horrified to find that Lucilla is behind it.
She tries to persuade him to join her in making a splinter state, free of her brother's influence, but he feels that Roman civilization will collapse if it is broken into pieces. The issue is settled in an unexpected manner when Lucilla's husband calls in Rome's archenemy the to help the rebelling forces fight Livius. The sight of the dreaded Persian cavalry so panics the defecting Romans that they go back over to Livius, swelling his army and allowing him to score an immense victory.
The king of Armenia is killed, and Commodus sends word that Livius is to be made joint ruler of Rome. The condition for this reward, however, is that Livius is to wreak hideous punishments on the populations of the disloyal provinces.Rejecting this latest piece of brutality, Livius and Lucilla take their army to Rome and order Commodus to abdicate.
He responds by bribing away the soldiers' loyalty and massacring Timonides and the population of the German colony (the latter action ensuring centuries of future hostility between Romans and Germans). The fawning Senate, and Livius and Lucilla are sentenced to be burned alive as human sacrifices to the new deity. This victory for Commodus is accompanied by a terrible private discovery – he is not of royal blood, being the product of illicit sex between his promiscuous mother and the gladiator Verulus, who has since served as the emperor's bodyguard. His mind unhinged by this great shame, Commodus makes the bizarre decision of challenging Livius to a duel for the throne. The two fight with in the, and Livius eventually runs Commodus through. The Senate hastily offer to make Livius emperor, but he refuses; the Roman government is now too corrupt for him to fix.
He slips away with Lucilla, leaving Commodus' old advisers to bicker about who will take the emperor's place.A voice-over states that this political infighting continued for the rest of Roman history, leading to the imperial government's eventual collapse.Cast. Statue from the movie, displayed at the studios in,In September 1961 Bronston announced he would make a trilogy of new historical spectacles in Spain: 55 days at Peking, Fall of the Roman Empire and The French Revolution, each with a budget of around $6 million and from scripts by Yordan.
The first to be made would be Fall, with Mann and Heston; then would come Peking which Bronston wanted to star, and to have a 'British director'; followed by French Revolution, which would be directed by.Heston disliked Yordan's script for The Fall of the Roman Empire. In November, Bronston presented Heston with a treatment for 55 Days at Peking and by this stage Ray was attached to direct. Heston decided to make the Peking movie and Fall was delayed.The film focused on a fifteen year period. Casting It was envisioned that Heston would be cast as Livius, but he turned it down. The part had also been offered to, who turned it down as well: Douglas was offered $1.5 million for his lead role.
He later said he regretted this 'because with $1.5 million there are lots of things you can do that you want to.' In May 1962 Bronston announced that Boyd, who played opposite to Heston in, would play the lead opposite.By September 1962 the female lead was being played by Sophia Loren at a fee of $1 million. Was offered the role of Lucilla but turned it down. In August 1962 was originally cast as Commodus.
In January 1963 he was replaced by Plummer. Plummer pulled out of to do so. Harris would later play the role of Marcus Aurelius in the similarly themed 2000 film.Guinness was cast as Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and during production, he became good friends with Loren. On an evening out, Loren persuaded Guinness to dance 'The ' with her, which he did for the first time in his life.
On the flight to Spain, one of the film's writers struck up a conversation with Guinness after seeing his working with the script; the actor stated that he disliked his lines and was rewriting them before starting memorization. Filming The film was shot in Ultra Panavision 70 by, and the historian was engaged to advise on period detail and plot. The Fall of the Roman Empire was one of Bronston's super-productions in Spain, with Marcus Aurelius's winter camp on the Danube shot in snow in the, northern. The 'Battle of the Four Armies' involved 8,000 soldiers including 1,200 cavalry and was shot on an undulating plain at which allowed large numbers of soldiers to be visible over a long distance. The film's reconstruction of the at Las Matas near, at 400 x 230 meters (1312 x 754 feet) holds the record for the largest outdoor film set.
The various ancient Rome settings covered 55 acres (220,000 m 2).The set was later used for the movie version of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Music 's score, which is one of the notable features of the film, is more than 150 minutes in length.
It is scored for a large orchestra, including an important part for cathedral organ. Several cues are extended compositions in their own right. These include Pax Romana in which Marcus Aurelius summons the governors of all the Roman provinces.
Although stated in his book on film music, The Composer in Hollywood, that it was a march, the cue is actually in the style of a.Other notable cues include those for The Roman Forum, composed to accompany Commodus's triumphal return to Rome as the newly installed Emperor; a percussive for a barbarian attack by Ballomar's army; the danced by the Roman mob on the evening presaging the gladiatorial combat between Livius and Commodus (which seems to be modelled on the Tarantella movement from the Piano Concerto of Tiomkin's teacher ).The music was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall. The music editor was, son of. A sound track album was released by to coincide with the release of the film. The Fall of the Roman Empire: Limited Edition No.TitleLength1.'
Fanfares and Flourishes'0:532.' The Fall of Love'2:374.' Lucilla's Sorrow'1:495.' Ballomar's Barbarian Attack'1:426.'
Pax Romana (Bolero)'5:2010.' The Prophecy'1:1011.'
Persian Battle'2:0612.' Dawn of Love'2:2313.' The Roman Forum'4:5114.' By Jove ('Triumph and End of Part 1')'0:4115.' Intermezzo: Livius and Lucilla ('The Fall of Love Intermission')'2:2116.' The Fall of Rome'2:1420.'
Dawn on the Northern Frontier ('Aurelius Awaits Dawn')'2:1821.' Arrival of Livius'1:0322.' Old Acquaintances 'Lucilla and Livius'4:3323.' Decoy Patrol ('The Signal to March')'1:0024.' Battle in the Forest/Reinforcements ('Barbarian Ambush 1 & 2')'3:5125.' Conflict in the Caverns ('Ballomar's Barbarian Attack Part 2')'1:4726.' Passing the Torch'2:3027.'
The Army Enters Rome/ The New God/The Challenge ('Commodus Deified')'4:04Release The film had its world premiere screening at the theater on March 24, 1964 and ran there for 70 weeks. In April 1964, the film was screened out of competition at the.
Sophia Loren was a guest, appearing at the premiere on a chariot. Prior to the film's release, columnist predicted in the that 'this beautiful, honest, superbly done film will make millions.'
Novelization A was published, also titled The Fall of the Roman Empire, written by (Fawcett Publications, Inc. & Frederick Muller Ltd., 1964). The cover of the novel is a screenshot from the film.
The text of the novel provides a more detailed exposition of the film's plot line. Other covers that were not screenshots of the film were used for this novel of the film.
Home media The first English-language DVD release was the basic theatrical release of the film, running for 2 hours 52 minutes, was first issued on DVD in 2004. A French DVD release, with sub-titles and/or French dubbing, and a full stereo soundtrack in both, had appeared in 2001.
A deluxe edition containing two-disks and a limited collector's edition containing three disks were released on April 29, 2008, but they do not feature lost footage discovered too late to be included. This footage will be featured in an upcoming edition.
The most complete version of the film was released on in the early 1990s, extracted from a 16mm print. The Blu-ray Disc was released in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2011.Reception Critical reaction of sharply criticized the film writing 'So massive and incoherent is it, so loaded with Technicolored spectacles, tableaus and military melees that have no real meaning or emotional pull, that you're likely to have the feeling after sitting through its more than three hours (not counting time out for intermission), that the Roman Empire has fallen on you. The reason it misses is obvious — misses as entertainment, that is, not as a mass of noisy footage that leaves the senses flattened and numbed. There isn't a character in it for whom you're made to care two hoots —or, indeed, made to feel is important, or, for that matter, made to understand. The fellows who wrote the screenplay — Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina and Philip Yordan—have failed completely to shape a drama that has human interest or even sense.'
Criticized the production design as well noting 'Bronston's Rome is patiently too fabulous to have been built in a day, but it doesn't look lived-in either. Director Anthony Mann makes it a picture-book setting aswarm with extras behaving like extras and movie stars all dressed up to face posterity in spanking new tunics, togas, and armor.'
Of wrote 'Never before have script writers (there were three involved) written a screenplay like this one, in which the two main parts are complete voids. One must assume Mr. Bronston offered Mr. Boyd and Miss Loren huge sums to journey to Spain for the movie, they took time only to read the contract and not the script Several others also appear to great disadvantage in the film, among them James Mason, Omar Sharif, Mel Ferrer, and Anthony Quinn.'
Scheuer, reviewing for the, felt the film was 'more like a recapitulation of all the great movie spectacles, historical and pseudo, than a monumental entity in itself.' He further wrote 'Yet the only emotion it engenders is excitement — intermittent excitement, and its art lies in its parts (the camera work, the color, a few of the performances, even the music) but not in their sum.
Its triumph is the triumphs of its technicians, of matter over mind.' In contrast, praised the film summarizing that 'Large in theme and concept, colorful in treatment, The Fall of the Roman Empire is Sam Bronston's greatest coup de cinema.' Among later reviews, Mike Cummings from gave the film a positive review, praising the film for its performances and musical score.awarded the film 3 1⁄ 2 out of 4 stars, stating, 'Intelligent scripting, good direction, and fine acting place this far above the usual empty-headed spectacle'.
Disliked the film at first and asked his Movies on TV readers to 'excuse the divine Sophia Loren for looking so uncomfortable,' but later reconsidered his opinion and rated it 3 out of 4 stars. On the review aggregator website, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.36/10.
Box office The film earned $4.8 million in domestic box office in the United States and Canada. Awards. for Best Original Score (nominated & won). for (nominated) Aftermath Following the release of The Fall of the Roman Empire, Bronston was slated to release (1964) in the following June. In March 1964, it was reported that took over the company, in which he had guaranteed completion bonds which guaranteed the films would be finished, and which enabled Bronston to raise finance. However, two months later, in June 1964, Bronston Production filed for which they reported they owed over $5.6 million in debts to du Pont. A notice in the New York Times on August 6, 1965, stated the cost of The Fall of the Roman Empire had totaled approximately $18.4 million.
He also announced his return with a planned epic about, but the film was never made. In June 1971, a court ordered Bronston to pay Du Pont $3 million.In later years, would acquire the US distribution rights to the film. After the founders and split with Miramax parent, they formed, who currently owns US distribution rights. UK distribution rights would pass to and subsequently. See also. – a 2000 film that also tells a fictionalized version of Commodus' reign. – a 2016 docuseries about the rise and fall of Commodus.
The, of which was the lastReferences. ^ Hopper, Hedda (March 20, 1964).
Los Angeles Times Part V, pg. The Numbers.
^ Crowther, Bosley (March 27, 1964). The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
^. Vol. 83 no. 15. April 10, 1964. Retrieved March 15, 2020. ^ Alpert, Hollis (April 4, 1964).
Saturday Review. P. 36 – via Unz Review. ^ Scheuer, Philip K (March 29, 1964). Los Angeles Times p.
March 25, 1964. Retrieved March 15, 2020. ^.
Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 20, 2015. BRONSTON PLANS 3 FILM SPECTACLES: Boxer Rebellion, Rome's Fall, French Revolt on AgendaBy EUGENE ARCHER. New York Times 12 Sep 1961: 36. Heston, October 6, 1961 p 164. Bronston 'Empire' Really Not Gibbon's: Mann Tells of Roman Epic; Mirisches Bag DirectorsScheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 30 Apr 1963: C9.
Kirk Douglas: Hollywood's Moverick-Agent-Star Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times February 14, 1971: r11.
Entertainment: Boyd Will Co-star in 'Roman Empire' Cast Opposite Lollobrigida; Hope Plans Film in AfricaHopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 14 May 1962: C12. Looking at Hollywood: Richard Burton to Do Film with Ava GardnerHopper, Hedda.
Chicago Tribune 16 May 1963: f6. 'NO STRINGS' SOLD TO FILM COMPANY: Seven Arts to Do Rodgers' Musical for '64 ReleaseBy EUGENE ARCHER. New York Times 29 Aug 1962: 20. Showmen Poll Led Again by Doris Day: Aldrich Picks Lollo, Ekberg; Hawks Plumps for OriginalsScheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 3 Jan 1963: C7.
Retrieved March 9, 2020. Movie Expatriates Think Big: FILM EXPATRIATES THINK BIGScheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 16 June 1963: B1. BRONSTON'S BONANZA IN A SPANISH SETTING: Party Responsible Church Accolade Quiet BeginningBy PAUL HOFMANN. New York Times (28 July 1963: 75. Some Funny Things Happen on the Set of 'Funny Thing'Scheuer, Philip K.
Los Angeles Times 29 Sep 1965: D12. La-La Land Records. Archived from on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012. Quinn Curtis, Thomas (April 30, 1964). The New York Times.
Amazon.com. Winkler, Martin M. (editor, 2009). The Fall of the Roman Empire: Film and History (p. West Sussex:. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
Leonard Maltin (2013). Penguin Publishing Group. P. 441. Scheuer, Steven H.
Bantam Books. – via Google Books. 'Big Rental Pictures of 1964'.
January 6, 1965. The New York Times. March 6, 1964. The New York Times. June 6, 1964.
'Film Maker Bankrupt'. The Washington Post, Times Herald. June 7, 1964. The New York Times. June 18, 1971. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
'Movie Producer Told to Pay $3 Million to Former Backer'. June 18, 1971.
P. 2.External links. on. at.
at the.
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
February 2023
Categories |