Caesar and Cleopatra (film)

Infobox Film
name = Caesar and Cleopatra


caption =
director = Gabriel Pascal
producer = Gabriel Pascal
writer = George Bernard Shaw
starring = Claude Rains
Vivien Leigh
editing =
released = 1945
runtime = 123 min
country = UK
language = English
imdb_id = 0038390

"Caesar and Cleopatra" is a 1945 film starring Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh, produced and directed by Gabriel Pascal from the 1901 play by George Bernard Shaw.

Plot Synopsis

Cleopatra hasn't been on the throne of the pharoahs of Egypt very long when Julius Caesar pays a visit. Caesar finds the prospect of romance more tempting than he expected, since Cleopatra is a rare woman who is bright as well as beautiful. And for Cleopatra, a friendly relationship with the most powerful man in the world may pay dividends in the future. [Amazon.com product description]

Production

Filmed in Technicolor with lavish sets, the production was reported to be the most expensive film ever made in Britain at that time. Producer director Gabriel Pascal ordered sand from Egypt to get the right cinematic color. It was described as a "box office stinker" at the time, and virtually ended Pascal's career. It was the last film version of a Shaw play approved by the author. After Shaw's death in 1950 Pascal went on to produce one more Shaw film, the 1952 version of "Androcles and the Lion".

Cast

* Claude Rains - Julius Caesar
* Vivien Leigh - Cleopatra
* Stewart Granger - Apollodorus
* Flora Robson - Ftatateeta
* Francis L. Sullivan - Pothinus
* Basil Sydney - Rufio
* Cecil Parker - Britannus
* Raymond Lovell - Lucius Septimus
* Ernest Thesiger - Theodotus
* Anthony Harvey - Ptolemy
* A 17 year old Roger Moore appears in the film (uncredited).
* Jean Simmons has a non-speaking role as a harpist.
* John Gielgud was Shaw's first choice for the role of Caesar but declined the offer after meeting with the director Gabriel Pascal and taking an instant dislike towards him. [Croall, Jonathan, "Gielgud: A Theatrical Life 1904-2000", Continuum (2001) pg. 360]

References

Notes

Bibliography

*The Great British Films, pp 97-101, Jerry Vermilye, 1978, Citadel Press, ISBN 080650661X

External links

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* [http://www.vivien-leigh.com/photos/ Movie Production Stills 1]
* [http://www.wepwawet.nl/films/1946%20Caesar%20and%20Cleopatra%5Cpics.html Movie Production Stills 2]
* [http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2847670553/ Trailer for Caesar and Cleopatra] (Video)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9iLtivLQjA&eurl Gabriel Pascal directs Shaw's 'Caesar and Cleopatra' 1945] (Newsreel)
* [http://www.amps.net/newsletters/newformat/Issue36/Issue36_4.htm Film Facts]