A real tease that doesn't deliver. Just like the probable real life Cleopatra to any man without an empire to offer. The beautiful and realistic sets and costumes never go beyond a soap opera display. While some of the supporting actors (particularly Rex Harrison as Caesar) do a credible job, Richard Burton is a rather wooden Marc Anthony and Elizabeth Taylor is terrible. She seems more like a spoiled sixties era suburban brat than a ruthless but skilled queen accustomed to wielding power.
I always thought that Marie Windsor; although 10 years older than Taylor; would have been perfect for this role and might have rescued the film. Her age would even have been closer to the real Cleopatra's by the time she and Marc Anthony became joint rulers. I couldn't help giggling when people acted frightened of Queen Liz. She reminded me of a bossy older sister, whereas Queen Marie really would have made the audience shudder if she was angry. I could never understand why Windsor was relegated to B movies, but that's a subject of it's own.
The lack of good battle scenes was also disappointing. A real waste when you think of all the extras and money spent on authentic looking arms and armor. The vaunted sea battle was pretty ho-hum, not nearly as good as the one in Ben Hur. I actually enjoyed the overly melodramatic and less historically accurate 1934 "Cleopatra" much more. Some of the sexual metaphors; both verbal and visual; were really funny, and it was much more entertaining.
Lots of glitz and even some true dazzle. But not much substance, and pretty tedious for four freakin' hours. It didn't have to be this way. What a shame!
I always thought that Marie Windsor; although 10 years older than Taylor; would have been perfect for this role and might have rescued the film. Her age would even have been closer to the real Cleopatra's by the time she and Marc Anthony became joint rulers. I couldn't help giggling when people acted frightened of Queen Liz. She reminded me of a bossy older sister, whereas Queen Marie really would have made the audience shudder if she was angry. I could never understand why Windsor was relegated to B movies, but that's a subject of it's own.
The lack of good battle scenes was also disappointing. A real waste when you think of all the extras and money spent on authentic looking arms and armor. The vaunted sea battle was pretty ho-hum, not nearly as good as the one in Ben Hur. I actually enjoyed the overly melodramatic and less historically accurate 1934 "Cleopatra" much more. Some of the sexual metaphors; both verbal and visual; were really funny, and it was much more entertaining.
Lots of glitz and even some true dazzle. But not much substance, and pretty tedious for four freakin' hours. It didn't have to be this way. What a shame!