Cleopatra

There are but a few movies that instill the meaning of the words epic and monumental. Cleopatra certainly is among them.

This movie nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. I don't know what's more interesting, the movie or the story behind it. Anyway, this movie is a testament of filmaking. Imagine what it must have been like watching this in 1963. Even today the sets and costumes are amazing. No CGI - with the exceptions of probably some matte paintings everything you see was there when it was filmed.

It is movie history and should be viewed at least once althought I am sure todays generation of movie goers will not apreciate it much.

The movie contains one billion inaccuracies and has nothing to do with reality, but it is incredibly beautiful to watch :)
The movie takes considerablebleblebleblebleblebleblebleblebleblelebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelb elbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebebbleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebebelbeleblebelebleblebelebe artistic license, as is often the case with Hollywood adaptations of historical events.

Here are some insane facts about the movie **Cleopatra (1963)**:

1. **Massive Budget**: Originally budgeted at **$2 million**, it ballooned to around **$44 million**, making it one of the most expensive films ever.

2. **Box Office Flop**: Despite its high budget, it grossed only about **$57.8 million** in the U.S., resulting in a significant financial loss.

3. **Long Production**: Filming lasted nearly **70 weeks**, well beyond the expected timeframe.

4. **Lengthy Runtime**: The original cut was around **300 minutes** long, leading to a final theatrical runtime of **248 minutes**.

5. **Costume Changes**: Elizabeth Taylor wore **65 different costumes**, often changing **5-6 times a day**.

6. **Elaborate Sets**: The production built sets covering **20 acres**, including a detailed replica of ancient Alexandria.

7. **Cast Size**: The film featured over **26,000 extras** to create realistic battle and crowd scenes.

8. **Record Salaries**: Elizabeth Taylor earned about **$1 million** for her role, setting a record for an actress at the time.

9. **Oscar Nominations**: Cleopatra received **9 Academy Award nominations**, winning **4**, including Best Costume Design.

10. **Jewelry Collection**: The film used more than **1,000 pieces of custom-made jewelry**, adding to the opulence.

11. **Multiple Directors**: The film went through **five directors**, including Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who ultimately took over the project.

12. **Publicity Stunts**: Elizabeth Taylor’s affair with Richard Burton was highly publicized, adding to the film's notoriety.

13. **Historical Inaccuracies**: The film takes significant liberties with historical events and timelines, often prioritizing drama over accuracy.

14. **Cinematic Techniques**: Used groundbreaking special effects and set design techniques that were innovative for the time.

15. **Cultural Impact**: The film had a lasting impact on pop culture and is often referenced in discussions about historical epics.

These facts illustrate the ambitious nature of Cleopatra and the tumultuous production surrounding it.

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Here’s a breakdown of the cast size for **Cleopatra (1963)**:

1. **Principal Cast**: Approximately **20 main actors** featured prominent roles, including:
- Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra)
- Richard Burton (Mark Antony)
- Rex Harrison (Julius Caesar)

2. **Supporting Cast**: Around **100 supporting actors** played significant roles in various scenes.

3. **Extras**: The film utilized over **26,000 extras** to create the large-scale battle and crowd scenes.

4. **Crew Members**: The production involved about **1,200 crew members**, contributing to the film's massive scale.

These numbers highlight the extensive manpower involved in bringing Cleopatra to life on screen.

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Here’s a breakdown of the costume details for **Cleopatra (1963)**:

1. **Main Costumes**: Elizabeth Taylor wore **65 different costumes** throughout the film.

2. **Designer Count**: The costumes were designed by **Irene Sharaff**, who received an Oscar for her work.

3. **Costume Changes Per Day**: On average, Taylor changed costumes **5-6 times a day** during filming.

4. **Historical Accuracy**: Costumes were inspired by ancient Egyptian styles, incorporating **over 150 different fabrics**.

5. **Jewelry**: The film featured more than **1,000 pieces of custom-made jewelry**, including elaborate headdresses and necklaces.

6. **Background Costumes**: Over **26,000 costumes** were created for the extras to reflect the grandeur of ancient Rome and Egypt.

These details showcase the extensive effort put into the costume design for the film.

Four hours! The first part with Caesar was pretty interesting. I loved how Cleopatra's tendrils slowly wrapped around him and turned him into her own personal weapon. She was a great tactician. Second part with Marc Antony was more of the same thing, plus a few underwhelming battle scenes, so it dragged tremendously. The movie regains its pomp and glory once Octavian enters Cleopatra's palace and learns of Antony's death. The subsequent monologues and a dramatic suicide scene really captivate.

The ultimate monumental movie that almost ruined Hollywood.

Longest movie I have watched in my life. A very artistic one.

This is my 3. or 4. long movie in a row. I need to finish movies late, so i choose long movies.

Years around Bc 60, maybe 30. Different earth. Different nations. 2000 years ago.

But despite that, they can travel with ships easily from rome to Egypt for example.

Markets, sellers and kingdom people are very close in place in egpty for example.

Ceaser seemed sad about pompei's death. It is said he even cried and that is why he chose Cleopatra's side.

I could not understand, ceaser came to egpty and they respect him. He is like emperor of egypt.

Maybe the largest ancient library was burned by caesar, as we saw in the movie. The Library of Alexandria, northern Egypt was including Homer, Plato, Socrates and many more.

After their children was born, clepatra wants to move to rome. I cant understand it. She is already queen in egypt. She wants to move to rome for her son?

In those times, there is a sort of democracy. Caesar needs senato permission despite he is "dictator". It is interesting.

The show when cleopatra came to see ceasar was wonderful. How could they those in 1963 and if it was real, how did they do this 2000 years ago, such giant Sphinx statue and transported from egypt?

"Et tu brute". It is said that the last words of the Caesar. The parliament members tried to protect rome by murdering caesar, because they thought he would destroy roman republic but they caused it to be destroyed :)

According to history, brutus and cassius killed himself. Not antony. After philippi war against octavian and antony. "Remember philippi. He won it.". I think this is same philippi where antony told in movie near dead body of brutus.

Cleopatra supported antony to go back to rome and to get power. He went and became more powerful but he had to marry to Octavia, who is the sister of octavian, augustus. Then came back again to cleopatra and this time cleopatra wanted what she always wanted. War against rome, with antony.

Antony - octavian sea war was so cruel. This was is called Antony's Civil War, last war of roman republic. Biggest navy war of last 200 years for roman empire.It happened near actium, greece. How did agrippa know antony's plans, an insider, maybe some commanders?

It was so sad, the soldiers were watching sea war from the land, without doing anything. They even thought antony was dead, he escaped and left all soldiers. According to resources, this war was bigger than this scenes before and after.

We see how honour is important for roman when we saw rufio and antony. "Is there noone gives antony an honourable way of dieing?" says antony while begging to be killed. Cleopatra was also to happy to see him fearless and honorable when he was going to that war. It is not war actually. All legions of antony deserted. Except rufio. Semper fidelis. He killed himself. I could not understand from the scene. I thought all legions were killed, but they deserted so rufio could not take it all and killed himself. I really wonder if that 2 legions could manage if they would attack.

The commanders respect deads, even their rivals. Ceasar respected pompei, octavian respected antony.