Cleopatra
1963
***
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall, Martin Landau, Hume Cronyn, George Cole
Historical epics were immensely popular during the late 1950s and early 1960. In order to compete, each film had to be bigger than the one before. Joseph L. Mankiewicz's story of Cleopatra, Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar put an end to this era. It was a massive hit but so expensive that it couldn't possibly recoup its costs. The actual film is a bloated drama that you can enjoy for the excess on display. Different cuts of the film vary between 3 and 4 hours in length. Academy Award winner for cinematography, art direction, costumes and visual effects.
