CLEOPATRA (1963)

 

Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Pamela Brown, George Cole, Hume Cronyn, Cesare Danova, Kenneth Haigh, Andrew Keir, Martin Landau, Roddy McDowall, Robert Stephens, Francesca Annis, Gregoire Aslan, Martin Benson, Herbert Berghof, John Cairney, Jacqui Chan, Isabelle Cooley, John Doucette, Andrew Faulds, Michael Gwynn, Michael Hordern, John Hoyt, Marne Maitland, Carroll O'Connor, Richard O'Sullivan, Gwen Watford, Douglas Wilmer, Marina Berti, John Karlsen, Loris Loddi, Jean Marsh, Gin Mart, Furio Meniconi, Del Russell, Kenneth Nash, John Valva, Finlay Currie, Laurence Naismith

251 minutes

(NR - adult themes)

PLOT:

In 48 B.C., Julius Caesar pursues Pompey from Pharsalia to Egypt. Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII, now supreme ruler after deposing his older sister, Cleopatra VII, attempts to gain favor with Caesar by presenting the conquerer with the head of Pompey, borne by his governors, Pothinus and Achillas. To win Caesar's support from her brother, Cleopatra hides herself in a rug, which Apollodorus, her servant, presents to Caesar. The Roman is immediately infatuated. Banishing Ptolemy, he declares Cleopatra Egypt's sole ruler and takes her as his mistress. A son, Caesarion, is born of their union. Caesar, however, must return to Italy. Although he is briefly reunited with Cleopatra during a magnificent reception for the Queen in Rome, Caesar is assassinated shortly thereafter, and Cleopatra returns to Egypt. When Mark Antony, Caesar's protégé, beholds Cleopatra aboard her elaborate barge at Tarsus some years later, he is smitten and becomes both her lover and military ally. Their liaison notwithstanding, Antony, to consolidate his position in Rome, marries Octavia, sister of the ambitious Octavian. The marriage satisfies no one. Cleopatra is infuriated, and Antony, tiring of his Roman wife, returns to Egypt. There he flaunts his liaison by marrying Cleopatra in a public ceremony. Sensing Antony's weakness, Octavian attacks and defeats his forces at Actium. Alarmed, Cleopatra withdraws her fleet and seeks refuge in her tomb.

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