An epic, spectacular love story, helmed by legendary director and screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Elizabeth Taylor.
Taylor shines in her iconic role, capturing the complexity and enduring allure of the enigmatic Egyptian queen as she manipulates both Julius Caesar (Harrison) and Mark Antony (Burton) in her ill-fated attempt to save the Egyptian empire. This threesome in one of the most famous and gloriously powerful love triangles ever to be captured on film.
Cleopatra is almost infamous for its exceedingly lavish production, which set new standards in Hollywood. Filmed in sumptuous Todd-AO and coloured by Deluxe, it boasts some of the most elaborate sets and costumes ever created, vibrantly bringing ancient Egypt and Rome to life with extraordinary detail across the 79 sets and 26,000 costumes created for the film.
Unpopular with initial audiences due to its indulgent pacing, plagued with controversy and despite notorious production challenges and immense budget, Cleopatra received acclaim for its sheer scale and ambition. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, and was nominated for nine, reflecting its exceptional craftsmanship. The film remains as a testament—and possibly a warning—of the heights and grandeur of Hollywood and is possibly the reason why they really don’t make them like this anymore.
DIRECTOR: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
CAST: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Pamela Brown, George Cole, Hume Cronyn
YEAR: 1963
COUNTRY: USA
PROJECTION FORMAT: Digital
DURATION: 265 mins
Age Guidance
PG
