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Cleopatra Overview:

Cleopatra (1963) was a Biographical - Drama Film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Rouben Mamoulian (uncredited) and Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited) and produced by Walter Wanger and Peter Levathes.

SYNOPSIS

A long, sprawling, and spectacular love story depicting Cleopatra's manipulation of Caesar and Marc Antony in her ill-fated attempt to save the Egyptian Empire. Film was cut from 243 minutes to 222 at the time of its release. The most expensive film of its time, due largely to overruns caused by Taylor and Burton's tempestuous relationship on and offscreen. Launched in the tabloids. It survived multiple starts and stops, and the near-bankruptcy of Fox, to become big box office.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1963 --- Ceremony Number 36 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best CinematographyVictor MilnerWon
Best Film EditingAnne BauchensNominated
Best PictureParamountNominated
Best ActorRex HarrisonNominated
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith, Hilyard Brown, Herman Blumenthal, Elven Webb, MauricWon
Best Costume DesignIrene Sharaff, Vittorio Nino Novarese, RenieWon
Best Film EditingDorothy SpencerNominated
Best Music - ScoringAlex NorthNominated
Best PictureWalter Wanger, ProducerNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Cleopatra BlogHub Articles:

Cleopatra (1963)

By Beatrice on Dec 21, 2017 From Flickers in Time

Cleopatra Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz Written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Ranald MacDougall, and Sidney Buchman based on ancient histories and a book “The Life and Times of Cleopatra” by Carlo Maria Franzero 1963/Switzerland/UK/USA Twentieth Century Fox/MCL Films S.A./Walwa Films S.... Read full article

César e Cleópatra (1945)

By Lê on Nov 2, 2015 From Critica Retro

César e Cleópatra (1945) Você deve saber que Elizabeth Taylor foi a primeira atriz de cinema a receber um milhão de dólares por um único filme: “Cleópatra”, em 1963. Antes dela, outras atrizes já haviam interpretado a mais famosa rainha do Egito, entre elas Theda Bara, Cla... Read full article

Celebrate Cleopatra!

By Jill Blake on Jun 13, 2013 From Sittin' on a Backyard Fence

Here at The Fence, we will be giving away 2 copies of the newly restored Cleopatra 50th Anniversary release, courtesy of Fox. To enter, please send an email to sittinonabackyardfence@gmail.com. In the subject, “Cleopatra giveaway.” Please include your name, email, and website (if applica... Read full article

Win a Copy of Cleopatra 50th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray

By Brandy Dean on May 31, 2013 From Pretty Clever Films

The iconic historical epic Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor and and Richard Burton, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of this milestone, Cleopatra has been restored and released on Blu-ray for the first time in a 2-disc package that features a full-color book with rare images a... Read full article

Win a Copy of Cleopatra on Blu-ray!

on May 30, 2013 From Journeys in Classic Film

I mentioned it on Twitter a  few days ago, but the fantastic folks at Cinemark have sent me a few Cleopatra Blu-rays to offer to you lovely people.  I have THREE Blu-rays to give away and here’s what you need to enter: HOW TO ENTER: Since these are awesome, I’m going to have to enforce... Read full article

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Cleopatra Quotes:

Octavian: Is that how one says it? As simply as that. "Mark Antony is dead. Lord Antony is dead." "The soup is hot; the soup is cold." "Mark Antony is living; Mark Antony is dead." Shake with terror when such words pass your lips, for fear they be untrue and Antony'd cut out your tounge for the lie! And if true, for your lifetime boast that you were honored to speak his name even in death. Dying, of such a man, must be shouted, screamed! It must dare go back from the corners of the universe. "Antony is dead! Mark Antony of Rome lives no more!"
Agrippa: Nothing bores me so much as an intellectual!
Julius Caesar: Makes a better admiral of you, Agrippa.
Julius Caesar: Germanicus! A guard to escort Queen Cleopatra to her apartments.
Germanicus: Guard!
Cleopatra: The corridors are dark gentlemen, but you mustn't be afraid. I am with you.
Cleopatra: I am the Nile. I will have sons. Isis has told me.
Cleopatra: Catullus doesn't approve of you. Why haven't you had him killed?
Julius Caesar: Because *I* approve of *him.*
See More Quotes from Cleopatra
Cleopatra Facts
John Hoyt, who plays Cassius, the chief conspirator against Julius Caesar, played the role of Decius Brutus, another of the conspirators, in both Orson Welles's 1937 Fascist-themed stage production of Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar', and in MGM's more traditional 1953 film version of the play.
Rex Harrison had a clause in his contract stipulating that whenever a picture of Richard Burton appeared in an ad, so would his. A large sign was put up on Broadway showing only Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. After Harrison's lawyers complained, the studio fulfilled the contract by placing a picture of Harrison on one corner of the billboard.
Taylor's illness prevented her from working again in England's weather for several months. Therefore the production moved to Rome. The sets and the footage already shot were scrapped. (See also Carry on Cleo).
When Walter Wanger's first choice for director insisted that Caeser was a homosexual, 'Spyrous Skouras' told the producer not to hire him. Skouras reasoned, "To hell with history. I want a triangle with two men and one woman. Having one of the greatest men in history as a homo isn't box office!"
Marlon Brando was sought for the role of Marc Antony but was attached to Mutiny on the Bounty.
See More Facts about Cleopatra >>