DecimusCaesar Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 (edited) Recently I brought both Ben-Hur and Cleopatra (Taylor, Burton film) and I was half way through viewing it. I've thought it odd that I've been interested in ancient Rome for many years but I have never really seen many of the 'Classic' films or tv shows about this period. I currently have: Ben-Hur (1959 and 1925 Versions) Spartacus (1960) Cleopatra (1963) I, Claudius (1976) Gladiator (2000) Julius Caesar (2002 - Jeremy Sisto/Uli Edel Version) Rome - Series 1 (2005) Could anyone recommend a good film/show about this era ? What are your own thoughts on the films/Tv shows I've listed? Did you enjoy or hate them? Edited September 2, 2007 by DecimusCaesar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 The Jeremy Sisto "Julius Caesar" had some nice moments. Sulla was presented as the wicked old villain that he was. The depiction of Pompey was among the best I've seen -- you could actually imagine him as the sort for whom Caesar would carry water. Christopher Walken as Cato was simply funny (and, again, TOO OLD). While Sisto was a good young Caesar, he didn't hold a candle to the Hinds performance in HBO's Rome which was pitch perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Despite the typical Hollywood inaccuracies I very much enjoyed "Fall of the Roman Empire" with Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, etc. Of all the big epics of the 50's and 60's this one is often forgotten, but it shouldn't be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavia Gemina Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 The best and most accurate film about ancient Rome is the 1966 musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! Am I right, Nephele? Or am I right? It is absolutely brilliant. Not only based on the musicals of the 3rd century BC playwright Plautus, but with wonderful throwaway scenes of a marble cutter, barbers, tavern with dice, bakers, baths, Roman kitchen, inner gardens, arena, temple of vesta and chariot waterskiing. It also has crafty slaves, a stupid but likeable hero (name Hero), a lusty father, a dominating mother, and children stolen in infancy by pirates. Oh and beautiful slave girls. 'That's for those of you who have absolutely no interest in pirates!' Buy it and enjoy! Flavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nephele Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 The best and most accurate film about ancient Rome is the 1966 musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! Am I right, Nephele? Or am I right? You are right, Flavia! I love AFTHotWttF for all the reasons you cited, not least of all being that it gets down and dirty with the scenes of ancient Roman city life. Not at all like the glitzy Hollywood productions that made ancient Rome look like a pristine Disney theme park. AFTHotWttF gets my vote for best film of ancient Rome! "Would you believe it? There was a mare sweating not two streets from here!" -- Nephele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursus Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 "Spartacus" has some of the best movie moments in history, given the quality of the actors, but one must not take it as a shining example of historicism. I wouldn't recommend "Gladiator" for anything beyond the opening battle sequence. The Season 1 DVD of HBO-Rome is near the top of my list. I haven't seen Season 2, but I'm told it suffers by comparison. Anyone ever see a young Marlo Brando as Antony in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar"? Quite powerful, I thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavia Gemina Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 HBO's Rome is a superb portrayal of ancient Rome ... as long as you ignore what's going on in the foreground and watch it on mute! And I've often thought that Fellini's Satyricon might be the closest thing to what ancient Rome was really like. Creepy, brutal, beautiful, terrifying and pornographic! *shudder!* Flavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flavia Gemina Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 "Would you believe it? There was a mare sweating not two streets from here!" -- Nephele Philia: 'He raped my country Thrace! And then he came and did it again, and again!' Pseudolus: 'He raped Thrace thrice?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nephele Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 "Would you believe it? There was a mare sweating not two streets from here!" -- Nephele Philia: 'He raped my country Thrace! And then he came and did it again, and again!' Pseudolus: 'He raped Thrace thrice?' Pseudolus (examining an amphora of wine): "Was '1' a good year?" -- Nephele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Nero Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 (edited) Recently I brought both Ben-Hur and Cleopatra (Taylor, Burton film) and I was half way through viewing Cleopatra. I've thought it odd that I've been interested in ancient Rome for many years but I have never really seen many of the 'Classic' films or tv shows about this period. I currently have: Ben-Hur (1959 and 1925 Versions) Spartacus (1960) Cleopatra (1963) I, Claudius (1976) Gladiator (2000) Julius Caesar (2002 - Jeremy Sisto/Uli Edel Version) Rome - Series 1 (2005) Could anyone recommend a good film/show about this era ? What are your own thoughts on the films/Tv shows I've listed? Did you enjoy or hate them? I think "I, Claudius" is the best Roman drama I've seen on Televison, every episode is a gem . And you just gotta love the title theme music . Edited July 7, 2007 by Drusus Nero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nephele Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 I think "I, Claudius" is the best Roman drama I've seen on Televison, every episode is a gem .And you just gotta love the title theme music . I enjoyed I, Claudius immensely, too, and have probably watched it now more than a dozen times through. But last year I was introduced to The Caesars, a black & white production that pre-dated I, Claudius, and I found it absolutely outstanding. Tiberius isn't quite the monster in The Caesars as he winds up becoming in I, Claudius and, interestingly, the same actor who plays Tiberius' sidekick astrologer appears in the same role in both productions. The Caligula of The Caesars is a truly frightening, calculating piece of work. (I'm sorry, but John Hurt's Caligula in I, Claudius just seemed nuts, to me.) Freddie Jones, although perhaps not as endearing as Derek Jacobi in his I, Claudius role, nevertheless made a brilliant Claudius in The Caesars. The Caesars definitely gets my recommendation. -- Nephele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecimusCaesar Posted July 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Thanks for all your recommendations! I'll try and get a hold of some of them in the next few weeks. I forgot about 'Fall of the Roman Empire' and 'The Caesars' so thanks for the suggestion PP and Nephele. A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum sounds very interesting Flavia, so I'll definately try and get a copy of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Nero Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 It's straying off the subject a bit, I heard once about a character called Falco in a series of books set in ancient Rome, but done in a sort of Philip Marlowe style private detective novel. That idea sounds quite amusing!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 (edited) Ursus said: I wouldn't recommend "Gladiator" for anything beyond the opening battle sequence. Yes, but what a great opening scene it was! Despite the many obvious historical inaccuracies (where are the pila when you need them?), the opening battle scene was very powerful. I even enjoyed the ridiculous and unlikely musings of Marcus Aurelius about returning the power to the Senate. I've watched the opening scenes dozens of times. I don't think I've ever watched the entire movie beyond Aurelius's death, however. Edited March 19, 2022 by guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASCLEPIADES Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 (edited) I, Claudius (1976) The best. Check it out in UNRV. Edited August 11, 2007 by ASCLEPIADES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.