The Fall of the Roman Empire

Anthony Mann (1964)

172min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tony Sloman

Producer Samuel Bronston's legacy of six European-shot epics looks more admirable as the years pass, and leaves one aching to see them once more in their full cinematic glory. Even on TV, though, they tend to impress, thanks to fine casting, superb art direction and majestic scoring. This is no exception - there's excellent chariot action and a wonderful, if brief performance by Alec Guinness as Marcus Aurelius. Sophia Loren has seldom looked lovelier opposite upright Stephen Boyd as the soldier hero, and the screenplay with its nods to historian Edward Gibbon is resolutely intelligent. The distinguished support cast ensures that this long movie never palls, and director Anthony Mann supplies his usual finesse, plus some exquisite widescreen vistas. Ridley Scott covered much the same narrative territory decades later with the Oscar-winning Gladiator in 2000.

Summary

Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius is poisoned by the henchmen of his mad son Commodus because he intends to hand power to the boy's more favoured and able adopted brother. But lacking sanity and authority, the usurper loses military control and Rome is overrun with barbarians. Historical drama, starring Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer, James Mason, Sophia Loren, Anthony Quayle and Omar Sharif.

Cast & Crew

Lucilla Sophia Loren

Livius Stephen Boyd

Marcus Aurelius Alec Guinness

Commodus Christopher Plummer

Timonides James Mason

Sohamus Omar Sharif

Verulus Anthony Quayle

Ballomar John Ireland

Cleander Mel Ferrer

Julianus Eric Porter

Niger Douglas Wilmer

Claudius Peter Damon

Polybius Andrew Keir

Victorinus George Murcell

Helva Lena von Martens

Virgilianus Norman Wooland

Marcellus Virgilio Teixeira

Caecina Finlay Currie

Marius Guy Rolfe

Director Anthony Mann

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: Rank Film Dists LtdAvailable on: video, DVD and Blu-ray

Drama

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Anthony Mann (1964)

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

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