A remarkably successful stab at Shakespeare.
Julius Caesar (1953)
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Reviews Counted:17
Fresh:17
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.8/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 2 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: William Shakespeare's multifaceted dialogue, layered upon complex human motivations, gives actors a chance to sink or shine, and in this film adaptation of JULIUS CAESAR, Marlon Brando, John... William Shakespeare's multifaceted dialogue, layered upon complex human motivations, gives actors a chance to sink or shine, and in this film adaptation of JULIUS CAESAR, Marlon Brando, John Gielgud, and James Mason prove themselves well up to the task, creating one of the most watchable versions of the tragic play. Warnings for Caesar to beware the Ides of March heighten a tension already made urgent by Cassius's exhortations to his fellow senators to assassinate Caesar before he gains more power. Controlled camera shots maintain the vintage stagelike feel of many scenes, reminding the viewer of JULIUS CAESAR's prestigious history, while characters flowing from one scene to the next break the play out of its past and into the more dynamic world as only the film drama can. The Oscar-nominated Brando's (as Marc Antony) powerful "Friends, Romans, countrymen" speech is the centerpiece of this masterwork, throbbing with pain, indignation, and secret intentions. This adaptation of the monumental play will reassure viewers that Shakespeare can be brought to marvelous, vibrant justice on the screen; it garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. [More]
Starring: John Gielgud, Marlon Brando, James Mason, Greer Garson
Starring: John Gielgud, Marlon Brando, James Mason, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, George Macready, Louis Calhern, Edmond O'Brien, Michael Pate
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Producer: John Houseman
Composer: Miklos Rozsa
Reviews for Julius Caesar
The whole piece moves at a pace, never sacrificing battle scenes or diversions to make it cinema.
Brando actually addresses the crowd he is speaking to, his searing eyes picking out stragglers and cutting them down
A tense, melodramatic story, clearly presented, and excellently acted by one of the finest casts assembled for a film.
Surprisingly, Mankiewicz's MGM version is intelligent, smooth, engaging, polished, and well acted by all involved, including Brando proving his detractors that he can handle any part, including Mark Antony.
Brando shows some surprising flair with the Tudor dialogue, but this adaptation needs a little brushing up.
While Brando's is scene stealing and Gielgud's is masterful, Mason's is emotional.
Latest News for Julius Caesar
July 21, 2008:
Brush Up On Your Shakespeare With Our List Of The Bard's Best Films
Friends, readers, Tomato-fans, lend me your ears. Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty, we at RT humbly present to you the Greatest Shakespeare Movies, a list of the Bard's... More...
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