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Movies / On DVD / Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar

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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

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Julius Caesar

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1 - 17 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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A remarkably successful stab at Shakespeare.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The whole piece moves at a pace, never sacrificing battle scenes or diversions to make it cinema.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brando actually addresses the crowd he is speaking to, his searing eyes picking out stragglers and cutting them down

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
02/07/09
Paul Brenner
Paul Brenner
Filmcritic.com

The best Shakespeare that Hollywood has yet produced.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
07/09/08
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A tense, melodramatic story, clearly presented, and excellently acted by one of the finest casts assembled for a film.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/09/08
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Unimaginative but intelligent.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
07/09/08
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

No review available.

comment Comment
05/07/07
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com

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.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
07/14/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Brando, Gielgud and Mason are slightly superb.

comment Comment
05/31/05
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

A terrific Hollywood version of a Shakespeare play.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
08/09/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
05/14/04
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Lavish, starstruck and for the most part, splendid.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/30/03
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A stirring and memorable film.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
03/08/03
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
12/30/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Brando shows some surprising flair with the Tudor dialogue, but this adaptation needs a little brushing up.

comment Comment
07/30/02
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Lybarger Links

While Brando's is scene stealing and Gielgud's is masterful, Mason's is emotional.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Ted Prigge
Ted Prigge
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
1 - 17 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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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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