Julius Caesar

Rating:
Summary: Fine Performance by Heston but I prefer the Brando version
Review: Charlton Heston does an admirable job as Marc Antony in this 1970 version of Shakespeare's play. Certainly you will come away from this film wishing he had performed more Shakespeare on film. However, I must admit a strong preference for Marlon Brando's performance in the same role in the 1953 version of "Julius Caesar," and especially the funeral scene where the performance of the mob is equal to that of the actor in the pulpit. It would have been equally worthwhile to see Brando attempt more of the Bard as well.

I also find that across the board the acting is slightly better in the earlier version. In this color version it is strange to see Jason Robards, Jr., who made his reputation performing the works of Eugene O'Neill on the stage, flounder so badly with Shakespeare, and I have to admit his performance gets in the way of my enjoyment of this film. Of the other actors it is interesting to see John Gielgud take on the title role since he played the lean and hungry Cassius in the earlier version, a joy to see Diana Rigg nail her significant scene as Portia, and a bit disconcerting to see so many actors who would become television stars in the years to come (e.g., Richard Chamberlain, Robert Vaugh and Carroll O'Connor).

I also prefer Joseph L. Mankiewicz's direction of the 1953 film to the work of Stuart Burge in this version. Mankiewicz also had the advantage of Academy Award-winning art direction and set decoration, which I really think overcomes the fact the later version is in color. If you are screening the entire film for students or focusing just on Antony's funeral oration, by either standard I really believe you are better served with the earlier film.

Rating:
Summary: Little more than terrible
Review: I ordered this DVD for use in teaching the play. I had anticipated it for months and waited with impatience for its release; I now find I was impatient for mediocrity. The performances are disappointing, with only Richard Chamberlain as Octavious showing any passion in performance. Indeed, Jason Robards as Brutus is the poorest Shakespearean acting I've yet seen, and it's an embarassment for anyone attempting to light a fire for Shakespeare in teenagers. Robards speaks his lines as if he is reading them for the first time on his couch at home.

Until Hollywood gives this another try, I recommend the BBC version of the play available with English subtitles from Ambrose Video. Of course, there is always the Brando version of the play with James Mason doing a much more credible job than Robards as Brutus.

Rating:
Summary: Quality Terrible
Review: I ordered this tape to show to my Sophomore English classes as we read the play. The quality of the video was so poor that my colleagues and I judged the tape unwatchable. I do not recommend this tape. Instead, order the Marlon Brando edition.

Rating:
Summary: Quality Terrible
Review: I ordered this tape to show to my Sophomore English classes as we read the play. The quality of the video was so poor that my colleagues and I judged the tape unwatchable. I do not recommend this tape. Instead, order the Marlon Brando edition.

Rating:
Summary: If you're a huge fan of Heston's or of this superb play
Review: If you're a huge fan of Heston's or of this superb play, you might want to suffer through this terrible print.

It's blurry, the colors blur and flash like a bad animation, and it sounds like it was recorded underwater with a megaphone. It's really a piece of crap.

The performances are good, and because it's the only other film version of the play, (that I can find) they warrant comparison with the 1958 Brando version. Heston's needlessly pompous and swaggering Antony is occasionally amusing and occasionally pretty good, but ultimately the performance lacks the authenticity and verve of Brando's, and one can't help but compare. Robards's Brutus is stoic and tortured and it is something like torture to watch him act, at least for the first half of the film. By the time Brutus is heading up the wrong end of the civil war, Robards aptly transforms Brutus into a man whose passions have fermented to the surface. It's by turns a flat, interesting, and jarring performance accented by an occasional flash of brilliance, such as the scene in which Brutus and Cassius argue about funds and bribes. Much of the supporting cast: Diana Rigg, Gielgud, and Robert Vaughn, in particular are excellent.
It's a shame really that this is such a horrifying print (the worst in fact that I've ever seen), because this was a good movie once. Somewhere through the blur you can make out decent production values: large crowd and battle scenes, attractive costumes, and what looks like the hilly Italian countryside. Who knows maybe even the "seven hills," though I doubt even a Roman native would be able to tell for sure.

Rating:
Summary: One of the few good movie versions of a Shakespeare play.
Review: Much better than the earlier Julius Caesar, which starred Marlon Brando as Mark Antony and James Mason as Brutus. In this version, Jason Robards as Brutus is admittedly an embarrassment, but the rest of the cast is quite strong. The delivery of Antony's funeral oration by Charlton Heston is brilliant, powerful, well-paced, the dramatic high point of the movie. Richard Johnson as Cassius, John Gielgud as Caesar, Robert Vaughn as Casca and Diana Rigg as Portia are fine actors, with full dramatic presence, at home in Shakespeare's language. Brief parts, like the soothsayer's and the cobbler's, are memorably played. The screenplay omits two short passages that are important to the plot: (1) Cassius' avowal in the first act, after his attempt to persuade Brutus to oppose Caesar, that if their positions were reversed and he, Cassius, stood as well with Caesar as Brutus does and Brutus made a comparable appeal to him, he would certainly not listen. (2) Immediately after the assassination, a promise by Brutus to Antony's servant of safe conduct for Antony, who thus knows when he comes to the Capitol and weeps over Caesar's body, challenging the conspirators to kill him also, that he is in no danger of their doing so.

Rating:
Summary: Successful Version of Shakespeare's Caesar
Review: Not a bad version at all of Shakespeare's play. Most of the attention for Julius Caesar is clearly with the 1950s version, but this one holds up as well. In this version, Charlton Heston plays Antony. Others include Jason Richards (Brutus), John Gielgud (Caesar), Richard Johnson (Cassius), Robert Vaughn (Casca), Richard Chamberlain (Octavius), and Diana Riggs (Portia).

In this story, Brutus comes forth as the tragic hero who joins the conspiracy to kill the ambitious Roman, Julius Caesar. Shakespeare's story delves much into the realm of politics within the Roman society. Brutus' tragic flaw is perhaps that he sees too much of the benevolent side of people and society; he gives in to help Rome only after pondering deeply the plan of Cassius, and "trusts" Antony to not give a stirring speech (big mistake there). He still considers Caesar a "good" man, but justifies his role in the conspiracy as for the common good of Rome. A tale that definitely concerns itself with justification, or lack thereof, of removing leaders from political positions, and the consequences those actions bring unto an entire nation and their citizens.

The set design, background and acting are true to the play. One of the differences between this and the Brando version is the scene in which Caesar is assassinated. It is far more bloody and gruesome (yet the movie is rated G, go figure). Heston, as Antony, does a decent job with the "Countrymen, lend me your ears" speech, making an emotional appeal to the crowd as a friend of Caesar. He stirs up the rage among the Romans in this emotional appeal on Caesar's behalf. Eventually, he will go to war against two of the leaders of the conspiracy, Cassius and Brutus.

This is definitely worth a view, especially if you are a Shakespeare fan. This also is an excellent resource for the study of Julius Caesar.

Also Recommended: Julius Caesar (Marlon Brando version)

Rating:
Summary: Vivid, Well-Paced Film Version
Review: Pardon the pun - actually that would be Brutus with the coup d'etat - "the most unkindest cut of all."

Behind Hamlet, Julius Caesar emerges as the foremost tragedy that has brought us so many great axioms and lines that we still use today some 400 years after the fact. After reading the beloved play for the 2nd time, I then watched this superb movie version for the 2nd time. It is impossible to overstate the incredible acting talent and the splendid performance enacted by the vibrant Charlton Heston as Marc Antony. His dynamic and electrifying speech to the plebians in the marketplace rivals any other in Shakespeare cinema history(including Olivier in Hamlet and Branagh in Henry V).

Not to be outdone, Sir John Gielgud superbly plays an arrogant and imperious version of Caesar while Jason Robards stoically plays the "noble" Brutus. As a self-proclaimed Shakespeare aficionado, I thoroughly reveled in this version of Julius Caesar and highly recommend it to those who appreciate fine drama.

Rating:
Summary: I KILLED HIM....BUT I LOVED HIM!
Review: This film is set in Rome 44 BC. The city is rich with the privileges of its empire, largely due to Julius Caesar, appointing himself Supreme Dictator. The triumphal entry of Caesar (John Gielgud), who believes he is somehow invincible, is a masterpiece of imagery and impact. Loyal to Caesar, is Mark Antony (Charlton Heston), a brave, bright, and cunning man. Brutus (Jason Robards), is torn between his love for the emperor, and hatred for the idea of monarchy, which eliminated peace, liberty, and freedom, for the citizens of Rome. On this festival day, inside the stadium, the conspirators knife Julius Caesar to death. Casca strikes the first blow; the last thrust comes from the hand of Brutus. The arrogant Brutus explains his actions, citing his deep love for Rome, "I killed him, but I loved him!"

Mark Antony promises vengeance, then plots with Octavius Caesar (Richard Chamberlain), to gain control of the city by force. Civil War ensues. Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius quarrel, and in a final battle at Philippi, Cassius kills himself with the same dagger he used to kill Julius Caesar. Faced with Octavius's army, Brutus is defeated and takes his own life, rather than be taken captive. Upon discovering the body of his friend, Mark Antony laments the tragic fall of Brutus, calling him the noblest Roman of them all, "This was a man!"

JULIUS CAESAR is a well-paced political thriller, showing the machination of scheming politicians, their egos, jealousies, fears, and ambitions. If you love the Bard, Rome at its full glory, political treachery and intrigue, you will relish this film. Except for Jason Robards, the all-star cast was superb! Charlton Heston's funeral oration was brilliant, powerful and the dramatic high point of the movie. It was said that Jason Robards predicted the failure of this film, but I believe he was the failure in this film. He delivered a stiff performance, sleep-walking through the role of Brutus, with little life or emotion.

Richard Chamberlain was a gorgeous and magnificent Octavius Caesar, delivering his too few lines with feeling and power. My favorite scene was Octavius and Mark Antony, planning their war strategies, while enjoying a relaxing massage. The happiest actor in the entire movie, seemed to be Octavius' masseuse. When the regal Richard Chamberlain rides onto the battlefield, in his beautiful yellow cape, he brings majestic beauty and color, to an otherwise dull film.

Overall, there were some wonderful moments, in this acceptable adaptation of Shakespeare's account, of the betrayal of Rome's most controversial Emporer, JULIUS CAESAR!

Rating:
Summary: the unkindest cut of all
Review: This is an excellent production of Julius Caesar, barring some atrociously wooden acting by Jason Roberts, who seems to think that Shakespeare needs to be performed as if he were a bored high school student reading (clumbsily) directly from the script. What was he thinking? Oh, and of course, the makers of this DVD thought they were doing Rome a favour by assasinating the picture: formatted to fit your screen is the way they put it, like they were doing you a favour. Some day maybe DVD manufacturers will realize some DVD purchasers have widescreen TVs! And maybe Amazon will provide better information about the DVDs so we will know we are getting a DVD that's been cut down to size when we order it.