Julius Caesar

UPC: 012569659186

Studio: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Violence, Questionable for Children]

Summary: Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed this exquisite version of William Shakespeare's play. Louis Calhern is Julius Caesar, whose conquests have enabled him to rise to the status of Roman dictator. But his ascent to almost God-like status has given pause to influential members of the Roman Senate. Chief among them is Cassius (John Gielgud), who is troubled by Caesar's popularity and dictatorial status. Convinced that Caesar's assassination would be the best thing for Rome, he conspires with Casca (Edmond O'Brien) and the influential Brutus (James Mason) to plot Caesar's murder. Despite dark omens, Caesar walks confidently into the Roman Senate, where he is stabbed to death by the conspirators. His companion Marc Antony (Marlon Brando) is shocked and runs to the corpse of his beloved friend. He agrees to support Brutus while an unruly mob gathers in front of the Senate doors, having heard rumors of Caesar's assassination. Brutus convinces the mob that Caesar's death was for the good of Rome, preventing him from forming a monarchy. Then Antony appears, determined to destroy the conspirators; he delivers a speech that subtly damns the assassins. With the mob against them, the conspirators are forced to flee Rome and Antony organizes an army against them. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Category: Historical Film

Awards: Best British Actor – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best British Film – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Foreign Actor – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Director – Directors Guild of America Best Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Black and White Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Drama or Comedy Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – National Board of Review Best Actor – National Board of Review

Features: New introduction by TCM host Robert Osborne
New featurette The Rise of Two Legends
Soundtrack remastered in Dolby digital 5.1
Marlon Brando movie trailer gallery

Julius Caesar

Format: DVD

Release Date: 11/07/2006

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DDM2.0 Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono

Runtime: 121 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish,Portuguese

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Julius Caesar
1. Credits and Foreword [2:10]
2. Dissenting Voices [3:08]
3. Beware the Ides of March [2:52]
4. Not in Our Stars [6:20]
5. Casca's Crown Chronicle [6:46]
6. So Vile as Caesar [5:40]
7. Speak, Strike, Redress! [4:47]
8. Kill Him Boldly [4:51]
9. Good Portia [4:38]
10. Calpurnia's Fear [3:12]
11. Emperor's Escort [4:10]
12. Capitol Entrance [3:00]
13. Et Tu, Brute? [3:16]
14. Bathing in Blood [3:19]
15. Bargaining With Antony [5:19]
16. Let Slip the Dogs of War [:52]
17. I Loved Rome More [1:41]
18. Lend Me Your Ears [3:20]
19. Such Honorable Men [5:12]
20. Most Unkindest Cut [2:52]
21. Antony and Octavius [5:37]
22. Ill Temper [3:40]
23. News of the Dead [6:45]
24. Sleepy Tune [4:26]
25. Caesar's Ghost [3:00]
26. Parting Well Made [2:34]
27. Field of Battle [2:23]
28. Cassius Dies [2:49]
29. Brutus Dies [4:18]
30. Noblest Roman [5:16]
31. Cast List [1:47]

Dan Jardine

The 1953 production of Julius Caesar is a surprisingly successful, star-studded adaptation of the Shakespearean tale of loyalty, betrayal, and political intrigue in ancient Rome. A strong cast distinguishes the film, with James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, and Marlon Brando as Marc Antony offering distinctly different yet entirely satisfying interpretations of their historical figures. The screenplay is a seamless adaptation of the source material, keeping the focus on both the human drama of Brutus' struggle to decide between personal loyalty and public welfare and the political implications of violent rebellion, a topic of particular interest to Elizabethan audiences. The black-and-white cinematography adds an appropriately film noir-ish element to the conspiratorial scenes, even as the vivid and potent imagery of Shakespeare's words is well-preserved. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz manages to showcase the Bard's dialogue in a film that also has the visual appeal of Oscar-winning art direction. Plot was never Shakespeare's greatest talent, and Julius Caesar suffers from a prolonged anti-climax (the final two acts add little to the story), but the film survives this deficiency with some show-stopping speeches. Marc Anthony is blessed with a couple of inspiring and potent orations, and, despite his lack of experience in Elizabethan drama, Brando hits most of the right notes. ~ Dan Jardine, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Michael Ansara  Actor 
Donald Elson  Actor 
Preston Hanson  Actor 
Michael Tolan  Actor 
John Lupton  Actor 
John O'Malley  Actor 
David Bond  Actor 
John Parrish  Actor 
Joseph Waring  Actor 
Jo Gilbert  Actor 
O.Z. Whitehead  Actor 
Stephen Roberts  Actor 
Alvin Hurwitz  Actor 
Victor Perry  Actor 
Tom Browne Henry  Actor 
Oliver Blake  Actor 
Lumsden Hare  Actor 
Ann Tyrrell  Actor 
Ned Glass  Actor 
John Hardy  Actor 
Chet Stratton  Actor 
John Houseman  Producer 
Joseph L. Mankiewicz  Director 
Joseph L. Mankiewicz  Screenwriter 
Miklos Rozsa  Composer (Music Score) 
Marlon Brando  Actor 
James Mason  Actor 
John Gielgud  Actor 
Louis Calhern  Actor 
Greer Garson  Actor 
Edmond O'Brien  Actor 
Deborah Kerr  Actor 
George Macready  Actor 
Michael Pate  Actor 
Richard Hale  Actor 
Alan Napier  Actor 
John Hoyt  Actor 
Tom Powers  Actor 
William Cottrell  Actor 
Jack Raine  Actor 
Ian Wolfe  Actor 
Morgan Farley  Actor 
William Phipps  Actor 
Douglass Watson  Actor 
Douglas Dumbrille  Actor 
Rhys Williams  Actor 
Dayton Lummis  Actor 
Edmund Purdom  Actor 
Paul Guilfoyle  Actor 
John Doucette  Actor 
Lawrence Dobkin  Actor 

Country: USA