The Empress Livia may not be in this production but the memory of her declaring a similarity in beauty with a certain Egyptian queen does guide this along for me, and it is very ironic that the actress playing Cleopatra here has been married for many years to the man who became Rome's first emperor, Augustus, after fighting Cleopatra as General Octavian. Brian Blessed was completely noble as Mark Anthony's one time brother-in-law who ended up his bitter enemy in his efforts to keep Rome free. Here, Octavius is played by another veteran of the beloved British mini-series, John Castle who would play Augustus's adopted son, Posthumous. It's a third go around as Mark Anthony for Charlton Heston, and in spite of being 49 at the time, still looked rugged and youthful enough to be the former Roman hero who betrayed his homeland for love, or at least lust.
The Shakespeare dialog has been altered somewhat to make it easier for the ear for a modern audience, and a colorful production with excellent photography, sets and costumes helps this rise above the cheap sword and sandal films that tried to give audiences a view of what the ancient world looked like. Epic in story but not in scope, this is a different view of the serpent of the Nile with Neil perhaps not a ravishing beauty but alluring in her passion, dangerous in her anger and accepting of her final fate. Her voice is very theatrical, a bit of Tallulah and Dame Judith in her diction, even if she lacks their commanding spirit. Had this been done as a Hammer film, I could see Barbara Steele playing the role much in the same way as Neil here.
Such familiar actors as Fernando Rey and Eric Porter appear to good advantage in other major parts, and Carmen Sevilla is a gentle contrast to the enigmatic Egyptian rival as Octavia, who married Mark Anthony and was the mother of Antonia, thus grandmother to emperor Claudius and great grandmother to his evil predecessor Caligula. Lots of history to keep up with here, an impressive production that unfortunately failed at the time. Perhaps too old fashioned for 70's audiences, but an artistic success that may have been better for PBS even though being a theatrical release gives this a bit more prominence, especially considering how gorgeous this must have looked on a big screen.
The Shakespeare dialog has been altered somewhat to make it easier for the ear for a modern audience, and a colorful production with excellent photography, sets and costumes helps this rise above the cheap sword and sandal films that tried to give audiences a view of what the ancient world looked like. Epic in story but not in scope, this is a different view of the serpent of the Nile with Neil perhaps not a ravishing beauty but alluring in her passion, dangerous in her anger and accepting of her final fate. Her voice is very theatrical, a bit of Tallulah and Dame Judith in her diction, even if she lacks their commanding spirit. Had this been done as a Hammer film, I could see Barbara Steele playing the role much in the same way as Neil here.
Such familiar actors as Fernando Rey and Eric Porter appear to good advantage in other major parts, and Carmen Sevilla is a gentle contrast to the enigmatic Egyptian rival as Octavia, who married Mark Anthony and was the mother of Antonia, thus grandmother to emperor Claudius and great grandmother to his evil predecessor Caligula. Lots of history to keep up with here, an impressive production that unfortunately failed at the time. Perhaps too old fashioned for 70's audiences, but an artistic success that may have been better for PBS even though being a theatrical release gives this a bit more prominence, especially considering how gorgeous this must have looked on a big screen.