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DeMille's splendor that has stood a test of time!

posted 19 years ago by marcin_kukuczka
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Cecil B DeMille's CLEOPATRA is more of his personal directing preferences than a historical movie. But, indeed, it is still an entertaining film! It has stood a test of time at multiple levels.

When I watched it on Polish TV recently, I was full of admiration for DeMille's genius. Great spectacle! That guy really had an imagination! The cast also add a thrilling to the film, including "seducive and extravagant" (in critics' words) Claudette Colbert and cynical, proud Henry Wilcoxon as Mark Antony.

I dare claim that CLEOPATRA (1934) is sometimes better than DeMille's TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956), more spectacular. Perhaps, because I really got used to the film about Moses.

All the best for modern fans of Cecil!

[–] bok602 19 years ago

I personally find this version much more watchable that the Liz Taylor version (which, although it has its own merits, just goes on Forever!) and even more so than the TV movie abominations that have come out lately.

So what if true historical accuracy is thrown to the wind? CB's CLEOPATRA is fine entertainment! Bring on the flappers and Betty-Boop curls!

Colbert is exotic, seductive and ravishing as Cleo (notice that Cher wore a dress identical to hers when she got her Oscar?) and Wilcoxson is more than handsome as Antony.

And Cleo's death -that glorious shot of her enthroned and majestic- is much more effective than Liz lying passive on a bier, as though she were just some gold-plated centerpiece. In Colbert's death scene you KNEW she was Queen, even in death.

"If you don't know the answer -change the question."

[–] marcin_kukuczka 19 years ago

Cleo's death is gorgeous! It is much better than in Mankiewicz's movie!

Except for this scene I loved three more. These are real classics that I will never forget:

1. The royal barge
2. The entrance of Cleopatra into Rome (really authentic Roman streets)
3. The first meeting with Julius Caesar

And the performances: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wilcoxon, Warren William, C. Aubrey Smith: MARVELOUS!!!

Indeed, CLEOPATRA is DeMille's best and his most stunning early talkie. A pleasure to watch!

Cinema is a good way of escaping from problems and sorrows of life.

[–] bok602 19 years ago

Colbert's Barge was sheer DeMille-ian decadence!

With the massive feather backdrops and Goldwyn Girl serving wenches and slaves -and that buffet she served him- Antony didn't stand a chance!

And poor Liz hadn't a prayer of competing with that, even in 70mm, Technicolor and stereophonic sound!

The entry into Rome, while Liz had the benefit of widescreen, color and a cast of thousands, Colbert had the greatest asset of all -a DIRECTOR who knew where to point his camera and capture what was important in the scene; who knew what the scene was all about.

I mean, Liz had her three-ring circus entry into Rome with a couple of very static shots of bland-looking senators. DeMille had the genius to keep it real and stuck in those great bits of the Roman women talking smack about her.

And yes, DeMille's street were actually much closer to what the streets of Rome would have looked like (before Hollywood got ahold of them).

"If you don't know the answer -change the question."

[–] thewileyz 18 years ago

keep in mind that this movie was one of the last movies produced before the Hayes office gained control....I believe this movie had a hand in getting the Production Code enforced..

[–] LionHearted99 17 years ago

The 1934 version of "Cleopatra" was so much better than over produced, overlong and pumped up 1963 Film. DeMille had a very definite style and allowed it free rein in this movie. I don't know or care how "historically accurate" it is or isn't. I go to the movies to be entertained...and few directors can entertain like DeMille. Some of the dialogue is approaching corny...but the acting was superb...the scenes sumptuous and the story marvelous. Claudette Colbert is so much more sexy than Liz Taylor...Henry Wilcoxin is as solid as ever...and the entire aura of the movie just draws you into it.

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[–] Mithrandir-Olorin888 15 years ago

63 film has allot of problem, but Overlong isn't one of them, if anyhting it's how much important stuff is left out and glossed over that msot bothers me in these various Historical Epics.

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[–] Mithrandir-Olorin888 16 years ago

No Cleopatra is Historically accurate, this one despite it's technical disadvantages I find the best.

However I would definitely prefer to see it done much better.

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[–] ArmandFancypants 15 years ago

It's hard to say which Cleopatra is the better one. I'd say that Mankiewicz gets the first half right (with a superb Rex Harrison as Caesar...Warren William is laughable in the role), but DeMille absolutely nails the post-Caesar stuff, with that brilliant, spectacular, and exciting montage.

I'd say that Mankiewicz is a far, far better director than DeMille overall, but...Cleopatra was just not the film for him. For DeMille, however, it was the ideal project.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Astrolupine 14 years ago

For its time it seems like a large production that actually flowed smoothly, and made a decent hit with critics and box offices. (makes you wonder why the likes of Citizen Kane flopped)

We were watching the last 20 minutes in Hellenistic Age class today, the rest of the class didn't seem impressed (very few in Generation X like films before the '70s, it seems) but I, I was THRILLED.

Now I have three sequels. Ho ho ho.
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[–] Mithrandir-Olorin22 12 years ago

This film's greatest disadvantage is being to Short, and Black and White doesn't suit this Genre.

The Barge sequence is my greatest disappointment in the Taylor film, it's like they didn't even try.

Coldbert gave a much better Cleopatra performance in The Sign of The Cross in this to my disappointment she is to often Childish and schoolgirl like.

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[–] eddie_willers 12 years ago

she is to often Childish and schoolgirl like.

Cleopatra was childish and schoolgirl like when she met Caesar. She was around 17.

Colbert was wonderful as the mature Cleopatra, but for my money, Vivian Leigh in G.B. Shaw's version (with Claude Raines as Caesar) was Cleopatra at her coquettish best.