The thing that impresses me most about works based on Shakespeare is the dialog. I have to wonder how long it took the famous bard to compose those exquisite lines of dialog that the actors deliver so effortlessly. At the same time, I question how it is that every character in a Shakespearean play or movie based on one of his works manages to express themselves in the same effusive manner. It's the same thing with Edgar Allen Poe. From the lowly street sweeper to the titled nobleman, every character speaks like they had a world class education in the English language. It's not realistic, but it does sound good.
Be that as it may, this is a well directed effort with a stellar cast that brings 44 B.C. Rome to life with it's palace intrigue and treachery directed at the figure of emperor Julius Caesar. One might be forgiven for thinking that Marlon Brando had the title role if all you had to go by was the movie's theatrical poster or the image on the movie sleeve. His presence as Marc Antony is not as intimidating in the story as one might expect, though when he shows up, he carries enormous influence. I found it rather comical actually, that the citizens of Rome were swayed so easily from one position to another by virtue of the last orator that spoke to them. The herd mentality is on obvious display here over the assassination of Caesar, at once reviled by the conspirators, driven to consider that Caesar's murder was a good thing, and then brought back to riotous indignation by Antony's speech praising the dead ruler. All rather fascinating.
Brando's a different Brando in this film compared to most of his method work. He speaks with clarity and vision, not hampered so much by trying to get inside the head and heart of an ancient Roman senator. The aftermath of his revenge results in the virtual suicide deaths of the principal conspirators, senators Cassius (John Gielgud) and Brutus (James Mason). If you had never read Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar', you'll marvel at the number of quotable lines you'll recall as the story proceeds, and in my case, I was finally able to determine the origin of that oft repeated line by Clark Kent's boss at the Dailey Planet, each and every time Perry White exclaimed, 'Great Caesar's Ghost!'
Be that as it may, this is a well directed effort with a stellar cast that brings 44 B.C. Rome to life with it's palace intrigue and treachery directed at the figure of emperor Julius Caesar. One might be forgiven for thinking that Marlon Brando had the title role if all you had to go by was the movie's theatrical poster or the image on the movie sleeve. His presence as Marc Antony is not as intimidating in the story as one might expect, though when he shows up, he carries enormous influence. I found it rather comical actually, that the citizens of Rome were swayed so easily from one position to another by virtue of the last orator that spoke to them. The herd mentality is on obvious display here over the assassination of Caesar, at once reviled by the conspirators, driven to consider that Caesar's murder was a good thing, and then brought back to riotous indignation by Antony's speech praising the dead ruler. All rather fascinating.
Brando's a different Brando in this film compared to most of his method work. He speaks with clarity and vision, not hampered so much by trying to get inside the head and heart of an ancient Roman senator. The aftermath of his revenge results in the virtual suicide deaths of the principal conspirators, senators Cassius (John Gielgud) and Brutus (James Mason). If you had never read Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar', you'll marvel at the number of quotable lines you'll recall as the story proceeds, and in my case, I was finally able to determine the origin of that oft repeated line by Clark Kent's boss at the Dailey Planet, each and every time Perry White exclaimed, 'Great Caesar's Ghost!'