An adaptation of julius caesar by shawn northrip having returned from a campaign more beloved and powerful than ever, the senators of rome conspire to kill julius caesar. Seen above, in chronological order in which they were released. Julius caesar 1953 letterboxd social film discovery. The setting is a modern african state in which the tyrant caesar is about to seize power. Julius caesar is one of shakespeares history plays believed to have been first performed in 1599 and, with romeo and juliet, among his first tragedies. Adaptations of shakespeares plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films andor videos worldwide.
Theres hardly any way to describe how jason robards brings julius caesar to its knees, but let me try. Dec 05, 2019 julius caesar this movie was shot in just thirtyfive days, using some of the sets from quo vadis 1951, which were dismantled, flown from rome to hollywood and then reassembled for this film. Modern day interpretations of shakespeares julius caesar. Apr 23, 2017 weve included movies such as romeo and juliet, much ado about nothing, macbeth, julius caesar, coriolanus, julius caesar, titus, hamlet and richard iii. A fastmoving thriller about a struggle for democracy, william shakespeares julius caesar is also a love story between two men united by an explosive act of political violence. Ian mckellen is great in the title role, and the cast includes annette benning and robert downey jr. The first film of julius caesar was the first one with sound, released in 1950. When judging adaptations of shakespeare, often the best course of action is to look at the quality of the production. Julius caesar is a 1970 british independent film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name, directed by stuart burge from a screenplay by.
Julius caesar 1953 us actors often draw a blank with iambic pentameters with the recent exception of kevin spacey on stage but marlon brando, in the days when he was still taking acting. It is one of several plays written by shakespeare based on true events from roman history, such as coriolanus and antony and cleopatra. What is the best movie adaptation of julius caesar by. Just three years later, the second film was again, named julius caesar, released in 1953. Stuart burge directed this first adaptation of shakespeares play in colour, which returned charlton heston to the role of antony hed played 20 years before. The best is probably the 1953 hollywood production of julius caesar that uses mainly classically trained british actors but is most famous as the classical debut of the american method actor marlon brando. Brando makes this film three out of four historically inaccurate representations of the lupercalia festival. Charlton heston, richard chamberlain, diana rigg, john gielgud, jason robards. Shot on location and also in the rscs theatre at stratforduponavon, julius caesar is a sumptuous film that features the original cast of a startling and arresting production. List of william shakespeare screen adaptations wikipedia.
The film was both a failure with critics and at the box office. Is brutus a traitor or a great hero and defender of liberty. The guinness book of records lists 410 featurelength film and tv versions of william shakespeare s plays, making shakespeare the most filmed author ever in any language as of july 2018, the internet movie database lists shakespeare as having writing credit on 1,371 films, including those under production but not yet released. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The film was produced by john houseman and directed by joseph mankiewicz, filmed in stark blackandwhite and using. Modern day interpretations of shakespeares julius caesar shakespeare is an amazing playwright and everyone loves to read his plays. Melodramatic it may be, but the performances are more than convincing, they are powerful, and play on the archetypes shakespeare set up with authenticity, that we might. Julius caesar fruhneuenglisch the tragedy of iulius c. A lot of his plays have been turned into movies, stage plays etc. Based on the royal shakespeare companys acclaimed stage production, gregory dorans film for bbc television sets the action in postindependence africa. Perhaps julius caesars most famous and important scene is act iii, scene 2, in which brutus defends the decision to kill caesar, arguing that it is best. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle.
Thought to have been written in 1599, the annus mirabilis that also saw the creation of henry v, as you like it and possibly hamlet, julius caesar has long been one of shakespeares most popular plays, not least thanks to its accessibility both as a text and in terms of the large number of productions on stage and screen. Mankiewicz directed a starstudded cast featuring marlon brando, john gielgud and james. Brian cox explores how julius caesar, for many years, was seen to represent the american. Mgms 1953 julius caesar is one of the finest screen adaptations of william shakespeare, featuring a stellar cast in marlon brando, james mason, john gielgud, louis calhern, edmond obrien, greer garson, deborah kerr and more. Charlton heston had played mark antony in two previous shakespearean films, both adaptations of julius caesar, the first in 1950, the second in 1970 also produced by peter snell. In this striking tragedy of political conflict, shakespeare turns to the ancient roman world and to the famous assassination of julius caesar by his republican opponents. Perhaps julius caesar s most famous and important scene is act iii, scene 2, in which brutus defends the decision to kill caesar, arguing that it is best for rome. Julius caesar tells the story of the ancient roman warrior louis calhern who became a powerful force in roman politics. With over 250 shakespeare movies produced, shakespeare film adaptations such as baz luhrmans romeo and juliet, the shakespeare inspired shakespeare in love and the more recent hamlet 2000, prove that shakespeare films adaptations and movies retain their enduring appeal. This version, produced in 1970, is not actually bad.
He stares vacantly into the camera and recites shakespeares words as if hed memorized them seconds before, or maybe was reading from idiot cards. Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of julius caesar that can help you study and better understand the play. Tristram kenton f or all its popularity, shakespeares roman tragedy rarely lives up. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate caesar, but they have both sorely underestimated mark antony. Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords in our own proper entrails. There are currently 4 movie adaptations of william shakespeares play. Apr 18, 2014 paterson joseph as marcus brutus in the rscs julius caesar in 2012. The high point of the film definitely being the acting, in which there isnt a single weak spot. Heston reused leftover footage of the sea battle from his 1959 film benhur. The film was produced by john houseman and directed by joseph mankiewicz.
Mankiewicz, who also wrote the uncredited screenplay, and produced by john houseman. One of william shakespeares tragedies, the play is his take on the assassination of julius caesar in ancient rome and its bloody aftermath the protagonist is marcus junius brutus, a scrupulously honest, loyal and patriotic statesman, who is nonetheless drawn by his friend caius cassius into a plot to assassinate the increasingly powerful caesar brutus is torn between his. In this presentation we are going to tell you which movies and stage plays are. With charlton heston, jason robards, john gielgud, richard johnson. Film and tv adaptations of shakespeares great political tragedy. The guinness book of records lists 410 featurelength film and tv versions of william shakespeare s plays, making shakespeare the most filmed author ever in any language. Richard loncraine richard iii is another modern movie adaptation of shakespeare that remains in the same location, england, but elects to portray the events in an alternative modern reality. Shakespeare movies are so numerous, they form their own sub genre. Jun 24, 2012 film version of the royal shakespeare companys 2012 production of shakespeares fastmoving thriller. The most celebrated film version of julius caesar is the one made by joseph mankiewicz in 1953 with marlon brando as antony, james mason as brutus and john gielgud as cassius. Charlton heston reprises his role as antony in this film, along with richard chamberlain as octavius, diana rigg as portia, and john gielgud as caesar. Bosley crowther of the new york times who had previously been a brando skeptic, raved. Many of the best shakespeare plays follow an antihero, and.
Sep 25, 2016 the performance of julius caesar at the flint hills shakespeare festival in 2016. In big crowd scenes, sound departments always put in a lot of walla. A sterling cast gives shakespeares tale of betrayal and reprisals body and fine form, with marlon brando displaying a galvanizing command over the bards language. View cd page at fsm site more details released by special arrangement with turner classic movies music.
This bigbudget film stars marlon brando as mark antony, james mason as brutus, and john gielgud as cassius. Julius caesar is certainly up there in terms of quality shakespeare adaptations. Thought to have been written in 1599, the annus mirabilis that also saw the creation of henry v, as you like it and possibly hamlet, julius caesar has long been one of shakespeares most popular plays, not least thanks to its accessibility both as a text and in terms of the large number of productions on stage and. The play has attracted a plethora of leading actors over the years from edwin booth, orson welles, john gielgud, and more recently denzel washington and david morrisey.
Critics in 1953 heaped praises on the movie and brandos performance. Modern day interpretations of shakespeares julius caesar by. Julius caesar is a 1953 epic metrogoldwynmayer film adaptation of the play by shakespeare, directed by joseph l. First up is mgms 1953 adaptation of julius caesar, which is one of the best old hollywood adaptations of shakespeares plays. Tristram kenton f or all its popularity, shakespeares roman tragedy rarely lives up to expectations. Weve included movies such as romeo and juliet, much ado about nothing, macbeth, julius caesar, coriolanus, julius caesar, titus, hamlet and richard iii. Crudely defined, walla is the mix of indistinguishable noises a crowd makes when it talks all at once. Are these the 10 best shakespeare screen adaptations. Three or four major film adaptations have been made of shakespeares most famous roman play, the tragedy julius caesar.
That makes shakespeare the most filmed playwright of all time. Unfortunately, while conquering lands in the carpathian mountains, caesar was infected with vampirism and does not remain dead for long. With louis calhern, marlon brando, james mason, john gielgud. Released by special arrangement with turner classic movies music. A vivid story about a struggle for democracy, julius caesar is also a love story between two men united by an explosive act of political violence. Us actors often draw a blank with iambic pentameters with the recent exception of kevin spacey on stage but marlon. Now walla isnt expensive mere cents per wal but in julius caesar something very weird has happened to the walla.
The constant buzzing sound heard in the background throughout the first half are the cicadas native to the flint. Julius caesar with brian cox full film shakespeare. It starred charlton heston as mark antony, harold tasker was the lead, and the director, doug bradley also. Paterson joseph as marcus brutus in the rscs julius caesar in 2012. A vivid story about a struggle for democracy, julius caesar is also a love story between two. The play is one of tumultuous rivalry, of prophetic warningsbeware the ides of marchand of moving public oratory, friends, romans. Julius caesar 1970 film stuart burge directed this first adaptation of shakespeares play in colour, which returned charlton heston to the role of antony hed played 20 years before. The growing ambition of julius caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend brutus. Film version of the royal shakespeare companys 2012 production of shakespeares fastmoving thriller. The cast was rounded out by john gielgud as caesar and jason robards as brutus.
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