The Fall of the Roman Empire poster & wallpaper

Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness

The second and last of Anthony Mann's historical epics is a smart, handsome spectacle of the decadence, corruption, and intrigue that tears apart the greatest empire the world has seen. The sprawling ...( read more  read more... )story spreads itself thin over a number of characters and stories. At the center are handsome but stiff Stephen Boyd as Livius, the loyal soldier and symbolic son of the aging emperor (Alec Guinness), and Christopher Plummer as Commodus, the corrupt heir to the throne--boyhood friends turned enemies when the latter accedes to the throne and sells out the values of his father for greed and hedonistic pleasures. The three-hour running time is filled out with the tales of Sophia Loren (as the beautiful Lucilla in love with Livius but coveted by greedy Commodus) and a gallery of heroes and villains that includes James Mason, Mel Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland, Omar Sharif, and Eric Porter. The film is highlighted with spectacular scenes (a grandiose funeral fit for an emperor, brutal battles in the provinces as the barbarians threaten the empire, and a climactic duel to decide the destiny of Rome), which Mann weaves into the shadowy intrigue of the halls of power. Like his previous epic El Cid, The Fall of the Roman Empire remains one of the best of the 1960s epics: well written (and largely historically accurate) with strong performances and a consistently elegant style, but it lacks a central core and the magnetic hero of its superior predecessor. --Sean Axmaker

Flixster Users

65% liked it

2,093 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 182 min.

Directed by: Anthony Mann

Release Date: January 1, 1964

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: February 28, 2001

Stats: 110 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

official remastered film still The Fall of the Roman Empire The Fall of the Roman Empire Limited Collector's Edition DVD Box Art Poster Poster The Fall of the Roman Empire [1964] The Fall of the Roman Empire [1964] official remastered film still official remastered film still Poster official remastered film still official remastered film still Limited Collector's Edition DVD Box Art official remastered film still
Upload a Photo |

View All The Fall of the Roman Empire Photos (15)

Your Rating


clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (110)

  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 31, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Remade as an action film called "Gladiator". This one was a historical epic piece of cinema, with slightly cheesy production values.
  • DrLappos
    April 27, 2009
    DrLappos
    Beautiful classic and Loren is and always will be a stunner.
  • umanakka2
    May 26, 2009
    umanakka2
    An excellent movie of good olden days
  • amr26
    April 16, 2009
    amr26
    Quite good, if a little long on talk, Hollywood version of the end of the mighty Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD.
  • 339z
    February 22, 2009
    339z
    wow umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch its got a great cast of actors/actressess thorughout this movie..i think that andrew keir, stephen boyd, omar shariff play good parts throughout this movie..i think that the director of this Act...( read more)ion & Adventure, Drama, Classics
    movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie..its a good Action & Adventure, Drama, Classics movie 2 watch n its got some good scenery throughout this movie..i think that the fight scenes/sword fights were pretty kewl throughout this movie..its a good movie 2 watch
  • TheJuniorEbert
    January 27, 2009
    TheJuniorEbert
    An uncommonly cerebral version of a sword-and-sandal epic. Not quite as good as it's progeny Gladiator but well-made and very entertaining, nevertheless. Alec Guiness was a natural choice for Marcus Aurelius and Plummer really established himself in Hollywood in a superb performa...( read more)nce as Commodus. A bit long considering it's emphasis on dialogue over action but I would rather watch 4 hours of this than 2 hours of most contemporary historical epics.
  • jjnxn
    January 18, 2009
    jjnxn
    Overlong, plodding spectacle. Good and great actors alike trapped in this ponderous bore.
  • Ghw12158
    November 18, 2008
    Ghw12158
    amazing cast good stuff
  • machinemolle
    August 17, 2008
    machinemolle
    The least of Anthony Mann's movies, though every dollar that didn't get stolen is on the screen. Still, some startling moments amidst the general sprawl and turgid set-pieces. Boyd and Loren cannot carry the movie. Christopher Plummer is wonderfully evil as Commodus. The great Ja...( read more)mes Mason is an embarrassment in the thankless role of a second century hippie. Alec Guinness is actually pompous and uninteresting as the historically fascinating Marcus Aurelius. (Who'd know that Guinness was the greatest comic actor of his generation?) As for much of the movie. "Here we are on the German frontier. Oops, I've been summoned to Rome." Scenes of travel. "Here I am in Rome. Ooops---" Despite all of this, it succumbs to ridiculousness, but never to tedium. Worth watching, really.
  • grayavec
    July 16, 2008
    grayavec
    Alec Guiness's performance is the only good thing about this overly long and depressing film.

View All The Fall of the Roman Empire Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

View more The Fall of the Roman Empire reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "The Fall of the Roman Empire" !

Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Official Trailer

View Larger The Fall of the Roman Empire Trailer

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Gladiator
    Gladiator (58%)
  • 55 Days at Peking
    55 Days at Peking (0%)

More Movies like The Fall of the Roman Empire

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Fall of the R... : Watch Free on TV

The Fall of the Roman Empire Trivia

  • The characters Commodus, Lucilla and Marcus Aurelius (from "Gladiator") also appear in what other movie about the Roman Empire?  Answer »
  • Joaquin Phoenix played Commodus in Gladiator. But who played this same historical character in The Fall of the Roman Empire?  Answer »
  • Gladiator (2000) has several historical characters in common with which 1964 epic?  Answer »
More The Fall of the Roman Empire Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Fall of the Roman Empire. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Fall of the Roman Empire to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View The Fall of the Roman Empire News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?