The Fall of the Roman Empire

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Plot: 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

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  • machinemolle
    machinemolle
    3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 17, 2008
    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 James 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.
  • Imagery
    Imagery
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 14, 2008
    Anthony Mann?s extravagant retelling of this tale focuses less on the violence featured in Ridley Scott?s Gladiator and more on the dialogue. However, it also presents one of the most renowned casts ? epic in its own right...

    One of the real joys in watching this film is none of it is CGI. Modern filmmakers have so many technological alternatives; it is breathtaking to see it all done practically...

    For a full DVD review, visit: http://www.popjournalism.ca/magazine/2008/05/27/dvd-review-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-collectors-edition/
  • mvbagrov
    mvbagrov
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    June 11, 2008
    oh, the best-the best of the "commodos/aurelius" storyline movies. It actually captures the period well
  • x0hn0th3r4nc0rx
    x0hn0th3r4nc0rx
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 3, 2008
    Another entertaining 60s epic with an all-star cast. I preferred it to "Gladiator"...the story had less holes and the acting was better (although Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Emperor Commodus equaled Christopher Plummer's in brillance)

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Details

  • Rated: (Unrated)
  • Directed by: Anthony Mann
  • Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Classics
  • Released: January 1, 1964
  • DVD Released: February 28, 2001

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