This is definitely the WORST Cleopatra film ever made. I will give it credit for actually mentioning Arsinoë (though they mispronounce her name), but that's it. William Castle was a genius at campy horror, but this thing made me want to retch. I only watched it in full to see how badly they would screw up the ending. Sadly, the ending was the best part.
Other than being set-dressing and wearing pounds of eye-shadow at a time, this 'wicked' version of Cleo spends the whole movie driveling and simpering over Lucilius like a 12-year-old with a crush. Lucilius ranks as one of the worst Gary Stu's I've ever seen. He's constantly outwitting and overpowering multiple assassins while unarmed and his only injury is for a plot-point. He goes on about loyalty, yet he displays none. He asserts his morals and love of Rome, but it only shows in his contempt for Cleopatra, whom he continues to kiss throughout. So seldom have I ached to punch a film character as much as him.
Antony is the hugest disappointment. I like Raymond Burr, but he was terrible in this. He's glassy-eyed and cardboard (and surprisingly un-sexy for a young Burr). The historical Antony was a man of passion. Though given to cynicism, he had immense empathy for his soldiers and suffered severe mood swings. He was a devoted family man, a moving orator, and a respected leader. His downfall was but a lack of cunning.
Of the other absurdities in this film, the two that most made me roll my eyes were the depictions of Julius Caesar and the Temple of Ephesus. Caesar was not some elderly man of no interest to Cleopatra. He was only 55 at his death and still had a real way with women (and possibly with men as well). Towards the end, he was developing a turkey neck, but otherwise looked pretty much the same as he had during his 40's. As for the Artemesion, it was a Greek-style temple in the lush countryside, not a quasi-Egyptian looking temple in the middle of an otherwise empty desert.
This film is corny and ridiculous, but not in the fun way I usually like. It was just tedious, stupid, and irksome. I'm not sure I could stand it even if it were being riffed on MST3k. It's that bad. Anyone who panned the 1963 film of Cleopatra (which is about 97% brilliant and 3% silly) obviously has not seen this disaster!
Other than being set-dressing and wearing pounds of eye-shadow at a time, this 'wicked' version of Cleo spends the whole movie driveling and simpering over Lucilius like a 12-year-old with a crush. Lucilius ranks as one of the worst Gary Stu's I've ever seen. He's constantly outwitting and overpowering multiple assassins while unarmed and his only injury is for a plot-point. He goes on about loyalty, yet he displays none. He asserts his morals and love of Rome, but it only shows in his contempt for Cleopatra, whom he continues to kiss throughout. So seldom have I ached to punch a film character as much as him.
Antony is the hugest disappointment. I like Raymond Burr, but he was terrible in this. He's glassy-eyed and cardboard (and surprisingly un-sexy for a young Burr). The historical Antony was a man of passion. Though given to cynicism, he had immense empathy for his soldiers and suffered severe mood swings. He was a devoted family man, a moving orator, and a respected leader. His downfall was but a lack of cunning.
Of the other absurdities in this film, the two that most made me roll my eyes were the depictions of Julius Caesar and the Temple of Ephesus. Caesar was not some elderly man of no interest to Cleopatra. He was only 55 at his death and still had a real way with women (and possibly with men as well). Towards the end, he was developing a turkey neck, but otherwise looked pretty much the same as he had during his 40's. As for the Artemesion, it was a Greek-style temple in the lush countryside, not a quasi-Egyptian looking temple in the middle of an otherwise empty desert.
This film is corny and ridiculous, but not in the fun way I usually like. It was just tedious, stupid, and irksome. I'm not sure I could stand it even if it were being riffed on MST3k. It's that bad. Anyone who panned the 1963 film of Cleopatra (which is about 97% brilliant and 3% silly) obviously has not seen this disaster!