List Price: $19.98You Pay Only: $14.99 You Save: $4.99 (25%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
EAN: 0024543224518
Format: Color, NTSC
Label: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Manufacturer: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Region Code: 1
Release Date: February 07, 2006
Running Time: 192 minutes
Sales Rank: 4828
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Theatrical Release Date: 1963
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Editorial Review:
Description:
Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Taylor star in one of the greatest screen spectacles ever made - the story of the Queen of the Nile and her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The film is distinguished by superb performances from Burton and Harrison (nominated for an Oscar), but at its center is Elizabeth Taylor in one of the most glamorous roles of her career. Astounding in scope and grandeur, the picture won Oscars for cinematography, sets and special effects. It's famous moments include moviedom's most flamboyant entrance - Cleopatra's dazzling arrival in Rome. Bolstered by a talented supporting cast and utterly stunning backdrops, here is a truly epic portrayal of the woman who conquered two of Rome's greatest soldiers, affected the course of history, and became synonymous with beguiling beauty - Cleopatra.
Amazon.com essential video:
This 1963 extravaganza, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, is certainly an epic historical drama with all the elements: elaborate sets, intricate costuming, name actors, a factual basis, and an overlong script (just over four hours). But the acting is well performed and the backdrops are lush, making this a film worth seeing. Elizabeth Taylor is Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen who seduces Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) in a political move to hold onto her empire. When Caesar is killed in the Roman Senate, Cleopatra looks to Marc Antony (Richard Burton) for his support, practically enslaving him with her wiles. Taylor is dramatic in her role, at times overly serious, but stunning nonetheless as the woman described as 'well versed in the natural sciences and mathematics. She speaks seven languages proficiently. Were she not a woman one would consider her to be an intellectual.' While the film does seem to drag at moments, it deserves the four Oscars it won for cinematography, art direction-set direction, costumes, and special effects. Don't confuse this Cleopatra with the 1934 version directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Claudette Colbert. --Jenny Brown
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Good movie, bad extra features disc
I have seen this movie several times and purchased it to obtain the disc with extra features. The disc would not play due to something being on it that I was unable to remove. I would like to know if there is a way to obtain the extras disc without flaws.
Thank you.
Rating:  - ok movie - try netflix instead
OK film, but use Netflix to rent movies. Netflix response time is phenomenal. You don't have to buy DVDs anymore.
Rating:  - If You Really Want To See A Hot Marc and Cleo...!
If you really want to know what went on between these two rent or buy HBO's excellent "Rome" series.
Their rendition of Cleo is a short,plain, 32A-cup, homely little drug addict with a realllly bad haircut! That she captures the lust of both Caesar and Marc even though no one might look at her even once on the street is testimony to how "hot" she must be in bed.
Contrast this to Liz Taylor who is as white as snow, aging and fairly fat (OK voluptuous to those in the same weight catagory.) Not only was the obvious display of cleavage distracting but I couldn't get over the eye makeup! Must have taken hours...for one eye...and just think how comfortable it would be if some of that glitter fell in her eyes! Inthe Rome series, their little Cleo gets by without any makeup until she duds herself up to march in and reclaim her throne from her fat little juvenile delinquent brother. Now THAT series had drama!
My hat is off to those who want the original 6(?) hour movie to be made available. I don't think I could stay awake if it was cut to 2 hours. A real snoozer, but could be a hilarious party movie if you were to get drunk.
Go with the "Rome" series!
Rating:  - Campy Cleopatra
"Cleopatra" was the overhyped spectacle of the early '60s that nearly brought 20th Century FOX to its knees. There was the offscreen love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (both married to other people) that overshadowed the movie. It's got cheesy dialogue, it indulges in camp spectacle... making it a classic. I used to watch "Cleopatra" all the time, and it's got staying power.
"Cleopatra" doesn't exactly aim for historical accuracy. It's about Liz Taylor and her numerous costume changes. She goes all out like a drag queen- she's the drama queen of ancient Egypt. Cleopatra is flirty with Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison,who looks ill at ease),who treats her like a daughter. She bears him a son---and gets a grand entrance that RuPaul would envy. She's Cleopatra, Queen of the Desert! The procession seems to go on forever. After Julius is offed on the Ides of March, she romances Mark Antony (Richard Burton), complete with dancing girls and milk baths. As an odd aside, the Vatican condemned "Cleopatra." But why? Bad taste? It's filled with campy lines such as Cleopatra praising her thighs and her bosom,for they "are known to bear children."
"Cleopatra" isn't meant to be take seriously. It's the Cleopatra Aux Folles. Like Priscilla, Cleopatra reigns as Queen of the Desert. She's fabulous!
Rating: - Superb Superb Superb! Ancient Rome Brought to Life
For Roman history enthusiasts this is one of the best films to recreate the nearly-vanished glory and grandeur that was Rome.
It brings to life the story of Julius Caesar and fall of the Republic followed by the rise of Augustus. This is familiar to everyone so I'll not repeat it here.
For Roman history enthusiasts there are other films that bring Rome to life but none that do as grandly.
Spartacus comes closest. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire gives a good look at the later Roman Empire during the time of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Gladiator had some high points, especially the opening battle scene. Quo Vadis is not bad but extant prints are of low quality.
The recent HBO/BBC miniseries Rome was very good but suffered from some unnecessary dull storylines (proto-Mafiosi in the Aventine,? what nonsense) added to pad the running time. The 1980's Last Days of Pompeii TV mini-series with Ned Beatty is unwatchably poor (unavailable except on TCM AFAIK). Ben Hur was a grand spectacle but the focus was less on Rome than on the Christian aspect of the story.
The grandeur of Cleopatra's entrance to Forum alone is worth the price of admission. The included making-of documentary explains that the set designer thought the real Rome forum (which still exists as a ruin in downtown Rome) was thought too small. The filmakers recreated it a Cinecitta larger-than-life.
Elizabeth Taylor acting has been criticized but the movie was conceived ... Read More
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