The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 9
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Jan 1, 1964 Wide
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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 3,063
My Rating
Movie Info
Though Fall of the Roman Empire is now infamous as the epic which destroyed the cinematic "empire" of producer Samuel Bronston, the film is actually an above-average historical drama, attempting to make sense of the political intrigues which resulted in the dissolution of the Glory That Was Rome. The film begins with wise, diplomatic emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) calling together the various representatives of the many nations within the Empire as a means of securing peace and
Jan 1, 1964 Wide
Feb 28, 2001
Miramax
Cast
-
Alec Guinness
Marcus Aurelius -
Sophia Loren
Lucilla -
Stephen Boyd
Livius -
James Mason
Timonides -
Christopher Plummer
Commodius -
Omar Sharif
Sohamus -
Anthony Quayle
Verulus -
John Ireland
Ballomar -
Mel Ferrer
Cleander -
Eric Porter
Julianus -
Douglas Wilmer
Niger -
Peter Damon
Claudius -
Andrew Keir
Polybius -
George Murcell
Victorinus -
Lena von Martens
Helva -
Gabriella Licudi
Tauna -
Rafael Luis Calvo
Lentulus -
Norman Wooland
Virgilanus -
Michael Gwynn
Cornelius -
Guy Rolfe
Marius -
Finlay Currie
Senator -
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All Critics (13) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (0) | DVD (8)
While The Fall of the Roman Empire is even more technically assured than El Cid, it's less interesting narrative-wise.
... surely the most magnificent period piece of its era.
The Fall of the Roman Empire may not be the most notorious motion picture morass in the history of the medium, but for Samuel Bronston, it was the ultimate expression of what he was - for better and for worse.
The HBO series may have orgies on its side, but Mann's underappreciated epic goes deeper and darker into the fall of Rome.
Put bluntly, the difference between El Cid and Fall is the difference between faith in a concept of heroism that can transcend even death.
From back in the day when epic meant upwards of 10,000 extras, gargantuan sets, and 122-piece orchestras...in other words, CGI is for wimps.
An above average epic.
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Foreign Titles
- The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) (DE)
- The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) (UK)
