
The Agony and the Ecstasy
1965, History/Drama, 2h 16m
7 Reviews 2,500+ RatingsYou might also like
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The Agony and the Ecstasy Photos
Movie Info
During the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison) contracts the influential artist Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) to sculpt 40 statues for his tomb. When the pope changes his mind and asks the sculptor to paint a mural in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo doubts his painting skills and abandons the project. Divine inspiration returns Michelangelo to the mural, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope's demanding personality and threatens the success of the historic painting.
Cast & Crew
Charlton Heston
Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Rex Harrison
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Diane Cilento
Contessina de'Medici
Contessina de'Medici
Harry Andrews
Bramante
Bramante
Adolfo Celi
Giovanni de' Medici
Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini
Paris De Grassis
Paris De Grassis
Critic Reviews for The Agony and the Ecstasy
Audience Reviews for The Agony and the Ecstasy
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Apr 02, 2018What makes this film fascinating is the conflict between the two characters, which is centered mostly on a great dialogue that explores the motivations and creative process of a genius, with Charlton Heston delivering his typical overacting and Rex Harrison as magnetic as always.Carlos M Super Reviewer
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Feb 18, 2011Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison portray two of the Renaissance's most colorful figures in this brilliant historical epic drama based on Irving Stone's best selling novel. When Pope Julius II(Harrison)commissions Michelangelo(Heston) to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel,the artist initially refuses. Virtually forced to do the job by Julius,Michelangelo later destroys his own work of art and therefore flees Rome. Nominated for three Oscars including Best Supporting Actor(Harrison),Best Director(Carol Reed),and Best Cinematopgraphy and was named of the year's best films by the National Board of Review,"The Agony and the Ecstasy" is a fascinating dramatization behind one of the world's artistic masterpieces. Filmed on location in Italy and Spain and shot in brilliant Todd-AO and Color and directed by the great British director Carol Reed,Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison(in their first and only film together)give two of the screen's best performances.Mister C Super Reviewer
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Jan 25, 2010The film is about Michelangelo Buonarotti, the Florentine painter, sculptor, architect and poet, one of the greatest and most versatile artists of the Renaissance who exerted an extraordinary influence on Western art... The story - based on the Irving Stone best-seller - tells of that period during Michelangelo's {Charlton Heston} life when he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel...Arianeta L Super Reviewer
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Apr 12, 2009The battle of wills between Pope Julius II and Michaelangelo that culminated in the painting of The Sistine Chapel. Worth a watch.Marcus W Super Reviewer
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