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Julius Caesar

Play trailer Poster for Julius Caesar 1953 2h 1m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Brutus (James Mason) is convinced by a scheming band of Roman senators, led by Caius Cassius (John Gielgud), that his dear friend Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) intends to dissolve the republic and install himself as monarch, and he joins a conspiracy to assassinate him. Brutus stirringly defends his actions, but when Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) responds with a speech that plays upon the crowd's love for their fallen leader, a battle between the two factions is assured.
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Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

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Critics Consensus

A sterling cast gives Shakespeare's tale of betrayal and reprisals body and fine form, with Marlon Brando displaying a galvanizing command over the Bard's language.

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Critics Reviews

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Marjory Adams Boston Globe 3d
..."Julius Caesar" is a story as grandly eloquent as it is exciting and that Shakespeare's own powerful, polished dialogue is delivered by actors who give every word a devoted articulation which has been all too rare in many a stage performance. Go to Full Review
William Thomas Empire Magazine 3d
3/5
Perfectly adequete portrayal of Shakespere's artefact which is held together well by Brando and co. Go to Full Review
Jack Karr Toronto Star 3d
[Hollywood] has squared up to the Bard and has shown that it needs none of those audience sops that some previous producers have considered necessary to make Shakespeare not only completely palatable entertainment, but exciting entertainment as well. Go to Full Review
Robin Slessor Daily Telegraph (Australia) 3d
From the point of view of spectacle, entertainment, beautifully spoken English, and authenticity in detail and educational value, Julius Caesar, the film, is a winnder and a must. Go to Full Review
Sun-Herald Staff The Sun-Herald (Australia) 3d
This is a brilliant film from the tragedy by Shakespeare, whose eternally modern spirit has never been revealed to the filmgoing public in drama of such modern speed, urgency, and intensity. Go to Full Review
Ardis Smith Buffalo News 3d
What we see of the fighting is kind of aimless and confused... But the show as a whole is the best, most convincing, coherent and sensibly motivated "Julius Caesar" I've ever seen. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tony Z @RT20046144 Jan 27 Twenty minutes of this amateurish production was as much as I could stand. It kept sounding like a high school play, with bellowing emphasis on the wrong words and phrases. It made the lot of them sound like they'd never read aloud before, and the marble-mouthed diction made one want to clap his hands over his ears. It's a crime - lock it away! See more Russ G @RT78760655 02/19/2025 It's utterly unintelligible to a contemporary speaker of English, so regardless of how "great" the performances may have been regarded seven decades ago, this is now total garbage. I bailed on it ten minutes in; don't waste even that much time. The story needs a modern remake with a completely new script. Dialog can be weighty and still be understood by its intended audience. See more David F @dfulmer 11/19/2024 This is a good standard filming of the Shakespearean drama about Roman politics See more Alec B @Alec97 02/20/2024 Brando really is suprisingly good here (the rest of the cast is as great as you expect) and I like how this adaptation reduces the play to it's essential pieces which allows for the plot to move quickly. See more Andy F @RT81936104 02/12/2024 This could be the best Shakesperian movie adaptation. A masterclass from the all star cast with Brando outshining them all. See more Rami A @Bunt101 02/08/2024 A perfectly well put together adaption of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The performances are well done, and memorable. Marlon Brando steals the show in this picture. See more Read all reviews
Julius Caesar

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Movie Info

Synopsis Brutus (James Mason) is convinced by a scheming band of Roman senators, led by Caius Cassius (John Gielgud), that his dear friend Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) intends to dissolve the republic and install himself as monarch, and he joins a conspiracy to assassinate him. Brutus stirringly defends his actions, but when Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) responds with a speech that plays upon the crowd's love for their fallen leader, a battle between the two factions is assured.
Director
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Producer
John Houseman
Screenwriter
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 4, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
70mm