Julius Caesar (1953)

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Starring James Mason, John Gielgud, Marlon Brando, Louis Calhern, Edmond O’Brien, George Macready, Greer Garson, Michael Pate, Deborah Kerr, Alan Napier, Richard Hale, William Cottrell.

Solid film version of Shakespeare’s historical tragedy, with the language well-suited for an epic, sword-and-sandal-style drama, and delivered by a powerhouse ensemble with hardly any slackers. American Brando’s casting is initially distracting among his British heavyweight co-stars, but once his character (Marc Antony) takes focus following the assassination, he ends up finding firm and fervent footing, particularly in the oration of Act 3, Scene 2 (“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…”); Gielgud’s grip on the cadence of verse makes his interpretation of Cassius peerless. As in the play, dramatic interest flounders a bit in the period between Antony’s speech and the battle between his followers and Brutus’ (Mason), but the ending hits the right notes of solemnity and resolve. Mankiewicz would revisit the fall of Caesar a decade later to greatly diminished effect in Cleopatra.

77/100