A Queda do Império Romano

I saw another reviewer remark that he regretted the fact that films like this are not made today. In today's dollars the salaries of all the name actors who appeared in The Fall of the Roman Empire might retire the debt of some third world country. Then again, I think that was part of the message this film was trying to convey.

All roads lead to Rome was certainly a popular saying way back in the day. The legions by 180 have conquered a big chunk of Europe and a lot of Asia Minor, but it's becoming too big to police. Emperor Marcus Aurelius has it in mind that there must be a better way of securing peace than having a big Roman military industrial complex on the empire payroll. Answer, make the outlying provinces all Roman citizens and equalize the distribution of economic goods. Back then all those Roman roads gradually became one way streets.

Unfortunately some folks who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, do in Marcus. He's succeeded by his son Commodus and the film is the story of Commodus who has a more traditional political view and those who want to bring about the ideal world that Marcus Aurelius envisioned.

In a role that cried out for either Kirk Douglas or Charlton Heston, we got Stephen Boyd instead. Boyd in a blonde dye job, just doesn't come across well as the hero Livius. He's so much better as villains in films like The Bravados, Ben-Hur, and Shalako.

But Commodus may very well have been Christopher Plummer's finest performance on screen. The film is not the real story of Commodus's reign, but Plummer does capture the heart and soul of the emperor who ran things from 180 to 192.

Holding up the view of a free and equal world are a couple of classic performances by Alec Guinness as Marcus Aurelius and James Mason as the Greek slave Timonides who counsels Marcus in his changing world view.

And any film is worth watching with Sophia Loren's pulchritude on prominent display.

I'm no expert in ancient history, but this may have been the first time that someone like Marcus Aurelius took a global view of things other than what I can plunder out of my conquests. What's not told in this story is that Christianity is invisible here. Marcus didn't like them at all, thought they were way too exclusive in THEIR view of things.

Nevertheless The Fall of the Roman Empire and the issues it raises from the ancient world are still being thrashed out today. Hoperfully it will all be resolved in the future.

This film really should be seen on a big screen, in Panavision. The spectacle is breathtaking, immensely aided by Robert Krasker's superb photography, ranging from the misty forests and snowscapes of Northern Europe to the brilliant sunlit colours of Rome.

But the actors aren't outdone. Alec Guinness and James Mason lend the production a touch of class, whilst Christopher Plummer's dissolute emperor is a splendidly monstrous figure. Watch out too for old Finlay Currie, Magwitch in "Great Expectations", as an aged Senator.

As the movie makes clear, the title refers not to a single event, but to a process. Ancient Rome's collapse came about through a combination of nonstop conquest and crass decadence. "The Fall of the Roman Empire" looks specifically at Emperor Commodus's rise, and how his rule contributed to the fall.

The sets are a sight to behold, as is the cinematography. But the true credit should go to Christopher Plummer as Commodus and Sophia Loren as Lucilla. He makes Commodus out to be Machiavellian but likable, while she makes Lucilla out to be someone who just wants to get taken seriously.

It's not a great movie, but you gotta admire the effort that went into it. One might think of it as a prequel to "Gladiator".

At a cost of roughly $20,000,000 this has the dubious distinction of being the most expensive Sword-and-Sandal movie ever made. For this kind of film to even recoup its costs in the cinematic climate of the 1960's would have been a miracle and its poor showing marked the end of Spanish-based Samuel Bronston productions.

Thirteen centuries after the events depicted here, Machiavelli referred to Marcus Aurelius as the last of the 'five good emperors'. His reign was beset with every kind of calamity but during his campaigns against Germanic tribes he was sufficiently stoical to write his 'Meditations' which ranks as one of the greatest works of ancient philosophy. When he died his megalomaniacal son Commodus effectively ended the two hundred year old Pax Romana and began the Empire's decline.

He is played here by Alec Guinness who by all accounts re-wrote many of his lines. Sir Alec is excellent of course and his customary 'detached' persona suits the role admirably. His character actually died of natural causes but in this he is poisoned which is obviously far more interesting 'filmically'! Aurelius fathered thirteen children, just two of whom are featured here. His daughter Lucilla is played by Sophia Loren and crackpot Commodus by Christopher Plummer. Apparently it might at one stage have been Gina Lollobrigida and Richard Harris so let us at least be grateful for small mercies. La Loren and Sir Alec got along splendidly which benefits their scenes together. Her love scenes with the Livius of Stephen Boyd however are alas as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes. She is portrayed here as a beacon of virtue but was in reality, like her mother Faustina, a real goer.

Mr. Plummer relishes his role and is absolutely mesmerising. James Mason comes out well as Timonides but his character is somewhat 'preachy'. The roles played by Omar Sharif, Mel Ferrer and Anthony Quayle are underwritten but might very well have been edited out as the film is long enough as it is.

Visually it is simply stunning courtesy of Robert Krasker who had previously worked with director Anthony Mann on 'El Cid'. Special mention must be made of second unit directors Yakima Canutt and Andrew Marton whilst the film's massive budget allowed art directors Moore and Colasanti to recreate a 900,000 square foot Roman Forum. For those who appreciate lavish scores Maestro Dimitri Tiomkin has turned up trumps.

This is essentially a film of two halves. Once the presence of Guinness has gone it suffers alas the same fate as does 'Cleopatra' after Rex Harrison's Caesar is bumped off. It seems to lose focus, becomes empty and uninvolving and is redeemed only by Plummer's histrionics.

As a postscript this film prompted me to read the 'Meditations' of Marcus Aurelius. They helped him through troubled times and looking at the world today they might very well do the same for you. When reading them it would be wise to keep the image of Guinness as the philosopher-emperor and not that of Richard Harris in Ridley Scott's risible remake of 2000.

05/02/2021: Farewell Christopher Pummer. "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

This and 'Spartacus' are the best of the Roman Epics, and it's no coincidence that 'Gladiator' is essentially a remake of TFOTRE; Scott was inspired by the best.

This is a beautifully made, intelligent film with great performances, especially from Mason. And quite fitting that it was the last of the 'Epics'...I grew up watching these films on TV with my late father who always explained the history behind them, and they remind me of him when I watch them.

I've just picked it up on Blu-Ray for very little. Although the transfer isn't as great as 'Ben Hur' or 'Cleopatra', which it fully deserves, it still looks good.