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The death of Marcus Aurelius leads to a succession crisis, in which the deceased emperor's son, Commodus, demonstrates that he is unwilling to let anything undermine his claim to the Roman E... Read allThe death of Marcus Aurelius leads to a succession crisis, in which the deceased emperor's son, Commodus, demonstrates that he is unwilling to let anything undermine his claim to the Roman Empire.The death of Marcus Aurelius leads to a succession crisis, in which the deceased emperor's son, Commodus, demonstrates that he is unwilling to let anything undermine his claim to the Roman Empire.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Virgilio Teixeira
- Marcellus
- (as Virgilio Texera)
Featured reviews
The inspiration and source material for GLADIATOR in case you hadn't noticed. This particular historical romp coming very late in the epic cycle in the 60's was a masterpiece of script, direction and set construction. You may have thought the Colosseum in GLADIATOR was impressive - digitised though it was, but compare it to the jaw-dropping scenes in Commodus' Rome - and they BUILT those! Ridley Scott used LESS than 50 people in his Colosseum scenes - every ONE of the thousands of Roman citizens you see, are there! To film this today with the same realism would cost $600-800,000 perhaps one billion plus!
Other scenes, such as the funeral of Aurelius are simply spinal-tap if you have the slightest understanding of what you are seeing. Most people didn't - leaving the theater (even in the 60's) feeling they'd just sat through a history seminar rather than an entertaining movie. I suppose it comes down to WHAT exactly "entertains" you? Master director Martin Scorcese (an extremely literate man himself) singled this movie out as one to study for those interested in the history of American Film...I wonder why?
Curiously the role of Marcus Aurelius was the highlight (acting wise) of both THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE and GLADIATOR. Sir Alec Guinness gave us a totally masterful and benevolent emperor here in just the same way that the late Richard Harris dominated GLADIATOR during his on-screen moments. The film was one to LISTEN to, to reflect on...not too munch popcorn and watch the big men fly! James Mason as Timonides, gave one of his most enduring and touching roles....he was actually injured during that scene with the lance and was unable to film for a few days.
Comments that Boyd was "wooden" and Plummer "over the top," irritate me also. Livius was a noble man of integrity - that's how Boyd portrayed him, these weren't times for off-the-cuff humor. Similarly, evidence exists that Commodus himself was not the "thinking man's choice" of emperor - cruel, vengeful and way left-field of normal! Plummer brought all this out rather well I thought. It doesn't matter a whole lot to me OR Anthony Mann I suppose, what YOU thought about it! Sophia Loren? Not your average "legally blonde" Romanic bimbo either. The epitome of poise and elegance...way too "wooden" for the new millennium!
I believe the FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE is right up there with BEN HUR and Stanley Kubrick's SPARTACUS. Most any intelligent and perceptive person would agree! I would happily have watched it for 280 minutes!
Other scenes, such as the funeral of Aurelius are simply spinal-tap if you have the slightest understanding of what you are seeing. Most people didn't - leaving the theater (even in the 60's) feeling they'd just sat through a history seminar rather than an entertaining movie. I suppose it comes down to WHAT exactly "entertains" you? Master director Martin Scorcese (an extremely literate man himself) singled this movie out as one to study for those interested in the history of American Film...I wonder why?
Curiously the role of Marcus Aurelius was the highlight (acting wise) of both THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE and GLADIATOR. Sir Alec Guinness gave us a totally masterful and benevolent emperor here in just the same way that the late Richard Harris dominated GLADIATOR during his on-screen moments. The film was one to LISTEN to, to reflect on...not too munch popcorn and watch the big men fly! James Mason as Timonides, gave one of his most enduring and touching roles....he was actually injured during that scene with the lance and was unable to film for a few days.
Comments that Boyd was "wooden" and Plummer "over the top," irritate me also. Livius was a noble man of integrity - that's how Boyd portrayed him, these weren't times for off-the-cuff humor. Similarly, evidence exists that Commodus himself was not the "thinking man's choice" of emperor - cruel, vengeful and way left-field of normal! Plummer brought all this out rather well I thought. It doesn't matter a whole lot to me OR Anthony Mann I suppose, what YOU thought about it! Sophia Loren? Not your average "legally blonde" Romanic bimbo either. The epitome of poise and elegance...way too "wooden" for the new millennium!
I believe the FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE is right up there with BEN HUR and Stanley Kubrick's SPARTACUS. Most any intelligent and perceptive person would agree! I would happily have watched it for 280 minutes!
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."
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."
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".
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".
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.
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.
In the year 180 A.D., the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who led his Roman legions against the Germanic tribes along the Danube frontier, has been at war for 17 years and lived under very difficult conditions
Now he invited every governor, every consul and every prince in the whole empire for one particular purpose All responded to his call coming from the deserts of Egypt, from the mountains of Armenia, from the forest of Gaul and the prairies of Spain
Marcus Aurelius greets them as friends, and tells them that in the whole world, only two small frontiers are still hostile to Rome One, here in the north which separates the Roman Empire from those who are called barbarians, the other, in the east of Persia Only on these two borders Rome is finding walls, palisades, forts and hatred But these are not the frontiers he wants He wants and needs human frontiers, the vision of a family of nations
For the great emperor time is short, and there is a decision which he can no longer delay He has sacrificed the love of his son as Commodus will never be his heir His wish is that Livius, the commander of the northern army, should succeed him, and he intends to present him to the leaders of the empire openly as his successor... He has hope that the position and responsibilities would make his son grow up as Commodus is interested only in games and gladiators...
Guiness' ailing Marcus Aurelius had hope that his daughter would not have a marriage without love And he knows better than anyone what a marriage without love can mean But his fears for the empire are reasonable The east is where the danger lies He must make an alliance that will show the whole world what value Rome place on her eastern frontier An alliance with Armenia
Boyd's weary Galius Livius saw suddenly his world has become strange He's not sure where he is He knows only the ways of war He would not know how to make allies out of the barbarians But if he has to choose between being Caesar's heir or Lucilla's love, he chooses her love
Loren's lovely Lucilla makes it hard for her father to take leave of this life She knows that her father loves her, but how could her life mean anything without love? It is out of love that she dared so much
Plummer's slimy Commodus pushes the eastern provinces to rebellion in smashing and destroying everything his father did He makes it clear to his sister that he refused to give her anymore chances to prop against him
Mason's genteel Timonides has been a slave, but he's not accustomed to pain He is a philosopher and he is weak
Ferrer's treacherous Cleander knows that Caesar will accept fruit from him He also knows that his blade carries a deadly poison
Quayle's gladiator Verulus snores, in the moment of truth, a deep family secret
Sharif's king Sohamus hopes for a lovely part of Rome
With a cast of thousands, massive battle sequences, exciting chariot races, brutal hand to hand combat, gorgeous scenery, impressive set design, Anthony Mann's motion picture is a long ride of epic proportions not designed only to entertain but to expose how gold and corruption can undermine the biggest empire the world has ever known
Now he invited every governor, every consul and every prince in the whole empire for one particular purpose All responded to his call coming from the deserts of Egypt, from the mountains of Armenia, from the forest of Gaul and the prairies of Spain
Marcus Aurelius greets them as friends, and tells them that in the whole world, only two small frontiers are still hostile to Rome One, here in the north which separates the Roman Empire from those who are called barbarians, the other, in the east of Persia Only on these two borders Rome is finding walls, palisades, forts and hatred But these are not the frontiers he wants He wants and needs human frontiers, the vision of a family of nations
For the great emperor time is short, and there is a decision which he can no longer delay He has sacrificed the love of his son as Commodus will never be his heir His wish is that Livius, the commander of the northern army, should succeed him, and he intends to present him to the leaders of the empire openly as his successor... He has hope that the position and responsibilities would make his son grow up as Commodus is interested only in games and gladiators...
Guiness' ailing Marcus Aurelius had hope that his daughter would not have a marriage without love And he knows better than anyone what a marriage without love can mean But his fears for the empire are reasonable The east is where the danger lies He must make an alliance that will show the whole world what value Rome place on her eastern frontier An alliance with Armenia
Boyd's weary Galius Livius saw suddenly his world has become strange He's not sure where he is He knows only the ways of war He would not know how to make allies out of the barbarians But if he has to choose between being Caesar's heir or Lucilla's love, he chooses her love
Loren's lovely Lucilla makes it hard for her father to take leave of this life She knows that her father loves her, but how could her life mean anything without love? It is out of love that she dared so much
Plummer's slimy Commodus pushes the eastern provinces to rebellion in smashing and destroying everything his father did He makes it clear to his sister that he refused to give her anymore chances to prop against him
Mason's genteel Timonides has been a slave, but he's not accustomed to pain He is a philosopher and he is weak
Ferrer's treacherous Cleander knows that Caesar will accept fruit from him He also knows that his blade carries a deadly poison
Quayle's gladiator Verulus snores, in the moment of truth, a deep family secret
Sharif's king Sohamus hopes for a lovely part of Rome
With a cast of thousands, massive battle sequences, exciting chariot races, brutal hand to hand combat, gorgeous scenery, impressive set design, Anthony Mann's motion picture is a long ride of epic proportions not designed only to entertain but to expose how gold and corruption can undermine the biggest empire the world has ever known
Did you know
- TriviaThe symbol Timonides wears around his neck is a staurogram, an early symbol of Christianity. It's the only mention of Christianity in this movie.
- GoofsIt is general opinion that Marcus Aurelius was not assassinated, neither by poison, as in THE FALL, nor by asphyxiation, as in Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR. Instead the general conclusion is that MA died of disease, aggravated by exhaustion after endless years of constant fighting.
- Quotes
Closing Narrator: This was the beginning of the fall of the Roman Empire. A great civilization is not conquered from without, until it has destroyed itself from within.
- Crazy creditsThe Paramount logo did not appear on American prints.
- Alternate versionsThe film was cut a number of times, from 187 minutes to 185 to 165 to 158. The very first scene to go was one between Commodus and Livius in the middle of their drinking session on arriving at the German fort. As they go upstairs to pick out two of the hostage German women, Commodus explains that he is on the horns of not a dilemma by a trilemma - if there are gods, they have decided what he will do so it doesn't matter whether he is good or bad; if there are no gods, then it simply doesn't matter if he leads a good or a bad life; and if he himself is a god, then he gets to decide what is good or bad. That is why, if you listen carefully, you can hear the gods laughing... The omission of this scene explains that incredibly abrupt cut from them going upstairs to Commodus trying to force a drink on the German girl. There are a number of cuts in the other versions, most notably the second scene with Marcus Aurelius and Lucilla; most of Timonides' big speech to the Senate about accepting the barbarians into the Empire; and the scene where Livius tries to appeal to the Senate after failing to sway Commodus in the temple only for them to turn against him and arrest him. In some prints, the first scene after the intermission, of Lucilla leaving Marcus Aurelius' meditations in the temple for safekeeping is also dropped. Sadly, the only version that was ever released uncut was the Super 8mm feature release back in the early 1990s, which was taken from the original 16mm neg that was struck before any of the cuts were made but which was prohibitively expensive.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Claudius: Boy of Ancient Rome (1964)
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Fall of the Roman Empire
- Filming locations
- Sierra de Guadarrama Mountain Range, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain(opening sequence - battle)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $19,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 3h 8m(188 min)
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