Themes: Assassination Plots, Crowned Heads, Political Unrest
Main Cast: Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gielgud, Louis Calhern, Greer Garson, Edmond O'Brien, Deborah Kerr
Release Year: 1953
Country: US
Run Time: 121 minutes
Plot
Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed this exquisite version of William Shakespeare's play. Louis Calhern is Julius Caesar, whose conquests have enabled him to rise to the status of Roman dictator. But his ascent to almost God-like status has given pause to influential members of the Roman Senate. Chief among them is Cassius (John Gielgud), who is troubled by Caesar's popularity and dictatorial status. Convinced that Caesar's assassination would be the best thing for Rome, he conspires with Casca (Edmond O'Brien) and the influential Brutus (James Mason) to plot Caesar's murder. Despite dark omens, Caesar walks confidently into the Roman Senate, where he is stabbed to death by the conspirators. His companion Marc Antony (Marlon Brando) is shocked and runs to the corpse of his beloved friend. He agrees to support Brutus while an unruly mob gathers in front of the Senate doors, having heard rumors of Caesar's assassination. Brutus convinces the mob that Caesar's death was for the good of Rome, preventing him from forming a monarchy. Then Antony appears, determined to destroy the conspirators; he delivers a speech that subtly damns the assassins. With the mob against them, the conspirators are forced to flee Rome and Antony organizes an army against them. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
The 1953 production of Julius Caesar is a surprisingly successful, star-studded adaptation of the Shakespearean tale of loyalty, betrayal, and political intrigue in ancient Rome. A strong cast distinguishes the film, with James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, and Marlon Brando as Marc Antony offering distinctly different yet entirely satisfying interpretations of their historical figures. The screenplay is a seamless adaptation of the source material, keeping the focus on both the human drama of Brutus' struggle to decide between personal loyalty and public welfare and the political implications of violent rebellion, a topic of particular interest to Elizabethan audiences. The black-and-white cinematography adds an appropriately film noir-ish element to the conspiratorial scenes, even as the vivid and potent imagery of Shakespeare's words is well-preserved. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz manages to showcase the Bard's dialogue in a film that also has the visual appeal of Oscar-winning art direction. Plot was never Shakespeare's greatest talent, and Julius Caesar suffers from a prolonged anti-climax (the final two acts add little to the story), but the film survives this deficiency with some show-stopping speeches. Marc Anthony is blessed with a couple of inspiring and potent orations, and, despite his lack of experience in Elizabethan drama, Brando hits most of the right notes. ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
Brando's casting was met with some skepticism when it was announced, as he had acquired the nickname of "The Mumbler" following his performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz even considered Paul Scofield for the role of Marc Antony if Brando's screen test was unsuccessful, but he was so dedicated in his performance during shooting that John Gielgud offered to direct him in a stage production of Hamlet, a proposition that Brando turned down.
O.Z. Whitehead is listed on the Internet Movie Database as having played Cinna the Poet in the film and not receiving screen credit, but his one scene was deleted before release, and it is not included in any DVD or video releases of the film.(However, Cinna the Conspirator does appear; he is played by actor William Cottrell - not to be confused with the William Cottrell who was recently convicted of a crime.)
It also won two BAFTA awards for Best British Actor (John Gielgud) and Best Foreign Actor (Marlon Brando). It was also nominated in the Best Film category. Brando won the BAFTA Best Actor award in three consecutive years for Viva Zapata! (1952), Julius Caesar (1953), and On the Waterfront (1954).
