The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire

Director: Anthony Mann Cast: Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
, Stephen Boyd
Stephen Boyd
, Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
, James Mason
James Mason
, Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire

Director: Anthony Mann Cast: Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
, Stephen Boyd
Stephen Boyd
, Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
, James Mason
James Mason
, Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer

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Overview

Though Fall of the Roman Empire is now infamous as the epic which destroyed the cinematic "empire" of producer Samuel Bronston, the film is actually an above-average historical drama, attempting to make sense of the political intrigues which resulted in the dissolution of the Glory That Was Rome. The film begins with wise, diplomatic emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) calling together the various representatives of the many nations within the Empire as a means of securing peace and prosperity for all involved. When Marcus intimates that he intends to turn over his crown to adopted son Livius (Stephen Boyd) rather than the logical successor Commodus (Christopher Plummer), he is poisoned by one of Commodus' cronies. Marcus' daughter Lucilla (Sophia Loren) tries to get Livius to claim the throne, but he wants no part of it; thus, the fate of the empire is in the incompetent hands of the preening Commodus. Despite efforts by cooler heads to save Rome from ruin, Commodus vainly declares himself a god and kills anyone who poses a threat to him. When he learns that Lucilla actually has a stronger claim to the throne than he does, Commodus condemns her to be burned at the stake. Only then does Livius intervene, slaying Commodus and promising to try to pick up the pieces of the disintegrating empire. Attempting to find a common ground between history buffs and action fans, Fall of the Roman Empire has come to be regarded as a classic. Alas, audiences in 1964 had grown weary of epics (especially after the highly touted but disappointing Cleopatra), and failed to turn out in sufficient enough numbers to justify Fall's exorbitant cost. Virtually wiped out, Samuel Bronston would not be able to return to filmmaking until 1971, and then only on a much smaller and more pinchpenny scale.

Product Details

Release Date: 01/20/2004
UPC: 4897007038220
Original Release: 0000
Language: English
Sales rank: 7,363

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Sophia Loren Lucilla
Stephen Boyd Livius
Alec Guinness Marc Aur?le
James Mason Timonides
Christopher Plummer Commodus
Anthony Quayle Verulus
Omar Sharif Sohamus
John Ireland Ballomar
Andrew Keir Polybius
Gabriella Licudi Tauna
Rafael Calvo Actor,Lentulus
Peter Damon Claudius
George Murcell Victorinus
Mel Ferrer Cleander
Eric Porter Julianus
Finlay Currie Senator
Guy Rolfe Marius
Michael Gwynn Cornelius
Lena von Martens Helva
Douglas Wilmer Niger
Norman Wooland Virgilanus
Virgilio Texeira Actor
Jeffrey O'Kelly le fr?re de Livius
Virgilio Teixeira Marcellus
Margaret Fuller Actor
Roland Carey Actor
Robert Rietty Opening narration
Dimitri Tiomkin Composer

Technical Credits
Ben Barzman Screenwriter
Basilio Franchina Screenwriter
Philip Yordan Screenwriter
Samuel Bronston Producer
Alex Weldon Special Effects
Michal Waszynski Producer
Milton C. Burrow Sound Effects
David Hildyard Sound Effects
Gordon K. McCallum Sound Effects
Jaime Prades Producer
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