Julius Caesar [Blu-ray]

Director: Stuart Burge

Overview

Charlton Heston, Jason Robards and John Gielgud are among the stars of this adaptation of Shakespeare's drama of political intrigue in ancient Rome.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/19/2013
UPC:	0887090054201
Original Release:	1970
Rating:	G
Source:	Olive Films
Language:	English
Time:	1:57:00
Sales rank:	15,506

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charlton Heston	Marc Antony
John Gielgud	Julius Caesar
Richard Chamberlain	Octavius Caesar / Augustus
Robert Vaughn	Casca
Diana Rigg	Portia
Jill Bennett	Calpurnia
Christopher Lee	Artemidorus
Alan Browning	Marullus
Norman Bowler	Titinius
Andrew Crawford	Volumnius
David Dodimead	Lepidus
Peter Eyre	Cinna the Poet
Edwin Finn	Publius
Derek Godfrey	Decius Brutus
Michael Gough	Metellus Cimber
Paul Hardwick	Messala,3rd Plebian
Laurence Harrington	Carpenter
Thomas Heathcote	Flavius
Ewan Hooper	Strato
Robert Keegan	Lucilius
Andre Morell	Cicero
David Neal	Cinna the Conspirator
Preston Lockwood	Trebonius
John Moffatt	Popilius Lena
Steven Pacey	Lucius
Ron Pember	Cobbler
John Tate	Clitus
Damien Thomas	Pindarus
Liz Geghardt	Calpurnia's Maid
Ronald McGill	Caesar's Servant
Linbert Spencer	Caesar's Servant
Trevor Adams	Caesar's Servant
Robin Chadwick	Octavius' Servant
Christopher Cazenove	Antony's Servant
Roy Stewart	Lepidus' Slave
Ken Hutchison	Plebian #1
Michael Keating	Plebian #2
Derek Hardwicke	Plebian #3
Michael Wynne	Plebian #4
David Leland	Plebian #5
Richard Johnson	Cassius
Alba	The Soothsayer
Ronald Magill	Servant to Caesar
Jason Robards	Actor
Michael Lewis	Composer

Technical Credits

Robert Furnival

Robert Furnival	Screenwriter
Peter Snell	Producer
Anthony B. Unger	Executive Producer,Producer
Henry T. Weinstein	Executive Producer,Producer
James Swann	Producer
Cedric Messina	Producer

Editorial Reviews

This 1970 Stuart Burge adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar merits the attention of moviegoers in spite of the weak performance by Jason Robards in the role of Brutus. Except for Robards, the cast performs admirably -- notably Charlton Heston as Antony, John Gielgud as Caesar, Richard Johnson as Cassius, Robert Vaughn as Casca, and Diana Rigg as Portia. Moreover, unlike the heralded 1953 version starring Marlon Brando, this rendering is in color -- a definite plus for young adults weaned on technical realism (though the earlier version has superior sets and art direction). The mixture of accents in the Burge production -- some British, some American -- does not mar the film. After all, there were regional Latin accents in the time of Caesar and regional English accents in the time of Shakespeare. Heston brings power and magnetism to his Antony performance, and his interpretation of the famous funeral oration ("Friends, Romans, countrymen . . . ") is particularly good. On the other hand, Robards' portrayal of Brutus lacks vigor and depth. That he got the role over others -- reportedly, both Orson Welles and Vaughn wanted it -- is a shame, since Brutus is one of the most important characters in the play, if not the most important. Nevertheless, Burge's overall production is a good one, capable of satisfying Shakespeare aficionados, students, and the general public.