In the 1950s, it was a big craze in Hollywood to make biblical or otherwise ancient epics. You know the famous ones, and you have your favorites you watch every Easter. Chances are Alexander the Great is not one of them, and for good reason. It's terrible. It's as if Robert Rossen told his cast to overact during the dress rehearsal, and then he accidentally filmed it.
Richard Burton, donning a hilarious blond wig with poufy bangs, plays the title role. Fredric March and Claire Bloom play his parents, and each only wears one expression during their scenes. Claire's says, "I don't think that tuna sandwich agreed with me," and Freddy's says, "Did I walk on the wrong film set by mistake?" Alexander the Great is supposed to be a historical epic with lots of dramatic battle scenes, tension-filled romances, and family arguments. Every attempt is met with failure. Besides 1954's The Silver Chalice, I've never seen a worse ancient epic. You really don't want to watch this one, even if it's your favorite genre in the world. It's amazing Hollywood even tried to make another movie of that type after this disaster. It's amazing that Richard Burton had any form of career after 1956. But it's not amazing that every other movie in the world will look good by comparison. Or, in the words of my mom, "No wonder Ben-Hur was a big hit!"
Richard Burton, donning a hilarious blond wig with poufy bangs, plays the title role. Fredric March and Claire Bloom play his parents, and each only wears one expression during their scenes. Claire's says, "I don't think that tuna sandwich agreed with me," and Freddy's says, "Did I walk on the wrong film set by mistake?" Alexander the Great is supposed to be a historical epic with lots of dramatic battle scenes, tension-filled romances, and family arguments. Every attempt is met with failure. Besides 1954's The Silver Chalice, I've never seen a worse ancient epic. You really don't want to watch this one, even if it's your favorite genre in the world. It's amazing Hollywood even tried to make another movie of that type after this disaster. It's amazing that Richard Burton had any form of career after 1956. But it's not amazing that every other movie in the world will look good by comparison. Or, in the words of my mom, "No wonder Ben-Hur was a big hit!"