A British historical drama; A story which chronicles the relationship between Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, renowned Queen of Egypt, when the Roman ruler helps the young Egyptian woman gain control of her country from her brother Ptolemy. Caesar's mission is to guide in a paternal way the immature child queen of Egypt.
This over-theatrical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play is a philosophical coming-of-age film, essentially conversational and pitched to the intellect, but is found wanting in drama and energy, a plodding production. The script has wit and remarkable wordplay but it is also blithe about the history and highly improbable so much so that it invites incredulity of the legendary relationship. Claude Rains as Caesar is stately, and adequately imposes his presence as Caesar, sometimes soft and wistful. He handles with sympathy and delicacy the intimations of a middle-aged man's yearn towards a youthful girl queen. Vivien Leigh is comely as the young Queen, though at times her delivery is more at home in aristocratic England than an ancient Egypt setting. Stewart Granger is handsome and suave as the bronzed Sicilian dandy, Apollodorous, livening up the dialogue with his jauntiness; "It is Purple on the green below!" he proclaims, as monarchs dive into the sea.
The Academy Award nominated interior set design by Oliver Messel is exquisite, the staging is colourful, the costumes regal and exotic, and the cinematography is first rate, and so it is by these factors that it narrowly makes it over the Rubicon into territory of recommended viewing.
Review of Caesar and Cleopatra
