Amazon.com: The second and last of Anthony Mann's historical epics is a smart, handsome spectacle of the decadence, corruption, and intrigue that tears apart the greatest empire the world has seen. The sprawling story spreads itself thin over a number of characters and stories. At the center are handsome but stiff Stephen Boyd as Livius, the loyal soldier and symbolic son of the aging emperor (Alec Guinness), and Christopher Plummer as Commodus, the corrupt heir to the throne--boyhood friends turned enemies when the latter accedes to the throne and sells out the values of his father for greed and hedonistic pleasures. The three-hour running time is filled out with the tales of Sophia Loren (as the beautiful Lucilla in love with Livius but coveted by greedy Commodus) and a gallery of heroes and villains that includes James Mason, Mel Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland, Omar Sharif, and Eric Porter. The film is highlighted with spectacular scenes (a grandiose funeral fit for an emperor, brutal battles in the provinces as the barbarians threaten the empire, and a climactic duel to decide the destiny of Rome), which Mann weaves into the shadowy intrigue of the halls of power. Like his previous epic El Cid, The Fall of the Roman Empire remains one of the best of the 1960s epics: well written (and largely historically accurate) with strong performances and a consistently elegant style, but it lacks a central core and the magnetic hero of its superior predecessor. --Sean Axmaker
Product Description: Anthony Mann directs this giant-size, three-hour, sweepingly pictorial entertainment (Daily Variety) that chronicles the peace-loving Caeser, Marcus Aurelius (Guinness) and his corrupt son, Commodus, (Plummer) who covets his throne. Featuring epic battles, breathtaking sets and locations, and a chariot race that easily rivals Ben Hur, Fall of the Roman Empire charts the greedy miscalculations that led to this civilization s collapse at the bloody hands of the Barbarians.
Once upon a time, before CGI... ...movies were made that were monumental productions. "Fall" is a prime example. Making it today as it was made in 1964 would probably break the bank of most studios. Christopher Plummer's Commodus is alone worth the price -- and one reason why he's perhaps Canada's finest living actor.
The Fall of The Roman Empire This is a classic Roman historical film I saw first time when I was a teenager. It is so great to have this DVD of the remastered version. The movie Gladiator owes a great debt to this film full of beautiful performances and unforgettable cinematography. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone interested in Greco-Roman films and epic cinema from the 1960's.
A Classic This is not so great movie but still enjoyable.At last available in a DVD with decent picture and sound, along with mind blowing extras. This limited collector's edition comes with 1 additional booklet and few art cards. Even though I purchased the Limited Edition, I feel like the goodies not worth the additional money I paid. Also the box will eat up more space in your DVD rack. So buying the The Fall Of The Roman Empire (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (The Miriam Collection) will be a good deal. I highly recommend this along with .El Cid (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (The Miriam Collection) to any classic DVD collection
If You Love Old Movies.... Then this one will be right up there.
The contrast between the "old" movies and new ones is very apparent in this particular extravaganza. The focus is on the spectacle. Acting, scripting and accuracy are entirely secondary though not neglected. I like the movie and hence give it four stars but simply as entertainment. I could not get over the set design, the cast of thousands for extras, the range of vision offered. Modern movies use computer imagery to do this stuff. This movie relied on the basics... if you want to portray an army, hire one... and dress them up in period costumes.
Further, in contrast to "modern" movie making, the moralizing is "in your face." Marcus Aurelius is portrayed as pretty near a saint... modern ideas of "freedom" are unabashedly imposed on folks who had very little in common with them, etc. This movie genre is "historical myth" and that is OK. There is a place for myth (young Geo. Wash. chopping down that apple tree) in the communication of morals (as in the "moral" of the story) and its force should not be underestimated. An entire generation grew up watching this type of movie and on the whole, I think it was probably a more healthy environment for them than some of the modern stuff the young folks are exposed to now.
So... if you like old movies... this is a good one.
The king is dead. If you liked El Cid or the Gladiator, then this is a must. I think that it's a better story telling then the Russel Crowe remake.
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