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Features: DVD
A motion picture epic that knows no equal, Cleopatra featured the biggest production budget to that point in motion picture history and created a press frenzy surrounding two of Hollywood's biggest stars. Of equal grandeur, the Cleopatra "Five Star Collection" DVD is a three-disc release, including the original, uncut theatrical release, a brand-new behind-the-scenes documentary and more, totaling nearly 10 hours of programming. Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Taylor starred in the story of the Queen of the Nile and her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The film is distinguished by superb performances by Burton and Harrison, but at its center is Taylor in one of the most glamorous roles of her career. Astounding in its scope and grandeur, the picture won five Oscars. Bolstered by a talented supporting cast and utterly stunning backdrops, here is a truly epic portrayal of the woman who conquered two of Rome's greatest soldiers, affected the course of history and became synonymous with beguiling beauty. The press build-up surrounding Cleopatra was incredible due to the highly-publicized off-screen affair between Taylor and Burton, the skyrocketing production costs and the actors' unprecedented salaries. The film's lengthy shoot and $42 million budget (the equivalent of $200+ million today) nearly bankrupted Twentieth Century Fox Studios. Elizabeth Taylor earned a $1 million salary for the production, a record salary for an actress to that point in time. The story surrounding the production of the film is told in the two-hour American Movie Classics original special Backstory Special Edition--Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood, which is included in this three-DVD collection. It explores the myriad of dramatic conflicts, love affairs, soaring cost overruns and near death experiences that miraculously produced what stands as one of the greatest epic cinematic visions of all time. Among the real life players who tell their stories are Roddy McDowall, Martin Landau and Hume Cronyn, and family members of director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, producer Darryl F. Zanuck and Rex Harrison.
"Good acting, especially by Harrison and McDowall." Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
"Physically exquisite with some smart dialogue for all involved." The Motion Picture Guide
"Taylor, Burton and Harrison are sublime..." Austin Chronicle
"...a great motion picture that will stand the test of time." BoxOffice Magazine
"One of the great epic films of our day." Bosley Crowther, The New York Times
Editor's Note
This epic, spectacular love story of Egyptian queen Cleopatra and the Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Marc Antony has dazzled audiences with its elaborate sets, daring costumes, and thrilling sea battle since its release, but these can't compare with Elizabeth Taylor as the mesmerizing Cleopatra, struggling to save her Egyptian empire. When this film was released, it was known as much for its opulent filmmaking as it was for its huge budget overruns--it took two years to film because of Taylor's various ailments and a major script rewrite by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, moving the shooting studio from England to Italy, and replacing the original director and the actors to play the Roman leaders--as well as the very public and tempestuous offscreen affair between costars Taylor and Richard Burton, who duplicated their romance on the silver screen as the doomed Cleopatra and her true love, Marc Antony. Despite all the hubbub surrounding the film, audiences realized that its spectacular story could not be denied, and it has remained a classic ever since. The triple-star power of Taylor, Burton, and Rex Harrison (playing Julius Caesar) radiates throughout this lengthy production, and Mankiewicz, a consummate magician at depicting the shadings of human emotion, directed this threesome in one of the most famous and gloriously powerful love triangles ever to be captured on film.
Plot Summary
CLEOPATRA is a lengthy, sprawling, spectacular love story, helmed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, depicting Cleopatra's manipulation of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony in her ill-fated attempt to save the Egyptian empire. The lavish, stunning production stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in legendary on- (as well as off-) screen performances.
| Features | Anamorphic Widescreen | | Audio: 5.1 Surround, English Dolby Surround, French Dolby Surround | | Commentary By: Chris Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewiez, Martin Landau and Jack Brodsky | | Extensive Still Gallery with Behind-theScenes Photos, Costume Sketches, Concept Art and More | | Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Behind-the-Scenes Documentary: "Cleopatra: The Film that Changed Hollywood" | | 1963 Featurette: The Fourth Star of Cleopatra | | Archival Footage from New York and Hollywood Premiere |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 4/3/2001 |
| Running Time: 248 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1963 | | Catalog ID: 2001483 | | UPC: 00024543014836 | | Number of Discs: 3 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1964) |  | Herman A. Blumenthal,et al., Winner, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration | | Leon Shamroy, Winner, Best Cinematography (Color) | | Vittorio Nino Novarese, et al., Winner, Best Costume Design (Color) | | Emil Kosa, Jr., Winner, Best Special Visual Effects | | | Rex Harrison, Nominee, Best Actor | | | Dorothy Spencer, Nominee, Best Film Editing | | | Alex North, Nominee, Best Original Music Score | | | James Corcoran, Fred Hynes, Nominee, Best Sound |
| Memorable Quotes| "Your Roman generals become divine so quickly!"----Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) to Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) | | "Without you this isn't a world I want to live in----much less conquer."----Cleopatra to Marc Antony (Richard Burton) | | "You have a way of mixing politics and passion."----Julius Caesar to Cleopatra |
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| | Professional Reviews | Entertainment Weekly
"...[A] gaudy-gorgeous pageant..." 04/13/2001 p.53 |
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