There are but a few movies that instill the meaning of the words epic and monumental. Cleopatra certainly is among them. This movie nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. I don't know what's more interesting, the movie or the story behind it. Anyway, this movie is a testament of filmaking. Imagine what it must have been like watching this in 1963. Even today the sets and costumes are amazing. No CGI - with the exceptions of probably some matte paintings everything you see was there when it was filmed. It is movie history and should be viewed at least once althought I am sure todays generation of movie goers will not apreciate it much.

Four hours! The first part with Caesar was pretty interesting. I loved how Cleopatra's tendrils slowly wrapped around him and turned him into her own personal weapon. She was a great tactician. Second part with Marc Antony was more of the same thing, plus a few underwhelming battle scenes, so it dragged tremendously. The movie regains its pomp and glory once Octavian enters Cleopatra's palace and learns of Antony's death. The subsequent monologues and a dramatic suicide scene really captivate.

The movie contains one billion inaccuracies and has nothing to do with reality, but it is incredibly beautiful to watch :) The movie takes considerablebleblebleblebleblebleblebleblebleblelebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelb elbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebeblebleblebleblebleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebebbleblelbebleblebleblebelbelbelbelbeblelbelbeleblebelbeleblebebelbeleblebelebleblebelebe artistic license, as is often the case with Hollywood adaptations of historical events. Here are some insane facts about the movie **Cleopatra (1963)**: 1. **Massive Budget**: Originally budgeted at **$2 million**, it ballooned to around **$44 million**, making it one of the most expensive films ever. 2. **Box Office Flop**: Despite its high budget, it grossed only about **$57.8 million** in the U.S., resulting in a significant financial loss. 3. **Long Production**: Filming lasted nearly **70 weeks**, well beyond the expected timeframe. 4. **Lengthy Runtime**: The original cut was around **300 minutes** long, leading to a final theatrical runtime of **248 minutes**. 5. **Costume Changes**: Elizabeth Taylor wore **65 different costumes**, often changing **5-6 times a day**. 6. **Elaborate Sets**: The production built sets covering **20 acres**, including a detailed replica of ancient Alexandria. 7. **Cast Size**: The film featured over **26,000 extras** to create realistic battle and crowd scenes. 8. **Record Salaries**: Elizabeth Taylor earned about **$1 million** for her role, setting a record for an actress at the time. 9. **Oscar Nominations**: Cleopatra received **9 Academy Award nominations**, winning **4**, including Best Costume Design. 10. **Jewelry Collection**: The film used more than **1,000 pieces of custom-made jewelry**, adding to the opulence. 11. **Multiple Directors**: The film went through **five directors**, including Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who ultimately took over the project. 12. **Publicity Stunts**: Elizabeth Taylor’s affair with Richard Burton was highly publicized, adding to the film's notoriety. 13. **Historical Inaccuracies**: The film takes significant liberties with historical events and timelines, often prioritizing drama over accuracy. 14. **Cinematic Techniques**: Used groundbreaking special effects and set design techniques that were innovative for the time. 15. **Cultural Impact**: The film had a lasting impact on pop culture and is often referenced in discussions about historical epics. These facts illustrate the ambitious nature of Cleopatra and the tumultuous production surrounding it. ---- Here’s a breakdown of the cast size for **Cleopatra (1963)**: 1. **Principal Cast**: Approximately **20 main actors** featured prominent roles, including: - Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra) - Richard Burton (Mark Antony) - Rex Harrison (Julius Caesar) 2. **Supporting Cast**: Around **100 supporting actors** played significant roles in various scenes. 3. **Extras**: The film utilized over **26,000 extras** to create the large-scale battle and crowd scenes. 4. **Crew Members**: The production involved about **1,200 crew members**, contributing to the film's massive scale. These numbers highlight the extensive manpower involved in bringing Cleopatra to life on screen. --- Here’s a breakdown of the costume details for **Cleopatra (1963)**: 1. **Main Costumes**: Elizabeth Taylor wore **65 different costumes** throughout the film. 2. **Designer Count**: The costumes were designed by **Irene Sharaff**, who received an Oscar for her work. 3. **Costume Changes Per Day**: On average, Taylor changed costumes **5-6 times a day** during filming. 4. **Historical Accuracy**: Costumes were inspired by ancient Egyptian styles, incorporating **over 150 different fabrics**. 5. **Jewelry**: The film featured more than **1,000 pieces of custom-made jewelry**, including elaborate headdresses and necklaces. 6. **Background Costumes**: Over **26,000 costumes** were created for the extras to reflect the grandeur of ancient Rome and Egypt. These details showcase the extensive effort put into the costume design for the film.

Longest movie I have watched in my life. A very artistic one.

The ultimate monumental movie that almost ruined Hollywood.