Julius Caesar (1953)

★ 7.1 2h 1m IMDb

Drama History

The growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate Caesar but both have sorely underestimated Mark Antony.

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Cast

Marlon Brando as Mark Antony Died 2004 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career which sp...

James Mason as Brutus Died 1984 · Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK James Neville Mason, known as James Mason, was an accomplished English actor who made a significant impact on both British and American cinema. He was born on May 15, 1909, in Huddersfield, Yorkshire,...

John Gielgud as Cassius Died 2000 · London, England Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH, was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally e...

Louis Calhern as Julius Caesar Died 1956 · Brooklyn [now in New York City], New York, USA Carl Henry Vogt (February 19, 1895 – May 12, 1956), known professionally as Louis Calhern, was an American stage and screen actor. For portraying Oliver Wendell Holmes in the film The Magnificent Yank...

Edmond O'Brien as Casca Died 1985 · New York City, New York, USA Edmond O'Brien (September 10, 1915 – May 9, 1985) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor who is perhaps best remembered for his role in D.O.A. (1950). His many memorable films included The K...

Greer Garson as Calpurnia Died 1996 · London, England, UK Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson, CBE (September 29, 1904 – April 6, 1996) was a British and American actress. Very popular during World War II, she was listed by the Motion Picture Herald as one of America...

Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Cast Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gielgud, Louis Calhern, Edmond O'Brien, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, George Macready, Michael Pate, Richard Hale

CinemaSerf 7/10 Apr 15, 2024

Having finally beaten Pompey's armies, Caesar (Louis Calhern) has returned to Rome to the acclaim of it's population. A fourth term as consul and the title of dictator for life suit his ambitions but they cause alarm amongst those who feel this is the first step to absolutism. First amongst those suspicious characters is Cassius (John Gielgud) and together with Brutus (James Mason) and Casca (Edmund O'Brien) conclude that drastic action needs to be taken if they are to prevent him becoming king. They must, however, factor in the powerful Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) - Caesar's right hand man, and an honourable military figure. The Ides of March duly arrive, and history takes it course - and for me, that's when this adaptation of Shakespeare's play comes alive. The hitherto largely unseen Brando's character cleverly manipulates the mob into handing him an opportunity for vengeance on the assassins, and together with Octavius (Douglas Watson) a chance to wrest control of the empire for themselves. Many people have said that Gielgud was the finest of 20th century Shakesperian thespians and his performance here is potent and evocative. His character comes across as only slightly less ambitious than Caesar, and one way more venal. It's James Mason, though, who impresses most here. His Brutus imbues a sense of principal, of honour and integrity - he seems the only one not quite in it for himself. Both of these men deliver some legendary soliloquies with skill and adroitness. Brando really only gets the one significant kick at the ball as he delivers his eulogy, but here he delivers an impassioned speech to the baying crown that's as insightful as it is inciteful. Joseph L. Mankiewicz competently presides over a well produced and paced dramatisation of brutality, duplicity and pride - and he allows those on screen to demonstrate their abilities to deliver some slightly abridged but still complex dialogue strongly. Not be forgotten are a couple of important, if sparing, contributions from Greer Garson and Deborah Kerr and we are delivered of a great story of intrigue and power that I really enjoyed.