THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
US, 1964, 150 minutes, Colour.
Sophia Loren, Alec Guinness, Stephen Boyd, James Mason. Christopher Plummer, Anthony Quayle, Mel Ferrer, Omar Sharif.
Directed by Anthony Mann.
The Fall of the Roman Empire centres on Marcus Aurelius, his vision of Empire, and the failure of his son, Commodus, to consolidate his father's success. It is a reasonably interesting production, combining philosophy with spectacle. The film was produced by Samuel Bronston, maker of such spectacles as King of Kings and El Cid.
1. The main impact, history, appeal of Rome and its atmosphere, its greatness and its fall?
2 Expectations from the title? The commentary of the film and its theories for the fall of the empire? Main reasons offered? What impressions and understanding of the fall of the empire?
3. The use of the wide screen, colour, sets, locations? The importance of so many stars? Their impact?
4. The central focus of interest? The empire itself or its characters? The presentation of the old empire and its traditions? The sadness of its fall? The values of the empires of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus? The contrast of barbarians, Romans and their values? Emphasis of the commentary?
5. How central to the film was Marcus Aurelius? As emperor, his achievement in making and holding the empire, his dream and achievement of universal peace as exemplified in the opening of the film? His philosophy of the unity of the empire? The advice he received and used? His relationship with his son and ambitions for him? His relationship with his daughter and the inevitability of using her marriage for the empire? The inevitability of his death? The tragedy of his death and lack of preparation for succession? The importance of the meditations in understanding the Emperor? The technique of the soliloquies interrupted by direct speaking by the Emperor? The meaning of his reflections on life and death? Was the Emperor a success or a failure?
6. The character of Timonides, supplementing the Emperor? The Greek philosopher and teacher? His studied methods? The quality of his advice and taking a stand on the Emperor's values? His suffering, living with the barbarians, his work with them? His death and the death of the barbarians as a symbol of the decline of the empire?
7. How central was the character of Livius? An army man, the rightful heir to the empire, his relationship to Commodus, bowing to Commodus because of the law? His capacity for friendship and loyalty to the empire? undergoing exile and supporting the empire? Vanquishing the rebellion despite personal feelings? How were these the values of a strong empire? Why did he change? The shock of finding the barbarians killed? What hope did he have in his personal fight with Commodus? The significance of him walking away? Was this walking away part of the downfall of the empire?
8. How did Commodus contrast with Livius? Commodus as the symbol for the decline and fall of the empire? Commodus as the gladiator, the spoilt child, the Emperor of whims? Having sycophants around him yet being alone? The unreality and harshness of his administration? His hope in his death? What had he achieved? How did he destroy the empire?
9. The role of Lucilla in the film? Typical of her father, the strength of the empire? Love and duty conflicting? Her marriage and diplomacy? Her disdain for Commodus? Her participation in the rebellion, Livius not supporting her? Risking death? Walking away from the empire? Lucilla as a symbol of the old values of the empire?
10. The minor characters around Commodus and Marcus Aurelius, Cleander, the sinister blind man who administers the poison? Jullanus and the other generals who fawned on Commodus? The irony of their bidding for the empire in the end? The gladiators who supported Commodus?
11. The contrast of the barbarians with Rome? what values did the barbarians have that the empire needed? The value of Timonides' torture and convincing the barbarians to ally themselves? Livius and his relationship with the barbarians? The inevitability of their deaths after Commodus's death? The signal for the fall of the empire?
12. What were the highlights of the film, sequences in Germany, picture of Rome, the battles, gladiators, Commodus's death? Insight of the film into history, human nature, power, politics, violence?
