CLEOPATRA

US, 1934, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Henry Wilcoxon, Joseph Schildkraut, Ian Keith, C. Aubrey Smith.
Directed by Cecil B. de Mille.

Cecil B. de Mille had established himself as a leading director of screen spectacle in the 1920s with his 1923 The Ten Commandments and his 1927 The King of Kings. With the coming of sound, he made quite a number of different genres of films but returned to spectacle in 1933 for the early Christian story, The Sign of the Cross. Claudette Colbert appeared as the Empress Poppaea to Charles Laughton’s Nero. In 1934 he made Cleopatra, again with Claudette Colbert (who won the Oscar that year for her performance in It Happened One Night). Warren William is Julius Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon is Mark Antony.

The film was made before the impositions of the code in the early 1930s – and some of the costumes (and lack of them) might surprise audiences used to the later spectacles.

Claudette Colbert is a strong Cleopatra as is Henry Wilcoxon as a strong Mark Antony. This gives the film some force – if not any history.

In the next decade Vivien Leigh was Cleopatra in the film version of George Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra. Of course, most audiences are aware of Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film, Cleopatra.

1. How impressive was this as a classic movie? A movie milestone in cinema spectacular?

2. How did the presentation of the film reflect the styles of the early thirties? The emphasis on lavish spectacle, the lack of emphasis on characterization and plausibility? Attracting audiences to wonder rather than to think?

3. How does this film evidence the changing tastes of cinema audiences over the decades? The contrast with later versions of 'Cleopatra'?

4. How interesting was the historical background of the film? How well did the plot reconstruct history? The picture of life and politics In Egypt, the role of Cleopatra, the invasion of Rome? The influence of Caesar, of Antony, of Augustus?

5. How attractive was Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra? The strengths of the characterization, weaknesses? Her beauty and charm? Her fascination for Caesar and for Antony? The quality of the dialogue he was given to speak? The style of direction, with the emphasis on being seductive, postures? Innuendo? Did this give a convincing account of Cleopatra as one of the most fascinating women of history?

6. Comment on the characterization and presentation of Cleopatra in particular sequences, for example the encounter in the desert at the beginning, the initial meeting with Caesar from the rug, the plot to kill Caesar and Cleopatra's killing? her visit to Rome? The repetition of similar sequences with Antony? Her using him, seducing him, loving him and yet planning to kill him? How impressive was she in her death? At Antony's death? Was she presented as credible character, even in this spectacular film?

7. How interesting the presentation of Caesar? His ambitions, his attitude towards Cleopatra and Egypt, his status in Rome, bringing Cleopatra to Rome? Did he love her at all or merely use her?

8. The contrast with Antony as blunt? His arrogance and then his succumbing, to Cleopatra? The detail of his infatuation with her? His giving up his ambitions and army career? The contrast with his behaviour in Roman days? How lost was he in the world of Cleopatra? Forfeiting his ambitions and his achievement?

9. The picture of Octavian as jealous and ambitious? The role of Herod between Octavian and Antony? The sinister characterization of Herod?

10. How much attention to detail did the film give as regards Egyptian politics and court life?

11. The film’s attention to Rome and its way of life, for example, Calpurnia and her dinner?

12. Comment on this film as a Cecil B. De Mille spectacle.