This is another one of those titles that I missed the first time around and that I have waited for years to see. Now that I have finally caught up with it, I’m glad I did. There are no other theatrical releases (as opposed to made for TV versions) of ANTONY & CLEOPATRA out there so it’s fortunate that this one is as good as it is. It is not the ideal version by any means but until someone else decides to tackle A & C on the big screen, this one will more than suffice.
Charlton Heston began his career by making low budget film versions of classic plays (PEER GYNT, JULIUS CAESAR) in his pre-Hollywood days and had played Marc Antony on two previous occasions so it comes as no surprise that he can handle the Shakespearean dialogue. The only problem from my perspective is that while imposing enough, he just looks too old for the role. The same can be said for Hildegard Neil’s Cleopatra. Neil is best known for her stage and Brit TV work and for being in the Glenda Jackson-George Segal vehicle A TOUCH OF CLASS. Both actors seem a little jarring at first but you do get used to them and by the end you realize that they have given performances of substance.
The real strength of the production lies in the supporting cast of British actors, many of them members of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Julian Glover, John Castle, Douglas Wilmer, Peter Arne, and Freddie Jones are familiar faces and voices who add interest and lustre to their roles. The absolute standouts are Eric Porter as Enobarbus who speaks as if he was having an intimate conversation with you which allows his words to really sink in and Jane Lapotaire as Cleopatra’s maidservant Charmian who brings grace and humor to her role.
In addition to the fine supporting performances, the Spanish locations give a sense of granduer to what is obviously a low budget production by Hollywood standards. Heston’s direction is hit and miss with the shadows of Cecil B. De Mille and William Wyler looming large but not enough to sabotage the film. There are even excerpts from BEN HUR and the 1963 CLEOPATRA thrown in to lend scope to the battle scenes and they are skillfully incorporated. In the end ANTONY & CLEOPATRA is not as good as it could have been but it remains a worthwhile undertaking that I’ll have no trouble revisiting.
The Capsule Critic 