Julius Caesar

Amazon.com

An examination of the relationship between political power and personal conscience, Joseph Mankiewicz's traditional Julius Caesar (1953) is a veritable master class for aspiring thespians. As the opportunistic Marc Antony, Marlon Brando delivers the famous funeral speech with pure conviction, elsewhere casting an intense physicality that recalls his work in A Streetcar Named Desire. James Mason suggests a latent Hamlet in his turn as the honorable Brutus, while John Gielgud is positively serpentine as the lean, hungry Cassius. Louis Calhern invests Caesar with intelligence and edgy noir echoes, and director Mankiewicz astutely balances the Renaissance view of Caesar as a power-obsessed, corrupt tyrant destined for punishment with modern suggestions that his murder may have been ill advised. The director's scrupulous pacing is supported in no small measure by Miklós Rósza's stunning score. At film's end, power itself is without a master, and the spirit of Caesar has been left unrevived: and to Mankiewicz's credit, the latter is revealed to be the true tragedy of Julius Caesar. --Kevin Mulhall

Description

Film adaptation of Shakespeare's play chronicling the aftermath of Caesar's assassination at the hands of Marc Anthony, Cassius and Brutus.

Customer Reviews:

Julius Caesar.......2007-06-26

Mankiewicz's quintessential, star-studded adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy is a lavish, Oscar-winning production. Gielgud, Mason, O'Brien, Greer Garson, and Deborah Kerr all shine in their respective roles. And Brando, fresh off his success in "A Streetcar Named Desire," puts the mumbling Stanley Kowalski out of mind as he yelps "Let loose the dogs of war!" and intones Antony's unforgettable funeral speech with a gravity befitting the role. Worlds better than other screen versions, and one of the finest meditations on personal versus public ethics, "Julius Caesar" deserves your adulation.

Julius Caesar.......2007-06-11

Are you kidding? Look at the cast. Shakespeare with Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Geilgood (sp)? This is dynamite

Brando, one of the most important actor of Hollywood.......2007-05-21

Good movie, but really "shakespearian". There's very long sentences and it's not easy to follow when your english is not native language (even with the subtitles). Also, there is no appearance or mention of Cleopatra, "girlfriend" of Julius and (after) Mark Anthony.

But the performance of Brando is exceptionnal. When Mark Anthony speak to the people after Brutus speech, we understand easily why Brando is considered as one of the most important actor of Hollywood history.

Ce film est une adaptation de la pièce de théâtre de Shakespeare. Les protagonistes y vont de longues tirades qui peuvent éprouver votre attention (même si votre anglais est impeccable). Cléopâtre a été complètement occulté: il est probable qu'elle ne se retouve pas non plus dans la pièce de William.

Marlon Brando démontre sans contestation possible qu'il est un grand acteur. Lors du discours après les justifications de Brutus, Brando n'est plus un acteur: il est Marc Antoine lui-même.

Ne pas regarder comme simple divertissement

My Favorite Shakespeare.......2007-04-29

This is definitely the best Shakespeare movie I've seen. I enjoyed DiCaprio in "Romeo and Juliet" and I loved Toshiro Mifune's performance in Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood (Macbeth)," but Brando's acting elevates this one to a new level. He is joined by a fine cast of British actors including John Gielgud and James Mason. If you love Shakespeare or Marlon Brando, you'll want to own this one.

Finally, a DVD version!.......2007-04-06

I am so glad that someone finally has put Julius Caesar on a DVD. I am an English teacher and in the spring I teach Julius Caesar at least four or five times a day, and have done so for the past eleven years. I've had two or three copies of the movie because the video wore out with all the rewinding, etc... from when we watched the scenes after reading them. Now with a DVD I don't have to worry about the tape wearing out, and I can enjoy the movie for years to come! Thank you!

Average customer rating:

Hail to the Chief
An even better idea for those 8% morons
8%
Who would buy this
Two Seasons Rip Off

Rome - The Complete First Two Seasons
Starring: Rome
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B000Q66PXE
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Customer Reviews:

Hail to the Chief.......2007-08-31

Season 1 of Rome is an enjoyable view into the lives of many different characters set circa 50 BC in the last years of Julius Caesar's reign. Primarily, the series focuses on the exploits of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus -- played superbly by Kevin McKidd -- and Titus Pullo also portrayed superbly by Ray Stevenson.

We watch through 12 season 1 episodes as Caesar rises to (and falls from) power over his mentor Pompey Magnus to create the all-powerful Rome. Marc Anthony is Caesar's right hand man. Cleopatra even makes an appearance.

The series revolves around the exploits of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus - played superbly by Kevin McKidd - and Titus Pullo also portrayed superbly by Ray Stevenson. The real fun of the show is watching Pullo and Vorenus battle violently in violent times and struggle with their own family values, loyalty to the Empire and friendship to each other.

Season 2 of Rome is set circa 30 BC just after Julius Caesar's murder.

In Season 2 Pullo and Vorenus become entwined with Mark Anthony and Octavian of the Julii, son of Atia (lover to Marc Anthony and others). Season 2 focuses on Octavian's rise to Emperor of Rome by political guile and bloody force.

We watch through 10 Season 2 episodes as Octavian gains power over (his adversary at times--friend at times--stepfather figure at times) Marc Anthony. Cleopatra is also back and has a bigger role in Season 2.

Both seasons are not always action-packed and move along a bit slowly at times, but overall they are so well done that--similar to other HBO series like The Sopranos--when they're good...they're really good.

The price of this DVD series is perhaps HBO's way of saying, "You don't like it?...Subscribe to HBO!" So, you might consider renting unless you're a collector. Further, at the time of this writing, it's MUCH cheaper to buy the series releases individually.

Rome - The Complete First Season

Rome - The Complete Second Season

All hail HBO.

An even better idea for those 8% morons.......2007-08-10

Since 8% are willing to throw away $80 by buying both seasons together, I think Amazon is missing out on those 5% who also buy "300" for $23.99. They need to give them a "Package Deal" for a mere $243.88. Apparently P.T Barnum was right after all - "There is a sucker born every minute."

8%.......2007-08-09

I was amazed to see that8% of the people who viewed this page actually bought this item. when people ask why do overpriced marketing stunts work, you need to talk to those 8%. Buy them individually.

Who would buy this.......2007-08-08

I agree with the previous posts, why would you buy something that costs more in a set and it does to buy them individually. For this price they should be blue ray. Speaking of that, is there plans to release this in blue ray?

Two Seasons Rip Off.......2007-08-07

I must agree with the first viewer. What in the world are you thinking? I have been a staunch Amazon customer for years, but I am appalled that you would think anyone would pay $49.99 for Season One and $49.99 for Season Two OR $179.99 for BOTH. Are the discs gold plated? What train of thought went behind this? Please say that it was an obvious error and that you meant to say $79.99 for both Seasons.

The History Channel Presents Julius Caesar's Rome

Average customer rating:

what a peace of junk
Julius Caesar gets a bad rap from the history channel.
great documentary
Getting your aqueducts in a row
Rome, Capital of the World

The History Channel Presents Julius Caesar's Rome
Starring: Julius Caesar's Rome
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00062111O
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Product Description

The History Channel Presents: Julius Caesar s Rome

Throughout history, civilizations have come and gone, but few have altered the world as immensely as the Roman Empire. From its legendary founding by Romulus and Remus to its magnificent takeover of the Mediterranean to its eventual fall amidst the rise of Christianity, the many lasting influences of the Roman civilization remain with us today. Experience documentary history at its best and bear witness to the rise and fall of an empire with THE HISTORY CHANNEL® PRESENTS: ANCIENT ROME.

System Requirements:

Running Time 322 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

what a peace of junk.......2007-08-30

i just bought this thinking it was the documentory that played on the history channel about the accomplesments and enginering feats of the romans ,neros palace ,ceasars battles,the colosium ect. instead i find this bs naration by montania (they would have been better off with soupy sales at least it would have been funny)mainly talking and explaning about the sexual habits and in a way thats sure to bore and anoy anyone and guess what its almost 4 hours long i hope to get my money back for this if not it will soon find its way to a new home in the garbage can.this lesson cost me this much to learn that thiers a big difference between a master story teller and a wanna bee chump

Julius Caesar gets a bad rap from the history channel........2007-06-11

The DVD itself was alright. It wasn't terribly entertaining and did not have many dramatized action sequences (or actually ANY that I can remember) So it was pretty much a few talking heads throwing in their 2 cents on Julius. They quote some ancient sources such as Plutarch and Suetonius as well. While commenting they have shots of Rome and Roman things and whatnot. I found it somewhat strange at the amount of negative commentary on Julius Caesar. They often call him a tyrant (which he pretty much was, BUT in Roman times a tyrant did not have the negative conotation that is does today) They talk about Julius' ambition and his self serving desires. They go to the extent of blaming Julius for the fall of the republic (from which of course the empire rose, and eventually crumbled) Simply put, if the republic was healthy and the senate strong, Julius would never have become dictator of Rome. Had he not done it someone else would have.
The second disc I like a little better, Though it did not talk much about Julius. IT went into some detail about Octavian Augustus Caesar and how he got his start and the "golden age" that followed his reign. All-in-all, I learned very little from this disc that I didn't already know. BUT I have also taken a class on the subject and read up on it. If you don't know much about Rome it is not a bad place to start, but it isn't the most entertaining piece I have seen from the history channel, and I would disagree with some of the views and commentaries as well.

great documentary.......2007-05-29

I love to watch shows on the history of ancient Rome, and this was no exception. The history channel made an interesting program that would interest even the most novice roman historian. If you know much of ancient roman history, little will be revealed that you probably have not already seen or heard, but it is still a good watch.

Getting your aqueducts in a row.......2007-04-24

This two disk set is (in my view) in reverse order. The basic outline of Roman history is found on disk two, and that's a good place to start, particularly parents who buy this for their children to watch. The first disk has an episode on Julius Caesar -- what appears to be one of the old A&E Biography broadcasts -- and an episode on Anthony and Cleo.

This set has the virtue of portraying Cleo pretty accurately, and that's refreshing. There have been recent attempts to transform ancient female despots into modern feminist icons, and in the case of Cleopatra it has been especially inaccurate, misguided, and wrongheaded. Cleopatra was set on her throne, and kept there, by Roman power, and by her involvement with the losing side in the Roman civil war she lost everything. About the only criticism I have is that Cleopatra is mentioned a little too often.

The choice of Joe Mantegna as the narrator was excellent, although he persistently pronounced "consul" as "council", and tetrarchy as "tet-tree-archee". Mantegna did a great job otherwise. Of course, his performance was tempered somewhat by the script.

The script misuses the term "codependent" by claiming that the Emperor Claudius was "codependent" on drinking and gambling. Codependence is a condition existing between two people. At one point came the line, "Augustus may have invented the term dysfunctional family" (no, he didn't).

The script has some specious references to modern politics, such as referring to the Augustus-era morals laws as a "family values plan", and refers to Roman armies as "soldiers of fortune". There's an obnoxious reference to the Emperor Constantine having been "backed by his Christian Coalition". One of the British talking heads refers to the Emperor Justinian's wife Theodora as "the Nancy Reagan" of his "administration", and speaks of "the Oval Office of the Eastern empire". Nancy Reagan wasn't "the power behind the throne", but I suppose that interpretation persists in the UK because of the long reign by their own figurehead queen.

The same talking head gives a free pass to Nero, who was a vicious murderer and incompetent egomaniac -- just as he is generally portrayed. Other aristocrats are heaped with abuse by the same guy. That was just silly, and should have been edited out. When the only good thing that can be said about Nero is that he had his own mother (Caligula's sister, and ex-wife of her own uncle) executed, that should tell you all you need to know about him.

Based on an anecdote, it is claimed that the Emperor Justinian owed the final 50 years of rule to Theodora, who purportedly convinced him to stand and fight (and slaughter thousands) in the denouement of the infamous chariot race riots in Constantinople. I regard this as more politically correct nonsense, appearing as it does among other such rubbish. Also in this category is the claim that adulterous women sent into exile were being singled out for being dangerous. That's only true in the context of venereal diseases. Women who were poisoners (and therefore dangerous) often wound up executed, not exiled.

Other oddities include the term "Imperial Roman Empire", which is used to set up the use of "Imperial Roman Republic". While that suggests that the empire preceded the emperor, which is correct, it would make more sense to just come right out and say that, and then drop these silly terms. There's a wacky reference to "27 fatal blows" to Caesar. There's a claim that "Julius" was Caesar's first name (it was Gaius).

The republic never fell in the first place -- over time, the senate became more representative of the people as the demographics of the empire changed due to conquests of everything from Scotland to Arabia. This change led to resentment by the aristocracy, which owed its position to having been born. The emperor is analogous to, and the root of, the US presidency; the Roman state's separation of powers arose through trial and error (and civil war, and other mayhem) but there wasn't a time when the senate vanished. Adherence to the view that the senate before Julius Caesar was somehow a democratic institution is obnoxiously elitist. And clinging like a dingleberry to the nobility of a group of senators who -- in the Senate chamber -- stabbed to death a legally appointed chief executive is even worse.

If anything, Julius Caesar was too lenient. No mention is made of the patrician plundering and land-stealing from soldiers who were out serving in Roman armies -- the very origin of the practice and popularity of land grants for the veterans. No mention is made of earlier politicians, the Gracchi, who were killed or ostracized for objecting to this and other aristocratic misconduct and crimes.

Roman expansion came about in response to early barbarian invasions, including a Gallic invasion in which Rome itself was sacked, and to wars by and with neighboring city-states which controlled all the smaller towns in their small empires. The Punic wars resulted from conflicts over colonial holdings with which Carthage tried to control trade. Carthage had earlier forced out fellow Phoenician city-states, as well as the Greeks.

In the finale, Islam is grouped with Judaism and Christianity as part of the legacy of the Roman Empire. Rabbinical Judaism rose to greater importance because the Romans destroyed the Temple; Christianity is an outgrowth of Judaism; Islam was and is the enemy of both, and indeed of all other religions and political systems (particularly democracy) and became one of the influences which led to the final destruction of the remnant of the Eastern Roman empire by the Turks. Claiming otherwise as this script does is ridiculous.

Still, with these provisos, worth buying.

Rome, Capital of the World.......2007-04-24

Julius Caesar's Rome, a two-DVD set, carries its audience back to Ancient Rome, a civilization that was born in 753 BCE on the banks of the river Tiber in modern Italy and ended with the fall of Constantinople in modern Turkey in 1453 CE.

The first DVD narrates the life of Julius Caesar, Anthony, and Cleopatra. The narration of the life of both Anthony and Cleopatra is too long due to some lousy acting that history lovers should have been spared.

The second DVD starts with the legendary foundation of Rome in 753 BCE and ends with the reign of Justinian, the great emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 6th century CE. The second DVD is an invitation to further explore the glorious past of Rome and its relevance to our western society.

The photography in both DVDs is usually compelling, the interviews with leading archaeologists are most often interesting, and the narration of Joe Mantegna is to-the-point and accessible.

Average customer rating:

Not so mighty Caesar
Imperator Caesar Ivlivs
Et Tu, Brute?
Historically loose, but still quite entertaining.
Inspiering historical movie

Julius Caesar
Starring: Jeremy Sisto , Richard Harris , Christopher Walken , Valeria Golino , and Chris Noth
Director: Uli Edel
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002S93TO
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Description

Fierce general. Skilled orator. Savvy politician. This is Julius Caesar, one of the world's greatest leaders and ruler of the Roman Empire. His ascent to power is filled with sacrifice, murder and betrayal. With the beautiful Cleopatra on one arm and a sword in the other, Caesar seized control of a vast territory, winning legions of followers, making enemies and creating history, before falling at the hands of Brutus, his most trusted ally. This is an ageless story in an epic presentation unlike anything ever seen before. Julius Caesar: a remarkable man who became an unforgettable legend. COLOR / APPROX, 187 MINUTES. DVD FEATURES: • 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen • 2.0 Dolby Stereo • The Making of Julius Caesar featurette

Customer Reviews:

Not so mighty Caesar.......2007-06-11

Recently I saw Jeremy Sisto in a film in the cinema, and as my movie-going friend and I were dissecting the film afterward, we both were impressed with Sisto's performance, and tried to recall what we'd seen him in before. I remembered this production of Julius Caesar, but only after a while - Sisto's role in the other film (a light drama with a comedic edge) is very different from the epic, super-serious Julius Caesar.

This production is a good one for a straight-to-television production. It is a four-hour miniseries (the television nomenclature equivalent for `epic'). It plays a bit loose with the historic progression, but keeps many of the broad strokes intact - Rome's trouble under Sulla, Caesar's early difficulties becoming established, his military alliance and familial partnership with Pompey, destined to falter; the conquest of Gaul and the march back to Rome, the fiery oratory of Cato, and the climactic death in the Senate.

Caesar is a complex character, one who defies encapsulation in so short a span as four hours. Given that Caesar was surrounded by many equally intriguing characters, it is little wonder that productions about Caesar often fall victim to a particular interpretation. Sisto's performance, and Edel's direction, makes Caesar in some ways a walking statue - and this is not a necessarily inappropriate style. Caesar was very conscious of appearances and public perceptions, and took great pains to always appear in a certain fashion that would enhance his power and reputation. Sisto's Caesar does show such some emotional range, but this is often mitigated by `events of state'.

Richard Harris, in one of his final performances as Sulla, puts in a much more dynamic performance, however brief; some may recall Harris as the wise emperor Marcus Aurelius in `Gladiator' a few years prior to this production, a very different role indeed from the ambitious, capricious and over-emotional Sulla. Christopher Walken as Cato also turns in an almost over-the-top performance (Cato and Cicero seem to be a combined character here, in some respects). Christopher Noth plays Pompey, but does so at extremes - he is either flat and ineffective, or overly emotional and ineffective. Noth has done good work elsewhere, but this is not one of his better pieces.

The female characters in this production are largely marginalized; even the famous Cleopatra/Caesar affair in minimized. While the role of Cleopatra is often overplayed in the Caesar story, it does have a decided role. Also, the role of Augustus is completely missing.

Filming was done in Malta and in Bulgaria, which brought in lots of locals into the production. A replica of the Roman Forum was constructed, which is an impressive piece of scenery. Also, the Gaul encampment, where Caesar overcomes Celtic warriors, is well constructed and visually powerful. German actor Heino Ferch plays the role of the Celtic leader with aplomb. In scenes where he appears, he steals the show so completely that no Caesar could resist.

It is interesting that the television series, `Rome', is currently enjoying a major success with essentially the same time period. This could have been a great epic / mini-series; instead, it is passing fair. Costumes are great, sets and location good. The story line is interesting, even if out of sync with actual history. The performances are spotty but occasionally effective. The writing takes the story along, but almost as if it were a rendering about Rome and Caesar than a piece for actors to perform in.

Those who like the `sword and sandals' kind of film will find this interesting. Others may find it tolerable. Those who are easily irritated at historical inaccuracies of detail may well find this film infuriating, as lots of bits are rearranged for dramatic effect. Even so, it is an epic that might be worth a rainy day or night's viewing.

There are no real DVD extras to speak of, at least not on the copy I have.

Imperator Caesar Ivlivs.......2007-05-12

I liked this movie - and like all movies seem to do (sadly), this one is a little loose on timing, characters, and so on. But this does an admirable job of giving the uninitiated a "conversational" education about Caesar.

Et Tu, Brute?.......2007-03-13

I, for one, found this movie to be an excellent sort of etertainment, both for the movie enthusiast as well as one interested in Roman History. I must admit, I was a bit worried being that it was a TV miniseries but I queued it up on Netflix regardless. About 14 minutes into the film, I realized what set this apart from other movies based on history or that attempt to portray historical situations. Julius Caesar is not an easy topic, despite the information we have on him, yet this series pulled it off with stars and stripes.

People have claimed, in these reviews, that Jeremy Sisto did not do that great of job. I believe I am a more critical...critic in that I had high expectations considering that I would never want to see him outside his role in Six Feet Under as the crazed Billy. Nonetheless, his performance grew from miniseries appropriate to bigscreen legend. In the beginning, Caesar is played as a humble man who gets in much trouble still trying to find out his destiny yet when he does find his destiny, Sisto conveys everything you'd hope: a passion for Rome and also some bit of grandeur for himself. I would give his performance 5 stars alone.

Not to mentioned Harris, Walken, and Noth who were all very shocking in the performance (in the good way). I had high expectations of all these but especially Noth who I had never imagined in a role other than that of our trusty detective in Law and Order. I was surprised with how well he played the role of Pompeyy.

The only problem I have with this is that there never go into any mention of Octavian (Augustus) as Julius' heir. They do mention him only once near the end of the film but nothing to do with adoption. I can see why this was so, as to not distract from Julius Caesar himself, but it would have been nice regardless.

I recommend to any of those who are interested in a surprisingly good film and who appreciate actors who are not known for their huge blockbuster films, yet still do a better job in some cases.

Historically loose, but still quite entertaining........2007-02-15

I have read some earlier reviews that point out the many, many historical "liberties" that were taken in the production of this movie, and they're right. However, if you're not such a historical purist, if you're in it strictly for the entertainment value, I think you'll really enjoy this film. Personally I think the historical critics so far have been unduly harsh with what is otherwise a very admirable production.

Jeremy Sisto was excellent as Caesar, and was very ably supported by Christopher Walken (Cato), Richard Harris (Sulla) and Chris Noth (Pompey). The depiction of the siege of Alesia was very well done, in my opinion. There were quite a few emotionally gripping scenes, not the least of which is the climactic assassination in the Senate. If you don't get too hung up on the history, I think you'll agree that this movie is three hours well spent.

Inspiering historical movie.......2007-01-22

One of few historical movies that is realy historical.
Based on real historical evidence represents a true history of ancient Rome. Troy movie was a disaster, full of mistakes and failures, but, Julius Caesar is a rather positive movie. With great cast and incredible scenery, it makes Julius Caesar must-see movie. And most incredible of everything is that is TV production.
Buy your self a Julius Caesar DVD as soon as possible, grab a beer, a bowl of popcorn and enjoy history taking place in your very living room.

Average customer rating:

Impressive
Cannot hear it!!
Julius Caesar
caesar video
Acceptable but not great

Julius Caesar
Starring: Charlton Heston , Jason Robards , John Gielgud , Richard Johnson , and Robert Vaughn
Director: Stuart Burge
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001US6F0
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Customer Reviews:

Impressive.......2007-07-25

My students love the movie. It was clear, colorful, excellent, true to the text.

Cannot hear it!!.......2007-06-15

I was unable to use this video after reading the play with my high school class because the highest volume was too low to hear. I ended up getting another video from the library, but it was not the same product. Great big, huge, jiii-normous disappointment!!

Julius Caesar.......2007-03-30

I am pleased with the DVD. As a teacher, I strive to present the most up-to-date and high quality materials in my classroom. I sometimes have difficulty finding classics in this format. It is excellent. Thank you.

caesar video.......2007-02-21

The video arrived as promised--but i paid big bucks for that to happen! The audio of this video tape is marginal at best. That was a disappointment. Some parts I could hardly hear.

Acceptable but not great.......2007-01-22

A somewhat unfortunate showing less than we would expect from Charlton Heston. The picture quality is not great and the acting could be much better considering the cast. It is alright as far as adaptations of Shakespeare go but one would hope for better.

The Marlon Brando Collection (Julius Caesar / Mutiny on the Bounty 1962 / Reflections in a Golden Eye / The Teahouse of the August Moon / The Formula )

Average customer rating:

it's great !..
The costume/period dramas are the best of the lot!
Mixed Bag
Easily one of the nicest collections to come out lately.....
Excellent choice

The Marlon Brando Collection (Julius Caesar / Mutiny on the Bounty 1962 / Reflections in a Golden Eye / The Teahouse of the August Moon / The Formula )
Starring: Marlon Brando , James Mason , John Gielgud , Louis Calhern , and Edmond O'Brien
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz , Carol Reed , and Lewis Milestone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HWZ4ES
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Amazon.com

As this five-film box set vividly demonstrates, Marlon Brando was, at least in the beginning of his legendary career, not one to rest on his laurels or emerging mythic status. Spanning 1953 to 1980, this collection gathers some of his most challenging and offbeat performances. Some naysayers doubted Brando, he of the Method and mumbles, could do Shakespeare justice, but he acquits himself impressively as Mark Antony in Joseph Mankiewicz's stellar adaptation of Julius Caesar. Though now dicey from a PC standpoint, Brando, unlike Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's, rises above grotesque caricature as a wily Japanese interpreter in The Teahouse of the August Moon, one of his rare forays into comedy. In Mutiny on the Bounty, Brando daringly portrays Fletcher Christian so foppish that he makes Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow look like Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk. John Huston's Reflections in a Golden Eye teams Brando with another screen icon, Elizabeth Taylor, in a nasty piece of Southern gothic about sordid doings on a military base. Brando portrays a latent homosexual fixated on young soldier Robert Forrter, who has a penchant for naked horseback riding and sneaking into Taylor's room while she sleeps to fondle her clothing.

Only The Formula, a still timely, yet confusing conspiracy thriller about synthetic fuel, is dispensable, although Brando is compelling to watch in his few scenes opposite fellow Oscar-holdout, George C. Scott. More entertaining than the film is the lively audio commentary with director John Avildson and screenwriter Steve Shagan. Suffice to say, they have little good to say about Scott, disgraced former studio head David Begelman, and, of all people, Christopher Lambert, who would star in another film that Shagan wrote. The Julius Caesar disc contains an excellent bonus, "The Rise of Two Legends," in which Laurence Fishburne refers to Shakespeare as "the Aaron Spelling of his day," and Dennis Hopper praises Brando for taking "the act out of acting." Mutiny is given the two-disc "Special Edition" treatment with a bounty of extras. Most concern the construction of the ship for the film, but we do get the original prologue and epilogue that were excised before the film's release and then restored for its 1967 television broadcast, and not seen since. The Teahouse disc contains an entertaining vintage featurette that follows cast and crew to Japan, while Reflections offers raw on-location footage. All five films are making their domestic DVD debuts. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

it's great !.........2007-06-08

Amazon is great !..I like it very much !..Thanks !..

The costume/period dramas are the best of the lot!.......2007-02-26

"Mutiny on the Bounty," though noted for Brando's controversial interpretation of the Fletcher Christian role, has to be one of the best-looking, best scored, and most exciting historical dramas ever filmed. Brando's acting is fine, even with the foppish demeanor, and he is matched by the equally good Trevor Howard as the domineering Captain Bligh, Richard Harris, Hugh Griffith, and Percy Herbert as respective crewman. Polynesian actress, Tarita, is exquisite as the native girl smitten by Christian and veteran Frank Silvera is also on hand in the many of his "ethnic" roles as a Tahitian interpreter.

The extras on the disc are short and interesting for the film buff and the casual fan.

Brando gets to show that he can do Shakespeare with the best of 'em as he tackles the role of Mark Antony in "Julius Caesar." His delivery of the legendary soliloquy is stunning, showing the power that this man had in his youth. The film also benefits from a superlative main cast, including James Mason, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, Edmond O'Brien, and Sir John Gielgud, as well as able support from a gallery of familiar character actors (John Hoyt, John Doucette, George Macready, and Alan Napier). Miklos Rozsa supplies a magnificent score, foreshadowing his Oscar-winning music for "Ben-Hur," a few years away.

"Reflections in a Golden Eye" is a strange film and Brando's southern "accent" is a bit forced and the story itself is not interesting enough to warrant repeat viewing.

"The Formula" is a thriller that doesn't. Even the scenes between Oscar-winners Brando and Scott don't spark any flames.

And "Teahouse of the August Moon" is an embarrassment to all parties concerned, languishing in a swamp of stereotypes.

Mixed Bag.......2007-02-16

I purchased the set for Reflections, Mutiny, and Caesar so I am not disappointed. However Teahouse is an
unwatchable embarrassment. It may have worked on stage, however on film it is torture, and Brando as an Asian is beyond the limits of credulity. Abysmal was a capital A.

Easily one of the nicest collections to come out lately............2007-02-16

"The Marlon Brando" collection is quite easily one of the best collections
to come out recently (and there have been many). We all have our favorites, and I have mine. I would buy this just to get "Teahouse of
the August Moon" and "Julius Ceasar". And, "Teahouse" is far and away my
favorite. Mr Brando plays an interpreter on Okinawa, working for the US
Army...along with a fantastic supporting cast. Every one of these films
is worthy and shows the range of Mr. Brando's abilities. I would say "You
Can't Go Wrong". Then, you might want to add "Sayonnara"...which is lavish, dated, and sad...but well worth watching...and it will round
out your collection. I am a big fan of the "Teahouse of the August Moon"
and "Guys and Dolls" Brando...and I tend to keep quite a distance from
"The Wild One" Brando. I would add that whatever your tastes, Mr Brando probably has something of interest to share with you, so go for it.

Excellent choice.......2007-02-13

We thing know everything about Brando, but it's not true : "The Teahouse" as some hilarous scenes, with an atonishing Glenn Ford and a unrecognizable Brando...and for me, "Julius Caesar" is a must and a curiosity in DVD. Great interest in all.

Average customer rating:

The Hammer at his best!
Tommy Gibbs Is One Bad Mobster
It's Okay but nothing special
A tough, gritty blaxploitation classic not to be missed
Good

Black Caesar
Starring: Fred Williamson , Gloria Hendry , Art Lund , D'Urville Martin , and Julius Harris
Director: Larry Cohen
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000053VB6
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Amazon.com

Shot on the streets of New York, writer-director Larry Cohen captures the bustle and color of the city in this violent, low-budget crime film. Ambitious Tommy Gibbs (a swaggering, self-confident Fred Williamson) has risen from shoeshine boy to Harlem crime lord, but he wants a bigger piece of the pot. With a racist, high-ranking cop (Art Lund) in his pocket, he begins his expansion with a bloody takeover bid but finds himself betrayed from within and the target of both the cops and the mob. Cohen invests this fast-paced tale (partially inspired by the 1930 gangster classic Little Caesar with a touch of Scarface) with colorful characters (notably a hustling religious leader played by D'Urville Martin), high energy, and a scruffy style. Black Caesar is one of the most entertaining movies to come from the 1970s explosion of low-budget black cast genre pictures, more commonly known as "blaxploitation" films. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Fred Williamson is "imposing, tough and unflappable" (The New York Times) as a street kid who muscles his way into the big-time mob racket in this super-slick crime drama that became the smashhit of its genre and spawned a successful sequel (Hell Up In Harlem). Tommy Gibbs (Williamson) has always had it tough. Growing up on the streets without a father and trying to make his mother proud, Tommy resorts to running "errands" for The Man. But when a crooked cop beats him up, Tommy realizes there's a better way to live: by making The Man deliver for him! Infiltratingandthen destroyingthe infamous Cardoza family, Tommy takes over Manhattan as the first black Godfather and puts the squeeze on anyone who dares to get in his wayincluding the crooked cop! But as he tightens his grip on others, he loses his hold on the most important things in his own life, making him the vulnerable target of every cutthroat gangster who ever dreamt of ruling an empire!

Customer Reviews:

The Hammer at his best!.......2007-07-11

Fred Williamson definitely exemplified "cool" in this film. Taken on the meanest and baddest folks in organized crime. He definitely "paid the cost to be the boss". James Brown layed it down on the soundtrack. A true 70's classic for the ages.

Tommy Gibbs Is One Bad Mobster.......2007-04-11

Taking its cues from a pair of classic mobster movies - Little Caesar (1930) and Scarface: The Shame of the Nation (1932) - Black Caesar aptly shows the blur between organized crime and crime fighting, with the impact reverberating through society.

Fred "The Hammer" Williamson magnificently portrays Tommy Gibbs, who - as a child - is facing straight down life's dead end street in a cold, uncaring city after being crippled by a racist cop; that is until he channels his ambition into the hustle for survival.

Tommy - who is equal parts gangster & Robin Hood - claws his way to the top of crime world, but the rules of the game never stay the same and betrayal by mobsters & cops is always right around the corner. The movie does a good job in depicting Tommy's complex character and who ultimately should carry the tag as "criminals."

The outstanding soundtrack is composed by James Brown & Fred Wesley, with Lyn Collins deliver a tour-de-force lead vocal in Mama Feelgood.

Black Caesar was released in February 1973 and its sequel, Hell Up in Harlem, debuting 10 months later. In 1974, Williamson - a former AFL star - was briefly part of the Monday Night Football broadcast team.

Willamson's nickname "The Hammer" came from the forearm shots he gave opposing players on the pro gridiron. Black Caesar finds Williamson tackling the lead role with a zeal that has made Tommy Gibbs eponymous with Celluloid gangsters.

It's Okay but nothing special .......2007-03-13

After about two viewings of Black Caesar I am rather disappointed with the results. The movie in hearled by many on amazon and by critics as being one of the better so-called blaxpoltation movies. Despite all the recommendations, I was not overly impressed by Black Caesar.

The movie does have many important chracters,elements,and plot but what makes the movie suffer is the bad acting of Fred Williamson. Williamson's preformance is much too wooden and flat to bring interest into a figure like Tommy Gibbs. Williamson is not alone either with most of his supporting cast providing little substance. The notable exception is the racist Irish cop played by Art Lund.

The script was written by a white[I am guessing Jewish] Larry Cohen and it definately shows. The dialogue is flat,boring,and unrealistic for the 50's Harlem setting. The script also is severly flawed by the same instances.

Black Caesar,while not being an awful film, has very little entertainment value. Many films actually are worse than Black Caesar but have a great amount of entertainment value. Black Caesar aspires to be a serious gangster film but falls from glory. Quite disappointing considering the freshness of the story. The story of a ghetto kid rising up in the mafia underworld would be compelling even in modern cinema.
For many that might not know the movie is supposed to be loosely based upon real life black gangsters named Nikki Barnes and Frank Matthews. Ironically, Frank Matthews was a gangster from the 60's-70's that ran most of the ghettoes in NYC including Harlem.

A tough, gritty blaxploitation classic not to be missed.......2005-06-05

Black Caesar (1973) is one heck of a good movie. I hate the term blaxploitation that is used to describe movies of this genre because it implies that these sorts of films are somehow second-class entries in the world of cinema. Black Caesar is a first-class ride from start to finish, taking as much from classic gangster films of the 1930s and 1940s as it does from earlier blaxploitation films such as Shaft. Larry Cohen gave us a tough, mean, dirty, gritty film that tells it and shows it like it is: plenty of cursing, gunplay, blood, profanity, nudity, and racism. I have heard that the starring role was originally written for Sammy Davis, Jr. Nobody loved Sammy more than I do, but there's just no way he could have done the things that Tommy Gibbs does effectively. A lot of people deride the acting skills of Fred Williamson, which makes no sense to me; the man is just fantastic in this film.

Tommy (Williamson) grew up on the streets of Harlem, where the living was hard. When a corrupt, racist cop smashed up his leg at a pay-off exchange gone wrong, young Tommy's future was set. Eight years in prison taught him everything he needed to know to pull off his master plan of becoming the man who runs Harlem. Just after he limps back into town, he scores a mafia hit in broad daylight and uses that audacious act to nose his way into the local Family. Back then, the Mafia didn't make a habit of embracing blacks, no matter how useful they could be. All Tommy asks for is a block in Harlem to call his own; he gets it, and a new reign of terror begins as Tommy and his associates begin cleaning house. At first, they talk about helping the blacks in the community at the same time, but this whole thing is really just about the money and the power. Ironically, Tommy finds himself working with the same slimy cop who broke his leg as a youth, but he's got the guy by the short hairs thanks to his acquisition of certain evidence against him.

As you might expect, a couple of blocks in Harlem is just the beginning for Tommy. He quickly expands his operation and puts the screws to the Italians running the show in New York. He becomes, for all intents and purposes, "the man" and gains control of all of Harlem. All the power and money can't make him happy, however; no one seems to appreciate the things Tommy can give them, especially his mother and his wife. As things start unraveling in his personal life, he is set up for a fall - and his Italian "friends" are ready and willing to take him down. The final half hour of the movie is nothing short of intense, as Tommy tries to deal with betrayal and simply stay alive. His final encounter with the racist cop who has tormented him for so many years makes cinematic history, as far as I'm concerned.

The music makes this fantastic film even better, as the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, supplies the funky soundtrack. Songs such as Down and Out in New York City and Mama's Dead sharply define pivotal moments and make sure the film always fires on all cylinders. It's hard to believe Black Caesar was filmed in only 18 days, especially given some of the elaborate chase scenes taking place on New York streets. This is a masterpiece of a low-budget film. Maybe a couple of the sociological aspects of the film don't play as effectively as they did back in 1973, but Black Caesar has really lost nothing of its raw power and intensity over the years.

Good.......2004-12-29

i havent seen this movie in a while, but I know it was good.Ill redo this when i watch it again.

Average customer rating:

What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common?

Julius Caesar
Starring: Charlton Heston , Jill Bennett , Norman Bowler , Alan Browning , and Christopher Cazenove
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LC52BO
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Description

A remake of the William Shakespeare classic play. Appalled by the murder of his mentor, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony declares war on his assassins - especially Cassius and "the honorable" Brutus, who only reluctantly took part in the crime.

Customer Reviews:

What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common?.......2007-06-17

What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common? Answer: They all look like Charlton Heston.
If somehow you missed the play or the history, basically Julius Caesar let his status go to his head and is about to take on the role of emperor. It is up to a handful of Noble Romans to see that this does not happen. The play is about these individuals, their individual purposes and what happens to them after the attempt to stop him. The focus is on Caesar's right arm (Mark Antony).

This is a 1970 rendition of Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar" that is well adapted for the screen. Hence the characters are well known contemporaries. You will notice the major players and might miss some of the others such as Preston Lockwood (Trebonius) who played the Judge in "Strong Poison" ASIN: B000062XDY. With many movies the actor out shine the character and totally changes the emphasis of the story. However this version is well done with maybe the exception of Jason Robards (Brutus) who sometimes seems like Jason Robards playing Brutus at other times he is quite exceptional. Diana Rigg (Portia) who looks like a little girl is the only person that sounds like she is speaking in meter. Everyone speaks clearly and pauses long enough for you to think before moving on. Facial expressions are important to the story and they do not look like they are yelling at you (except in speeches).

You will notice that the back ground music is also of 70's vantage and is used to emphasize certain scenes. However the volume is not so high that you can not hear the clear pronunciation of the lines. Also the costumes made with satin are distracting. At one point Antony looks like Carol Burnett when she was wearing a curtain and left the rod in.

As the play proceeds you will be so wrapped up in it that you will not care about the little differences in form and be totally absorbed in the film. There may be better versions and/or more favorite versions but that doe not make this version any less worth having.

Average customer rating:

Impressive
Cannot hear it!!
Julius Caesar
caesar video
Acceptable but not great

Julius Caesar
Starring: Charlton Heston , Jason Robards , John Gielgud , Richard Johnson , and Robert Vaughn
Director: Stuart Burge
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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