cleopatra

Cleopatra: the four-plus hour epic of epics, famous and infamous for any number of reasons. The first film Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton made together, it sparked the dramatic love affair that spanned two marriages and divorces, effectively lasting until Burton's death.

I admit I have never watched the film all the way through. Last night, I did see more of it in one sitting than I ever have. I had the most fun watching many of the actors chew the scenery in spectacular fashion. Particularly notable was Roddy McDowall as Octavian. Watch his address to the Roman senate and see if you aren't frozen between laughter and admiration as I was. Burton has some hyper-melodramatic moments as Marc Antony, and 'ole Liz herself has a fantastic scene where she screams, throws things and shreds clothing after she's learned that Antony has married another woman.

The film may be a dubious artistic achievement, but it endures because of its fortuitous casting. Joan Collins was originally slated to play Cleopatra. It wouldn't have been any more than a b-movie if she had been available. The most modulated performances come from a trio of fine actors: Rex Harrison as Julius Caeser; Martin Landau as Rufio; and Hume Cronyn as Sosigenes. Burton took the place of Stephen Boyd, an actor who is mostly forgotten today. And to say that anyone chewed the scenery is, in reality, quite a compliment. It is some of the most imposing, lavish and detailed set dressing in the history of Hollywood.

There were also the thousands of extras, a record (on film) of 65 costume changes for Ms. Taylor, and the requisite directorial changes. Rouben Mamoulian began the film, to be replaced by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. He was fired, then brought back when, during editing, the studio realized he was the only one who knew how the film fit together.

In Hollywood, maybe what endures most of all is the drama of bringing a film to the screen.