The Fall of the Roman Empire

Plot synopsis:
In the winter of 180 A.D., the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius fights to keep Germanic barbarians from invading his northern territories on the Danube frontier (a war which in fact had been ongoing for over a decade, with no end in sight as of 180). His deputies are the Greek ex-slave Timonides, a closet Christian, and the stern and honest general Gaius Livius. Livius has close connections with the imperial family, being the lover of Aurelius' philosopher daughter Lucilla and a friend of her brother Commodus. Nevertheless, he is amazed to hear that Aurelius wants to make him his heir. Despite his military obligations the emperor has egalitarian ideals, dreaming of a day when Rome grants equal rights to men of all nations. He knows that he will not live to achieve this end, and trusts Livius to do so more than his charismatic but brutal son. The discovery that his father has effectively disinherited him hurts Commodus immensely, and damages the almost brotherly relationship he had enjoyed with Livius.
Aurelius summons all the governors of the Roman empire to his headquarters, intending to announce Livius' future accession. Before he can do so he is poisoned by Commodus' cronies, who hope to secure their own political future by putting their friend on the throne. Sure enough, Livius feels that a non-aristocrat such as himself would never be accepted as emperor without Aurelius' explicit backing; he lets his old friend take the position instead. Commodus, who was not part of the murder plot, is left feeling helplessly angry at his deceased father. He dedicates himself to undoing all Aurelius' policies; this involves blatant favoritism towards Rome and Italy, which are enriched by ferocious taxation of the provinces that were to be their equals.
Meanwhile, Livius' army scores an important victory on the frontier, capturing the German chieftain Ballomar and his aides. Timonides wins the Germans' trust by successfully undergoing an ordeal, having his hand thrust in a fire; with his help, Livius decides to put Aurelius' policy into effect despite disapproval from Commodus. Lucilla helps convince Livius to defy the emperor, since she loved her father as much as Commodus hates him. A speech by Timonides persuades the Roman Senate to let the German captives become peaceful farmers on Italian land, thereby encouraging their fellow barbarians to cooperate with Rome instead of fighting it. Commodus is furious, and sends Livius back to his frontier post in what is effectively a sentence of banishment. Lucilla is forced to go to Armenia, with whose king she shares a loveless political marriage.
Commodus is compelled to recall Livius in order to put down a rebellion by Rome's eastern provinces. When he arrives at the site of the unrest, Livius is horrified to find that Lucilla is behind it. She tries to persuade him to join her in making a splinter state, free of her brother's influence, but he feels that Roman civilization will collapse if it is broken into pieces. The issue is settled in an unexpected manner when Lucilla's husband calls in Rome's archenemy the Persians to help the rebelling forces fight Livius. The sight of the dreaded Persian cavalry so panics the defecting Romans that they go back over to Livius, swelling his army and allowing him to score an immense victory. The king of Armenia is killed, and Commodus sends word that Livius is to be made joint ruler of Rome. The condition for this reward, however, is that Livius is to wreak hideous punishments on the populations of the disloyal provinces.
Rejecting this latest piece of brutality, Livius and Lucilla take their army to Rome and order Commodus to abdicate. He responds by bribing away the soldiers' loyalty and massacring Timonides and the population of the German colony (the latter action ensuring centuries of future hostility between Romans and Germans). The fawning Senate declares Commodus a god, and Livius and Lucilla are sentenced to be burned alive as human sacrifices to the new deity. This victory for Commodus is accompanied by a terrible private discovery—he is not of royal blood, being the product of illicit sex between his promiscuous mother Faustina Minor and the gladiator Verulus, who has since served as the emperor's bodyguard. His mind unhinged by this great shame, Commodus makes the bizarre decision of challenging Livius to a duel for the throne. The two fight with javelins in the Roman Forum, and Livius eventually runs Commodus through. The Senate hastily offer to make Livius emperor, but he refuses; the Roman government is now too corrupt for him to fix. He slips away with Lucilla, leaving Commodus' old advisers to bicker about who will take the emperor's place.
A voice-over epilogue states that this political infighting continued for the rest of Roman history, leading to the imperial government's eventual collapse.

Tags: cult, murder, violence

Review:
In the year 180 A.D., the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who led his Roman legions against the Germanic tribes along the Danube frontier, has been at war for 17 years and lived under very difficult conditions Now he invited every governor, every consul and every prince in the whole empire for one particular purpose All responded to his call coming from the deserts of Egypt, from the mountains of Armenia, from the forest of Gaul and the prairies of SpainMarcus Aurelius greets them as friends, and tells them that in the whole world, only two small frontiers are still hostile to Rome One, here in the north which separates the Roman Empire from those who are called barbarians, the other, in the east of Persia Only on these two borders Rome is finding walls, palisades, forts and hatred But these are not the frontiers he wants He wants and needs human frontiers, the vision of a family of nationsFor the great emperor time is short, and there is a decision which he can no longer delay He has sacrificed the love of his son as Commodus will never be his heir His wish is that Livius, the commander of the northern army, should succeed him, and he intends to present him to the leaders of the empire openly as his successor...
Guiness' ailing Marcus Aurelius had hope that his daughter would not have a marriage without love And he knows better than anyone what a marriage without love can mean But his fears for the empire are reasonable The east is where the danger liesHe must make an alliance that will show the whole world what value Rome place on her eastern frontier An alliance with Armenia Boyd's weary Galius Livius saw suddenly his world has become strange He's not sure where he is He knows only the ways of war He would not know how to make allies out of the barbarians But if he has to choose between being Caesar's heir or Lucilla's love, he chooses her loveLoren's lovely Lucilla makes it hard for her father to take leave of this life She knows that her father loves her, but how could her life mean anything without love?
It is out of love that she dared so muchPlummer's slimy Commodus pushes the eastern provinces to rebellion in smashing and destroying everything his father did He makes it clear to his sister that he refused to give her anymore chances to prop against him Mason's genteel Timonides has been a slave, but he's not accustomed to painHe is a philosopher and he is weak Ferrer's treacherous Cleander knows that Caesar will accept fruit from him He also knows that his blade carries a deadly poison Quayle's gladiator Verulus snores, in the moment of truth, a deep family secret Sharif's king Sohamus hopes for a lovely part of RomeWith a cast of thousands, massive battle sequences, exciting chariot races, brutal hand to hand combat, gorgeous scenery, impressive set design, Anthony Mann's motion picture is a long ride of epic proportions not designed only to entertain but to expose how gold and corruption can undermine the biggest empire the world has ever known.
This and 'Spartacus' are the best of the Roman Epics, and it's no coincidence that 'Gladiator' is essentially a remake of TFOTRE; Scott was inspired by the best.This is a beautifully made, intelligent film with great performances, especially from Mason.
It stars Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Mel Ferrer, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland & Finlay Currie.
Filmed out of Samuel Bronston's productions in Spain, it was shot in the 70mm Ultra Panavision format.Plot is a fictionalisation of events involving the Roman Empire AD 180 to 192, and focuses on the last days of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius to the death of his son and successor Commodus.It was a financial disaster for Samuel Bronston, something that might lend one to think the film to being rather poor.
Guinness (classy), Mason (likewise) and a terrific Plummer (grand egomaniacal villainy-himself stepping in when Richard Harris bailed) dominate proceedings, while Tiomkin's Academy Award nominated score is stirring and itself epic in production.An essential film for the historical epic fan, The Fall of the Roman Empire is a lesson in adult sword and sandalry.
Master director Martin Scorcese (an extremely literate man himself) singled this movie out as one to study for those interested in the history of American Film...I wonder why?Curiously the role of Marcus Aurelius was the highlight (acting wise) of both THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE and GLADIATOR.
The movie deals with the great emperor of Rome , Marco Aurelio (Alec Guinness) , of the dynasty of Antoninos , formed by : Nerva , Trajano , Adriano , Antonino Pio , Marco Aurelio and Commodo (Christopher Plummer , though Richard Harris was originally cast and he withdrew because of artistic differences with the director) .
Christopher Plummer's interpretation as the nut-head son is first-rate , he was 33 at the time of filming , although his character Commodus became Emperor at the age of 19 ; while other main actors as Stephen Boyd and Sophia Loren are a bit wooden .
He's succeeded by his son Commodus and the film is the story of Commodus who has a more traditional political view and those who want to bring about the ideal world that Marcus Aurelius envisioned.In a role that cried out for either Kirk Douglas or Charlton Heston, we got Stephen Boyd instead.
He's so much better as villains in films like The Bravados, Ben-Hur, and Shalako.But Commodus may very well have been Christopher Plummer's finest performance on screen.
Holding up the view of a free and equal world are a couple of classic performances by Alec Guinness as Marcus Aurelius and James Mason as the Greek slave Timonides who counsels Marcus in his changing world view.And any film is worth watching with Sophia Loren's pulchritude on prominent display.I'm no expert in ancient history, but this may have been the first time that someone like Marcus Aurelius took a global view of things other than what I can plunder out of my conquests.
FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE is one of the last big budgeted Sandal epics of which started in the 1950s (QUO VADIS, THE ROBE) and lasted a good 15 years before dying a quick death.
In the cast, plaudits go to James Mason as the philosopher and Christopher Plummer as the mad emperor, Not far behind are Stephen Boyd as Livius, John Ireland, Anthony Quayle, Eric Porter, Andrew Keir and Sophia Loren as Drusilla.
The chosen heir, Livius, and Aurelius' daughter, Lucilla, try to save the empire, but in the end, the actions of Commodus begins the long fall of the Roman Empire.
I found this movie interesting for two reasons: 1) I love historical epics 2) It was so surprisingly awful in spots for such a great cast and obviously large budget.There was some good acting here, but it seems everyone had some really bad moments in front of the camera.
The scene of him greeting the representatives of the Roman provinces seems to last any eternity, seeming to even strain Alec Guinness' attention span.James Mason on the most part was good, but even his acting was rather comical in the scene in which he is being tortured/tested by the Barbarians in a cave.Christopher Plummer and Stephen Boyd, as Commodus and Livius, are both unintentionally comical (I think) in their early scenes together, especially in the scenes were they are reunited after an apparently long separation.
In my opinion, if what went on in this epic, $19 million, fiasco production was really supposed to be the way that the Romans carried on, then it's certainly no wonder, to me, why their precious, little empire fell.With all of the horrendously treacherous back-stabbing, betrayal and hypocrisy that prevailed, I'm actually very surprised that Rome didn't fall long before this.Set in the year 180 A.D., this film (with all of its grandiose, large-scale pomp & pageantry) shamelessly promised major historical events to unfold before the viewer's very eyes - But, unfortunately, it got seriously side-tracked and became "Hollywoodized" into a frickin' weepy, clinging, sappy "love story".
And although this film takes place about 180 A.D., the actual disintegration of the western empire didn't take place until over 200 years later (though the narration makes clear that these events were the beginning of a long process of decline).As far as the acting, the great Guinness basically phones in  his part, and Mason isn't much better.
As much as I love him, and as beautiful as Sophia Loren is, Christopher Plummer ruins the movie-with help from the script and the ridiculous rip-offs from Ben-Hur. In the beginning of the film when Chris and Stephen are reunited after years of being apart, they embrace and drink a toast with their arms entwined.
Those from the 1950:s and 1960:s are generally very good, so when I saw the great cast in "The Fall of the Roman Empire" I expected it to be a wonderful movie...
"The Fall of the Roman Empire" as with its clone, "Gladiator," simply recounts from a mainly fictional standpoint the death of the philosopher king, Marcus Aurelius, one of the Five Good Emperors, and the incompetent rule of the nonentity, Commodus.
So it is obvious who won in the long run.History aside, "The Fall of the Roman Empire" is a worthwhile film and contains fewer anachronisms than "Gladiator." The story of how the worthless Commodus came to control a vast empire and then let it slip from his hands is told in a masterful way by director Anthony Mann.
This one is pretty good as far as: Alec Guinness performance as Marcus Aurelius, varied battle scenes, excellent Roman city sets, Sophia's beauty and Christopher Plummer as 'Commodus'.
The look of the film "The Fall of the Roman Empire" is impressive, with lavishly detailed sets, interesting costumes, and visually arresting battle scenes.
Anthony Mann could work with gorgeous sets, a dramatic plot, and great actors, yet the end result is a mediocre and ultimately disappointing product.For example, while love scenes generally carry the plot, in this film they detract from it and arguably ruin the movie.
And why does the second battle between stone-age barbarians (notice the crude stone axes!) and Romans take place in a temple-like cave?Alec Guinness plays Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic on the emperor's throne, with moving sincerity and a superior knowledge of his place in the film.
Martin Scorsese recommends this Anthony Mann directed epic in his "Personal Journey Through American Movies," and the scene he included, that of a Roman funeral, made the 1964 Samuel Bronston production look truly spectacular.
Perhaps the title was prophetic; whatever, the film was a commercial and critical disaster.Only a few years earlier Samuel Bronston's production of "El Cid", also directed by Anthony Mann and starring Sophia Loren and again filmed in Spain, (well, it would, wouldn't it), was a huge success so it seemed likely that the formula would be repeated but the tide had turned and coming hot on the heels of the debacle that was "Cleopatra" audiences stayed away in droves, the pity being that this remains one of the finer examples of the genre with an unusually literate script and fine performances from its quite considerable cast.Ironically, the first half formed the basis of the first part of "Gladiator" which was a huge success, winning the Oscar as the year's Best Picture, (this limped home with one nomination for Dimitri Tiomkin's emphatic score).
And I do hope they never try to think of a remake!It just would be some sort of sacrilege, and never, never could achieve what Samuel Bronson, Anthony Mann, Dimitri Tiomkin (musical score), James Mason, " bella " Sophia Loren, fabulous Stephen Boyd and Alec Guinness and Christopher Plummer " et all " have achieved.
The sheer magnitude of Samuel Bronston's historical epics demanded some high-caliber talent behind the scenes, so thank goodness he enlisted talents like Anthony Mann (FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, EL CID) and Nicholas Ray (KING OF KINGS, 55 DAYS AT PEKING) to direct them.
FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE is probably, along with CLEOPATRA, the most literate of the big budget Hollywood epics; and since both of these pictures lacked the simplistic flourishes that made Kirk Douglas' SPARTACUS (to the utter dismay of Kubrick) and Wyler's BEN-HUR such audience-pleasing blockbusters, both FALL and CLEO are generally taken as costly disappointments, which is a shame.
Upon the death of progressive Caesar Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness), the throne devolves to his son, brutal Commodus (Christopher Plummer) rather than to his preferred heir, adopted son, enlightened Livius (Stephen Boyd).
There are several amazing things about it, but also some assets that could've been done much better.Starting with the flaws, The Fall of the Roman Empire is mostly compelling, but feels very stodgy and flat in the last forty minutes or so and in the scenes with Boyd and Loren.
In the end the role went to Boyd, better known as a supporting actor than as a star in his own right.Box-office success is not always the best guide to a film's artistic merits, and "The Fall of the Roman Empire" is a film with many positive virtues, especially in the first half.
Also curious to note that Mann was the original director of Spartacus - perhaps the best Roman movie ever made - yet was fired after directing the opening scenes over creative differences with producer and star, Kirk Douglas.A wonderful mix of epic battles with more cerebral - befitting Emperor Marcus Aurelius - dialogue, and a very sexyfull Sophia Loren heaving and pouting.
My hope for the historical filmmakers in the future is that the will make better movies and at least will use better stories and last but not least using better set designers like those in the Fall of the Roman Empire..
He's much more interesting than Commodus, but not represented in this film.All in all, The Fall of the Roman Empire has wonderful sets, accurately designed and recreated according to ancient art design.
An all-star cast is featured in this spectacle of spectacles, including Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Quayle, Mel Ferrer and Omar Sharif.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (Guinness, doing what he can and gracefully making an early exit from this disaster) decides to bequeath the Title of Emperor to General Livius (Boyd), instead of his son, Commodus (Christopher Plummer, giving one of the two performances that I thoroughly enjoyed).
And the lines were certainly influenced by those of Mankiewicz's largely underrated "Cleopatra";like in the Alexandrian epic ,the first part is dominated by Sir Alec Guiness's performance as Marcus Aurelius as Rex Harrison 's "Julius Caesar was the stand-out of the 1963 film;the cast and credits seem to come directly from "Cleopatra" too.Taking some liberties with history (but not more,and certainly less than "Gladiator" ),the movie presents two kinds of politics:Livius,Antonia,abetted by the Greek philosopher (a remarkable James Mason) ,ahead of their time ,are already thinking of some kind of " United States of Rome" where every person would be a citizen ,no matter what his race ,his religion or his nationality are.That was supposed to be Marcus Aurelius ' dream (Cleopatra's dream ,which was inspired by Alexander the Great was not that much different);on the other hand ,Commodus has got a reactionary mind and wants to keep things just as they are ;anyway his greatest ambition is to give the people what they want ,bread and circus games.The film includes a love affair (Antonia and Livius),melodrama (Vurulus' secret),lots of battles,but the death of Marcus Aurelius throws the film off balance .Best scene: his funeral as the snow begins to fall.NOt as good as "Ben Hur" ,"Cleopatra" or Mann's own 'Cid" ,"the fall of the Roman empire " will appeal to epics buffs though..
The sets are fantastic but the acting is not convincing  by Sophia or Stephen Boyd they are wooden in the extreme and must have been in great danger in the fire scenes.Chris Plummer is a good Commodus and James Mason,Alec Guiness and the rest prove a good supporting cast.Iadmit to fast forwarding the video during the slow love story,but the action scenes are well done,one to watch once every 5 years or so  6/10.
Like the final battle in "Gladiator", they fight to the death, Commodus dying in Livius' arms and Rome's pomp and pageantry along with it.7.5/10 – Though one of the better "sword-and-sandal" epics, this film really highlights the limitations of its genre.
There is -- let's see -- Stephen Boyd as Livius, the putative hero ("Ben Hur"), and Sophia Loren as his love interest ("El Cyd"), and James Mason ("Julius Caesar"), Anthony Quayle ("Hamlet", "Lawrence of Arabia"), Omar Sheriff ("Lawrence of Arabia"), Alec Guiness ("The Bridge on the River Kwai", "Lawrence of Arabia"), Christopher Plummer (new to the genre), and a cast of thousands, all directed by Anthony Mann ("El Cyd").The best part of the film is the first half hour or so, where we learn almost all we need to know about Guiness as Emporer Marcus Aurelius, probably the best of "the four good emporers." He favors his general Stephen Boyd over his son, Plummer's Commodus.
The cast includes Academy Award winner Alec Guinness of "Bridge on the River Kwai," Academy Award winner Sophie Loren of "Two Women," Academy Award winner Steve Boyd of "Ben-Hur," Emmy Winner Christopher Plummer of "The Sound of Music," along with Omar Sharif, James Mason, and Anthony Quayle in supporting roles."The Fall of the Roman Empire" unfolds in 180 A.D. on the Danube frontier as Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) prepares his massive army to fight the savage Germanic tribes.
Epic Films Of The 60's: Fall Of The Roman Empire.