Travis Simpkins

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Caesar and Cleopatra (1945): Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains

Caesar and Cleopatra. 1945. Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains

Directed by Gabriel Pascal, adapted from the play by George Bernard Shaw, Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) is an enjoyable production all around. Vivien Leigh stars as Cleopatra alongside Claude Rains as Julius Caesar. The plot is a sort of philosophical coming of age tale, with Julius Caesar taking control of Alexandria, Egypt and teaching Cleopatra how to rule as a Queen. The cast does a wonderful job.

Caesar and Cleopatra. 1945. Vivien Leigh

Caesar and Cleopatra. 1945. Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains

Cleopatra (1934): Cecil B. DeMille and Claudette Colbert

Cleopatra. 1934. Cecil B. DeMille. Claudette Colbert

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, Cleopatra (1934) was an epic in it's time was nominated for five Academy Awards. Set in Ancient Egypt, the film stars Claudette Colbert as Queen Cleopatra and centers on her love affairs and manipulation of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Claudette Colbert is stunning in her role and the wardrobe department did a wonderful job creating 20th Century designs of ancient fashion, albeit historically inaccurate. A great production all around.