It is difficult to classify Antony and Cleopatra as belonging to a single genre. These contradictory features have led to famously divided critical responses. : p.45 She is frequently vain and histrionic enough to provoke an audience almost to scorn at the same time, Shakespeare invests her and Antony with tragic grandeur. Many consider Shakespeare's Cleopatra, whom Enobarbus describes as having "infinite variety", as one of the most complex and fully developed female characters in the playwright's body of work. The tragedy is mainly set in the Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Egypt and is characterized by swift shifts in geographical location and linguistic register as it alternates between sensual, imaginative Alexandria and a more pragmatic, austere Rome. The main antagonist is Octavius Caesar, one of Antony's fellow triumvirs of the Second Triumvirate and the first emperor of the Roman Empire. The plot is based on Thomas North's 1579 English translation of Plutarch's Lives (in Ancient Greek) and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time of the Sicilian revolt to Cleopatra's suicide during the War of Actium. The play was first performed, by the King's Men, at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre in around 1607 its first appearance in print was in the Folio of 1623. Numerous accolades and nominations were bestowed upon Rome, which included a slew of Emmys.Cleopatra: "Sooth, la, I'll help: Thus it must be." Antony and Cleopatra 4.4/11 ( Edwin Austin Abbey, 1909)Īntony and Cleopatra ( First Folio title: The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It’s gotten excellent marks for being historically accurate, having good production values, and having both roughness and glitz at the same time. This combined production of the BBC, HBO, and Italy’s Rai Fiction was a true historical drama of epic proportions, with no expense spared, including accurate recreation of Ancient Rome in the Italian countryside. On location in Rome and southern Italy, ABC filmed this miniseries, however it is not believed to be very historically accurate. Jeremy Sisto, Richard Harris, Christopher Walken, and Chris Noth feature in this historical drama directed by Uli Edel for the TNT network in the United States. If you prefer BBC-produced Shakespeare to Hollywood adaptations, director Herbert Wise, well known for his work on I, Claudius, helmed this episode of the BBC’s Shakespeare series. The film was a critical and financial failure. John Gielgud as Caesar and Jason Robards as Brutus completed the cast. Julius Caesar (1970) - filmĬharlton Heston reprised his role as Antony in this first color production of Shakespeare’s play, which was directed by Stuart Burge. The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards. Rex Harrison plays Caesar and Richard Burton plays Antony in the film starring Elizabeth Taylor. When Cleopatra was released, it was the most expensive picture to date. Cleopatra (1963) - filmĪ new direction for Mankiewicz, this one based on historical fiction. It’s remarkable for its star-studded cast and for helping to put an end to Hollywood’s blacklist with its release. This historical epic, directed by Stanley Kubrick and produced by Kirk Douglas’ production business, won numerous honors and was a commercial success. Critics and prizes alike hailed it a success, and it was nominated for a number of honors. A star-studded cast, including Marlon Brando, John Gielgud, and James Mason, was directed by Joseph L.
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