i have to watch four such movies for history class… I have already seen Monty Python’s Life of Brian. What would be your suggestions for the other 3? Any typoe of movie, so long as itis set or related to Ancient Rome
“C’mon, it’s not even tomorrow yet…” - Rupert
If you need a graphic solution, http:\ alk.to\Piglet
Caligula. Your teacher would love reading the roport on that one.
I suppose you could watch Sparticus and Ben Hur too, if ya want.
Just make sure the bulk of your report is about Caligula.
You’re welcome.
You say “cheesy” like that’s a BAD thing.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum!!!
and
Clash of the Titans, and there’s always Sparticus, or Ben Hur.
Studi
Don’t speak ill of your enemies; plot it.
“History of the World Part I”???
::ducking::
"Every one is bound to bear patiently the results of his own example. "
-Phædrus
I, CLAUDIUS. The BBC version, of course, not the epic that never was.
“East is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does.” – Marx
Read “Sundials” in the new issue of Aboriginal Science Fiction. www.sff.net/people/rothman
“Fellini’s Satyricon”. Good luck in finding it, try a videostore that doesn’t have one thousand copies of “Runaway Bride” cluttering up the place…
According to my video guide here (VideoHound’s Golden Movie Retriever), Clash of the Titans (1981) is about Greek gods, and is described as “mind-numbing”. It’s rated 0 out of 4 bones… (or ‘Woof!’) You may want to consider The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964): “Great sets, fine acting, and thundering battle scenes.” 3/4 bones. I can’t vouch for either of of these movies personally, though.
Spartacus (1960) and Ben Hur (1959) are probably your best bet as far as availabilty is concerned, but it’s also likely that everyone else will watch these, so your report might get compared to everybody else’s. If you’re not the best writer in your class and the teacher’s picky, it’d be better to stress the more obscure movies and therefore show your uniqueness. Not a bad thing to do even if you are a good writer.
But if your teacher is on the conservative side, do NOT use Caligula, as reviews of X rated films are probably not a good idea if you care about you grade. If you don’t care and want to shock your “just out of college” history teacher, well, that’s up to you…
Others you might consider:
Julius Caesar (1953) 3.5/4
Antony and Cleopatra (1973) 2/4
Even Jesus of Nazareth (1977) 3/4 might be acceptable, as Romans are involved, but not prevalent in the story.
If you can use Life of Brian, then you can use Last Temptation of Christ, I suppose. David Bowie plays Pontius Pilate (a, ahem, Roman).
Oh, Caligula is a GREAT film, and VERY historically relevant. Mrblue is just joshing ya. He’s such a kidder.
Satyricon is also a good one, if you can figure out what’s going on.
And then there’s “The Robe” with the lovely and talented Victor Mature: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0046247
JB
Lex Non Favet Delicatorum Votis
Of course, there’s the classic Roman era movie: “By Jupiter!” by Gaius Clavius. Swept all the awards in 2 B.C.
“East is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does.” – Marx
Read “Sundials” in the new issue of Aboriginal Science Fiction. www.sff.net/people/rothman
There’s always the ancient world’s answer to The Towering Inferno – The Last Days of Pompeii.
All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people.
Are you looking for serious depictions? …
The BBC tv series (available on video from your PBS store or library) called I, CLAUDIUS with Derek Jacobi is fantastic, covering about 30 BC to about 70 AD, or thereabouts.
I can vouch for FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE as being a very bizarre, but fun, movie. It was made in CinemaScope, directed by Anthony Mann, and it’s got a lot of formal visual symbolism. If you know the genre of Hollywood Epics of the 50s, you’ll love it. If you don’t get into the spirit of that genre, you’ll just laugh. DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS is another of that genre. I don’t know if LAST DAYS OF POMPEII would count, since it’s not Rome per se.
BEN HUR and THE ROBE are more concerned with being quasi-Biblical (or being related to Biblical New Testament events) than with life in Rome.
I’ll echo the suggestions above that, for easily available videos, “I, Claudius” would be the best to watch. It deals with the history of Rome as opposed to early Christianity, and is historically fairly accurate.
Some other movies, that probably would be hard to found: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0057460
(I’ve seen this one as a kid and thought it was pretty good)
Romulus and Remus (1961), directed by Sergio Corbucci, screenplay by Sergio Leone
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0057105
Giulio Cesare, il conquistatore delle Gallie (1963), Directed by Tanio Boccia, screenplay by Arpad DeRiso and Nino Scolaro
And finally, I’m sure that your teacher would be very happy if you included
Matri-Phony (1942)
with those lovable rogues, the three stooges.
Plot summary (stolen from http://www.imdb.com))
The stooges are potters in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Octopus Grabus. When the emperor orders all beautiful red-headed women to be brought before him so he can select a wife, Diana, a pretty red-head, seeks refuge with the stooges. Some soldiers find Diana’s hiding place and they are all brought to the palace where the stooges escape and try to pass of Curly as Diana, having broken the emperor’s glasses. Their ruse fails and they’re caught by the palace guards as they try to escape.
There’s a Roman epic type of flick due out within a few months with the guy from LA Confidential and Virtuosity (Crowe?) I forget what it’s called.
I’m sure that was really helpful, BRG.
If you want another comedy, there’s the delightful Carry On, Cleo, made in 1964. Two hapless Brits are sent to Rome as slaves, only to become embroiled in the various plots of Caesar, Antony, and the lovely (but rather dim) Cleopatra. It’s very British and very funny.
It used to be you could only catch this movie on some late night Insomniac Theater (in the US, that is), but according to the IMDB, it’s available at Amazon under the title “Cleo.”
Ahem. MoosieGirl is gonna love me for this one.
Coldfire
"You know how complex women are"
Coldfire, I’m sad to say that the Asterix movie wasn’t even released in the USA, as far as I know. I’ve never seen the video either.
Well, the BBC version is by far the most commendable – but only if you have about 16 hours or so to spare.
Quo Vadis, Last Days of Pompeii(two versions, one with Preston Foster and the other (IIRC) with Steve Reeves),*Spartacus, Fall of the Roman Empire, Cleopatra *(1961?62?), also look for titles or subjects to do with Hannibal or Carthage.
I think the upcoming movie someone mentioned is (working title)Gladiator or maybe The Arena.
"You’ll never get as much out of being right as you will from finding out why you were wrong . . . " The Papoon Principles Ch. 1.
It’s kind of long but I for one would love to see the TV miniseries Masada again. It came out in 1983 or so.
A Roman legion or two (led by Peter O’Toole) lays siege to a Hebrew fortress. Well-made, killer costumes etc.
Coldfire, I love you for that one!
-Pix