Pictures Count More Than Words in ‘Empire’
As a visual work, thanks to director Anthony Mann’s brilliant images and dynamic staging of scenes, and producer Samuel Bronston’s spare-no-expenses approach to set and costume design, “The Fall of the Roman Empire” is splendid. Scene after scene leaves a viewer marveling at the richness of the imagery and vibrancy of the spectacle of ancient Rome.
But the movie, originally released in 1964, is let down by the script by Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina and Philip Yordan. The story not only wanders all over the place _ and the Roman Empire was a big place _ but it also wallows in a ludicrous romance between the daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Sophia Loren as Alec Guinness’ daughter?) and the noble Roman soldier Livius (Stephen Boyd).
There are some fine British actors onscreen here _ Guinness, James Mason, Anthony Quayle and especially Christopher Plummer, offering a diabolically clever performance as the young and evil Emperor Commodus _ but they can’t make up for Boyd’s minimal charisma, Loren’s stiffness and the movie’s general lack of suspense and drive.
There’s a lot of pontificating during the first hour or so by Guinness’ Marcus Aurelius about his hopes and dreams for a world at peace _ Pax Romana _ but it doesn’t take a cynic to see through this peace as one based on slavery, oppression and dictatorship.
Essentially, “The Fall of the Roman Empire” is much better seen than heard.
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THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
2 { stars
CAST: Alec Guinness, Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Christopher Plummer, James Mason and Omar Sharif
DIRECTOR: Anthony Mann
PRODUCER: Samuel Bronston
WRITERS: Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina and Philip Yordan
DISTRIBUTOR: Genius Products/The Weinstein Co.
Not rated
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(c) 2008, The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.).
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