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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Much better than the earlier Julius Caesar, which starred Marlon Brando as Mark Antony and James Mason as Brutus. In this version, Jason Robards as Brutus is admittedly an embarrassment, but the rest of the cast is quite strong. The delivery of Antony's funeral oration by Charlton Heston is brilliant, powerful, well-paced, the dramatic high point of the movie. Richard Johnson as Cassius, John Gielgud as Caesar, Robert Vaughn as Casca and Diana Rigg as Portia are fine actors, with full dramatic presence, at home in Shakespeare's language. Brief parts, like the soothsayer's and the cobbler's, are memorably played. The screenplay omits two short passages that are important to the plot: (1) Cassius' avowal in the first act, after his attempt to persuade Brutus to oppose Caesar, that if their positions were reversed and he, Cassius, stood as well with Caesar as Brutus does and Brutus made a comparable appeal to him, he would certainly not listen. (2) Immediately after the assassination, a promise by Brutus to Antony's servant of safe conduct for Antony, who thus knows when he comes to the Capitol and weeps over Caesar's body, challenging the conspirators to kill him also, that he is in no danger of their doing so.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By J. Walsh
Format:DVD
I ordered this DVD for use in teaching the play. I had anticipated it for months and waited with impatience for its release; I now find I was impatient for mediocrity. The performances are disappointing, with only Richard Chamberlain as Octavious showing any passion in performance. Indeed, Jason Robards as Brutus is the poorest Shakespearean acting I've yet seen, and it's an embarassment for anyone attempting to light a fire for Shakespeare in teenagers. Robards speaks his lines as if he is reading them for the first time on his couch at home.
Until Hollywood gives this another try, I recommend the BBC version of the play available with English subtitles from Ambrose Video. Of course, there is always the Brando version of the play with James Mason doing a much more credible job than Robards as Brutus.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a classic, but the video quality is VHS at best. Charlton Heston delivers a stellar performance and, of course, this is based on the Bard's play. Overall, this is a very enoyable and entertaining movie.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common?
What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common? Answer: They all look like Charlton Heston.
If somehow you missed the play or the history, basically Julius Caesar let... Read more
If somehow you missed the play or the history, basically Julius Caesar let... Read more
Published on Oct 22 2010 by bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars
What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common?
What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common? Answer: They all look like Charlton Heston.
If somehow you missed the play or the history, basically Julius Caesar let his... Read more
If somehow you missed the play or the history, basically Julius Caesar let his... Read more
Published on Jun 16 2007 by bernie
3.0 out of 5 stars
the unkindest cut of all
This is an excellent production of Julius Caesar, barring some atrociously wooden acting by Jason Roberts, who seems to think that Shakespeare needs to be performed as if he were a... Read more
Published on May 18 2004 by James Field
4.0 out of 5 stars
Successful Version of Shakespeare's Caesar
Not a bad version at all of Shakespeare's play. Most of the attention for Julius Caesar is clearly with the 1950s version, but this one holds up as well. Read more
Published on Dec 6 2003 by fra7299
4.0 out of 5 stars
Vivid, Well-Paced Film Version
Both this version and the earlier Brando-Mason one are well worth watching. This newer one, however, is better-paced and less stagey. Read more
Published on Dec 18 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heston delivers the coup d'etat!
Pardon the pun - actually that would be Brutus with the coup d'etat - "the most unkindest cut of all. Read more
Published on Dec 3 2002 by Chris Salzer
5.0 out of 5 stars
What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common?
What do Moses, Ben-Hur, and Antony have in common? Answer: They all look like Charlton Heston.
If somehow you missed the play or the history, basically Julius Caesar let his... Read more
Published on Sep 15 2002 by bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST VHS VERSION
Charlton Heston's delivery of Mark Antony's funeral oration alone powers this production beyond the 1953 Brando version. Read more
Published on May 24 2002 by Gregory Moss
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to the 1953 version
Unfortunately, this version is far short of the Marlon Brando version, which I rate with 5 stars. The fault is not in the casting of Heston versus Brando as Anthony. Read more
Published on April 24 2002 by John Brady
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film
I thoroughly enjoy this drama by Shakespeare. I read it back when I was in high school, and have been watching the video all along since then. Read more
Published on Mar 17 2002
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