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Julius Caesar

Play trailer Poster for Julius Caesar Released Jun 4, 1953 2h 1m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Brutus (James Mason) is convinced by a scheming band of Roman senators, led by Caius Cassius (John Gielgud), that his dear friend Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) intends to dissolve the republic and install himself as monarch, and he joins a conspiracy to assassinate him. Brutus stirringly defends his actions, but when Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) responds with a speech that plays upon the crowd's love for their fallen leader, a battle between the two factions is assured.
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Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

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Critics Consensus

A sterling cast gives Shakespeare's tale of betrayal and reprisals body and fine form, with Marlon Brando displaying a galvanizing command over the Bard's language.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Clay Times (UK) Joseph L Mankiewicz’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s play is something of a triumph, with Marlon Brando disproving the doubters who thought this was a “stunt casting”... Oct 26, 2023 Full Review Michael Sragow The New Yorker Over Caesar's corpse Brando begins to mix grief, rage, cunning, and ferocity; his reading of the funeral oration is so quakingly angry you understand why it would rouse the rabble. Jan 18, 2016 Full Review TIME Magazine The best Shakespeare that Hollywood has yet produced. Jul 9, 2008 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Its sober tone often strips away spectacle to offer a behind-closed-doors historical drama about betrayal, revenge and political power, which finds its strongest point in the performances and some memorable Shakespearean dialogue. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 Apr 1, 2024 Full Review Zita Short InSession Film This is a fairly stolid adaptation of William Shakespeare’s famous play but when James Mason starts talking in that mellifluous voice of his it is hard to look away... Feb 9, 2023 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Shakespeare's drama itself suffers from a long anticlimax, but most of its celebrated merits are soundly accounted for in this tasteful, intelligent film. Dec 3, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Russ G It's utterly unintelligible to a contemporary speaker of English, so regardless of how "great" the performances may have been regarded seven decades ago, this is now total garbage. I bailed on it ten minutes in; don't waste even that much time. The story needs a modern remake with a completely new script. Dialog can be weighty and still be understood by its intended audience. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review David F This is a good standard filming of the Shakespearean drama about Roman politics Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/19/24 Full Review Alec B Brando really is suprisingly good here (the rest of the cast is as great as you expect) and I like how this adaptation reduces the play to it's essential pieces which allows for the plot to move quickly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review Andy F This could be the best Shakesperian movie adaptation. A masterclass from the all star cast with Brando outshining them all. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/24 Full Review Rami A A perfectly well put together adaption of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The performances are well done, and memorable. Marlon Brando steals the show in this picture. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/24 Full Review Gregory L Beyond a doubt my favorite film adaptation of a Shakespearian play. Marlon Brando is fantastic as Marc Antony. He truly shows his flexibility as an actor in the truest sense of the word. But the true star of the play, and so of the film, is Brutus, played by the excellent actor James Mason. He is riveting in his portrayal. The acting in general is in the style of the 1940s and 50s, so more stylized than the technique we see in today's acting, so watch and try not to compare it the more realistic approach we see today. It's apples and oranges. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Brutus (James Mason) is convinced by a scheming band of Roman senators, led by Caius Cassius (John Gielgud), that his dear friend Julius Caesar (Louis Calhern) intends to dissolve the republic and install himself as monarch, and he joins a conspiracy to assassinate him. Brutus stirringly defends his actions, but when Mark Antony (Marlon Brando) responds with a speech that plays upon the crowd's love for their fallen leader, a battle between the two factions is assured.
Director
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Producer
John Houseman
Screenwriter
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 4, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
70mm
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