All-star cast glamorizes this lavish 1970 remake of the classic William Shakespeare play, which portrays the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, and the resulting war between the faction led by the assassins and the faction led by Mark Anthony.
Acting
Charlton Heston's funeral speech: unhinged, sweaty, magnificent.
Production
Roman sets so lavish they bankrupt the pacing budget.
Director
Stuart Burge
Charlton Heston
Marc Antony
Jason Robards
Marcus Brutus
John Gielgud
Julius Caesar
Robert Vaughn
Servilius Casca
Richard Chamberlain
Octavius Caesar / Augustus
Christopher Lee
Artemidorus
Richard Johnson
Cassius
Diana Rigg
Portia
Michael Gough
Metellus Cimber
Peter Eyre
Cinna the Poet
Jill Bennett
Calpurnia
David Neal
Cinna the Conspirator
Norman Bowler
Titinius
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Charlton Heston had played Antony on stage in 1950 and basically willed this film into existence. Jason Robards was reportedly cast because he looked intellectual, not because he could handle iambic pentameter.
This bombed so hard it helped kill the 1970s Shakespeare boom—audiences realized star power couldn't replace actual verse-speaking. The 1953 version with Brando remains undefeated.
US
GB
