THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE is one of the best "sword and sandal" historical epics ever made. It has an all-star cast, an intelligent script, fine direction, thrilling action sequences, and it gives a relatively accurate account of history in the late 2nd century.
Wise emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guiness) plans to turn the Roman Empire over to his adopted son Livius (Stephen Boyd). His other son Commodus (Christopher Plummer) has Marcus poisoned, takes over the throne and declares himself a god.
The Roman Empire is threatened by Barbarians and pestilence. Timonides (James Mason) says, "Men of Rome, men of Rome! Do not touch these people, they have become your brothers. They're Roman now. The whole Northern people will answer with fire and blood, their hatred will live for centuries. Men of Roman blood will pay for this. You will make nations to kill us all. Let us live in Peace! Peace!" Then Timonides is killed with a javelin in the chest.
Livius: (standing over body of Timonides) "What happened, gentle Greek? Did you try to tell them there were three possibilities? Did you not know there was a fourth? This!" (picks up and throws javelin away)
Lucilla: "This is the way they answer to reason and now even you must see, this is the only way to answer them."
Livius: "He does not seem dead to me, I can still feel his life, hear his words. Tell me what I must do in his name. March the army into Rome and drown the city in blood!"
Lucilla: (uncovering the Christian cross Timonides wore around his neck) "He was my father's friend and a wise man."
Livius: "I shall go alone into Rome, if I do not return by sunset, let the army enter Rome."
Emperor Commodus' sister Lucilla (Sophia Loren) tries to persuade Livius to intervene, but at first he refuses. Commodus becomes increasingly mad and degenerate. He allows the empire to be ravaged by pestilence and the Barbarians. When he learns that Lucilla has a better claim to the throne, he orders her to be burned at the stake. Livius then slays Commodus.
Victorinus: "We're in command now Livius, the throne is yours."
Senator: "Gaius Mettelus Livius, the people are asking for you."
Livius: "You would not find me very suitable, because my first official act would be to have you all crucified."
This big budget extravaganza has a chariot race, javelin duel, military clashes, and magnificent sets. The Roman Forum set is the largest movie set ever built (1312 feet by 754 feet) and is extremely impressive. James Mason, Omar Sharif, Mel Ferrer and other great stars give outstanding performances.
Sophia Loren was paid $1 million for her work. Unfortunately, the film was a financial failure at the box-office and it almost ruined producer Samuel Bronston. It's sad when ambitious epics such as this and CLEOPATRA lose money.
Also in the cast are: Anthony Quayle (Verulus), John Ireland (Ballomar), Omar Sharif (Sohamus), Mel Ferrer (Cleander), Eric Porter (Julianus), Finlay Currie (Caecina), Andrew Keir (Polybius), Douglas Wilmer (Niger), George Murcell (Victorinus), Norman Wooland (Virgilianus), Michael Gwynn (Cornelius), Virgilio Teixeira (Marcellus), Peter Damon (Claudius), Rafael Luis Calvo (Lentulus), Lena von Martens (Helva), Roland Carey (Barbarian), Gabriella Licudi (Tauna), Robert Rietty (narration), Guy Rolfe (Marius), Friedrich von Ledebur (Barbarian), Margaret Fuller, and others. The screenplay is by Ben Barzman, Basilio Frachina, and Philip Yordan from Harry Whittington's novel. Historian Will Durant advised on period detail and plot. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin. Anthony Mann and Yakima Canutt directed.
For historical accuracy, I must point out that Marcus Aurelius had two adopted sons: Commodus and Verus. Marcus wanted Commodus to be his successor and proclaimed him joint emperor in 177 AD, eight years after the death of Verus. Marcus Aurelius died of natural causes, whereas Commodus was drugged and strangled at his dinner table by order of his mistress Marcia.
But these few errors in history pale in comparison to the despicable GLADIATOR (2000), which is essentially the same story. GLADIATOR completely re-writes history to the point of fiction. It's infuriating for those of us who have studied Roman history. There are no magnificent sets, only digital approximations. Everything looks digital and phoney. It would not surprise me to learn that the Russel Crowe character was actually computer-generated just like Jar Jar Binks.
