'The Fall of the Roman Empire' on DVD
The series debuted in January with "El Cid," and now comes "The Fall of the Roman Empire," which initially arrived in theaters at the end of the cycle of big-budget, cast-of-thousands historical epics that were competing with television in the 1950s and '60s.
"Empire" is a remarkable effort that was filmed entirely on location in Spain and eschewed matte paintings and models in favor of full-scale sets, with literally thousands of extras — some estimates take it up to 18,000 or 20,000 people. And many of them were on horses or chariots, requiring meticulous choreography before the widescreen cameras. (No computer graphics here, children.)
Beyond the mind-boggling logistics, the results of which make for some amazing eye candy, the film is one of the more intelligent epics of the period, with an A-list cast, and a sharp script boasting witty dialogue and an engrossing story — the same story that would be used by "Gladiator" some 46 years later (without the revenge plot or the shaky-cam techniques). ...
Boyd is surrounded by charismatic screen legends Alec Guinness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Quayle, and in smaller roles, John Ireland, Mel Ferrer and young Omar Sharif.
And Sophia Loren, who gets top billing (she earned a $1 million salary, only the second woman to achieve that pay grade after Elizabeth Taylor for "Cleopatra") has never been more radiant (which is saying something).
Guinness' performance dominates the film's first half on Disc 1, as the dying Caesar who wants Boyd to take over as emperor, although he knows that his weak, perhaps mad son (Plummer) is next in line.
Disc 2 picks up the film after the intermission and Mason steals the show with a riveting performance as a philosophizing former Greek slave. He has two scenes — one in which he is tortured by the leader of the Barbarians (Ireland), and later as he offers a speech on humanity and tolerance to the Roman senate — that are nothing short of mesmerizing.
And two action highlights are an eye-popping chariot race in the first half of the film (which gives "Ben-Hur" a run for its money) and a climactic gladiator duel to the death, though not in the Colosseum.
There's no question that "The Fall of the Roman Empire" will lose something on a small-screen TV (or your iPhone), but it's well worth the three-hour investment for both its entertainment value and its significance in film history.
The bonus features are also worthwhile, some for film buffs, others for history buffs.
Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, vintage and new featurettes, historical documentaries, trailer, text filmographies, photo galleries, reproduction of souvenir program, six photos (Also available in two-disc version, $24.95.)
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com
You can be the first to comment on this story.