Dore Schary’s regime at MGM has received mixed reviews from historians, but you’ve got to give him credit for greenlighting this. It was a ballsy move to film Shakespeare, despite the incredible talent on display: Joe Mankiewicz, John Houseman (producer), Marlon Brando, James Mason, Louis Calhern, John Gielgud, Edmond O’Brien, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr. Even our own Michael Pate pops up as Flavius. There’s also Michael Ansara (very good) and Edmond Purdom, as the Roman who Brutus asks to kill him (it’s a small but flashy role and presumably led to his casting in The Student Prince.)
We meet pretty much all of these at the beginning (let the people know there’s lots of movie stars). Gielgud’s casting as Cassius means that the first big scene (Cassius trying to persuade Brutus to call to arms) starts off with the most experienced Shakespearean actor doing his stuff. He’s the best in the film, for my money – everyone else is good, though.
It’s fascinating to see how they approach it. This piece always suited American actors more than other Shakespeare, and they handle the verse well (except the little kids – Anthony’s messenger and the kid who sings to Brutus). Mason is angsty, brooding liberal torment, Brando is electrically charismatic, Calhern like a vicious businessman. I wish they’d cut the lyre singing scene – it makes Brutus look like a pedophile.
It’s shot in a matter of fact, non flashy style – it’s fascinating to imagine how Orson Welles would have done this. Still, definitely worth seeing.
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