George MacDonald Fraser ranked this above the 1963 film and I'm inclined to a agree - it lacks Mankiewicz's sparking dialogue and the excellence of Rex Harrison, and it's definitely rusty in places, but it's a lot tighter and more professional than the later film, and the character lines (and "arcs", for lack of a better expression) are far more clearly drawn.
Octavian is very old here, the same age as Antony, and I'm sure it's riddled with historical errors, but it has an authentic feel. Henry Wilcoxon is very good as the spoilt, brutish playboy Anthony, Warren William is okay as Caesar (maybe a bit too dandyish) and Claudette Colbert sexy and impressive as Cleopatra. The spectacle is done with pizzaz and style, not poured down anyone's throat
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