Best Movies Set in Rome

[Theodosius the Great]

Hi Graham,

I suppose the movie will be released later for Region 1 viewers, if ever.
But I can always record it when it aires again on TV (TCM Channel in the US).

Yes, some of the uniforms look like stage costumes. The makeup, too, looks like stage makeup which may account in part for Vivien Leigh's appearence. And given the script the movie almost seems like a filmed play. So, it seems a bit bizarre at times when you watch it for the first time.

Next time I watch it I'll look for that ballista. It doesn't come to mind even though I remember the Pharos scene.

Perhaps of special interest to RAT er's is the fact that both this production and the later early attempt at Liz Taylor's 'Cleopatra', making use of British researchers, went for deep red roman tunics and cloaks

I liked the British costumes better in the first Cleopatra attempt with Taylor, both soldiers and officers. Stephen Boyd or Timothy Dalton would have played M. Antonius, IIRC.

while 'Hollywood' productions like 'Quo Vadis' and 'Ben-Hur' went for white tunics and red cloaks. Yet it is 'Hollywood', which often gets the blame for starting the idea that tunics should be red.

Now that you mention it I can't think of any red tunics in "Spartacus" or "Fall of the Roman Empire" either.

BTW, the producers of "Quo Vadis ?" can be credited / blamed for being the first to consciously cast English actors for the Roman parts, at least according to the DVD commentary. (Robert Taylor notwithstanding).

~Theo