Cleopatra Movies

For film versions of Shakespeare's play see Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.

Movie lists | 1999 "Cleopatra" | 1963 "Cleopatra" | 1946 "Caesar and Cleopatra" | 1934 "Cleopatra" | Other

Movie lists

Internet Movie Database has an enormous list of Cleopatra movies, including 45 theatrical releases, and 13 television productions.

Ancient Greece in the Cinema, a filmography. The Cleopatra section is smaller than some lists, but includes some not seen elsewhere. Compiled by Nick Lowe.

Wikipedia on Cleopatra movies. Do not trust their page on Cleopatra herself. It's lousy.

"Actresses (and actors) who have appeared as Cleopatra" from David Claudon's The Cleopatra Costume on Stage and in Film, a marvellous run-down of Cleopatra in literature and film, seen throught the lense of costume.

1999 "Cleopatra"

Amazon. Cleopatra with Leonor Varela (Cleopatra), Timothy Dalton (Caesar), Billy Zane (Antony); based on Margaret George's Memoirs of Cleopatra and produced by Hallmark as a two-part miniseries. The Amazon reviews are mostly positive.

Hallmark Entertainment's Official Site, with lots of photos.

"Indescribably Delicious" review by John Leonard, from New York magazine (May 1999)

"'Cleopatra' is wickedly extravagant soap" review by Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The review hits all the actors for bad acting, the screenwriter for soapy dialogue and historical omissions, and the CGI team for fake-looking fleets and pyramids. So, why the up review?

Review: Bob Mandell gives it an A for style and a B+ for substance.

Web Archive: Review by Annie the Amazing Durian who finds flaws, particularly in Varela's performance, but nevertheless watched the movie five times!

Review: Mike DeWolfe (Rotten Tomatoes):

"As if to give you more bang for your buck, Cleopatra throws in the assassination of Julius Caesar and the burning of the library of Alexandria. The latter occurs almost as a backdrop to other events: 'Ooh! The Great Library of Alexandria is burning! Oh look, that fruit stand is on fire...'"

Education review by "Rich" complains that it deserves an R rating for showing "blatant intercourse." Um, really?

Thirty images of Billy Zane as Mark Antony from Angela's "Billy Zane Museum"

1963 "Cleopatra"

Fan-site brimming with images, from Allan Trivette.

John Woggon's Cleopatra site, with page of details on plot, cast, etc.

Liz Taylor's (many) movie outfits with dressmaker Sabine Pothmann's recreations of them.

1946 "Caesar and Cleopatra"

Amazon. Caesar and Cleopatra with Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains (1946), based on the George Bernard Shaw play.

Shots of Leigh in Cleopatra makeup compiled by The Makeup Gallery.

1934 "Cleopatra"

Amazon. Cleopatra, with Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra and Cecil B. DeMille directing. This is an enormously enjoyable flick; Colbert makes a smouldering pre-Code Cleopatra. Warren William plays Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon plays Antony.

Rough and ready viewing-notes on DeMille's Cleopatra from Billings's Dreams of Cleopatra class.

Other

The Cleopatra Costume on Stage and in Film by C. David Claudon, a major site on Cleopatra on the stage and the silver screen, an "extensive look at how the character of Cleopatra has been visualized both on stage and in film." Includes sections from 1603 and after.

1968 Asterix and Cleopatra (not the live action one)

From "Brush up Your Shakespeare", Kiss me, Kate (Cole Porter and Sam and Bella Spewack):

If your blonde won't respond when you flatter 'er,
Tell her what Tony told Cleopaterer!