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The Fall Of The Roman Empire (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (The Miriam Collection) Posters
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Rating:  -
This is the EDITED version FFolks
About 10 year ago A.M.C., before they Flushed themselves down the toilet, showed 2 versions of this movie, one was 179 minutes and a FoolScreen and the other was The Original 188 minute and 2.76:1 version, too which i recorded and still have.
The Original Uncut Movie is 3 Hrs and 8 Min or 188 Minutes
This DVD Version is (according to the Product Details) 179 Minutes..10 Minutes shorter than Original Theatrical Version
Also This DVD has been (Modified and Formatted), It was Originaly Presented in an Aspect Ratio of 2.76:1
This DVD version is Presented in an Aspect Ratio of only 2.35:1, which means that it has been Blown Up, So some things will be missing.
So for this DVD release you will be missing Part of the picture and 10 minutes of the Film.
Rating:  -
Released one year after "Cleopatra," Anthony Mann's "Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964) is not a great film, but is noteworthy for the quality of the production, the assemblege of a splendid cast, and the fact it truly signified the end of an era in filmmaking.
The film was remade, sort of, as "Gladiator" by Ridley Scott, but it is Mann's film that is far superior cinematically. What is immediately striking about "Fall" is the number of historically accurate sets (over 20 in all) depicting the Roman capital at the time of emperor Marcus Aurelius and Commodus all handcrafted by scores or set designers and craftsmen in Spain long before computer animation was ever heard of.
While critics at the time scoffed at the fact that a film could compress Gibbon's opus into a film over 188 minutes, Mann does succeed in capturing really the "beginning of the end" by depicting the frustrations of a philosophical emperor's (Marcus Aurelius) 20-year reign now in its twilight, filled with small but bitter barbarian battles and frontier wars, who leaves behind a spoiled and twisted son (Commodus) who squanders such ideals and leaves the empire in chaos.
Spending much of his $16 million budgeted for the film on sets (an enormous amount of money circa 1964), we see a vision of Mann's Rome (and the Roman Forum), not only architectually accurate but of tremendous breadth and scope. The Temple of Vesta, the Curia, the Arch of Titus, The Temple of Jupiter, are all rendered with tremendous authenticity. Certainly, a Rome even Nero would be reluctant to burn!
Interior sets are also equally impressive decorated with garlands, frescoes, pools, and columns modelled on the Pompeian style. Like the sets, the costume design, cinematography courtesy of Dimitri Tiomkin, and even the stuntwork (overseen by Yakima Canutt), are all first class. Even noted historian, Will Durant, author of the nine volume opus, "The Story of Civilization," was both a consultant and advisor for the film.
All in all, the film authentically captures all the grandeur and decadance that was Rome, so why only four stars? Perhaps the problem lies with the two leads Livius (Stephen Boyd) and Drusilla (Sophia Loren) with a love story that fails to convice and somewhat drags the principal story down. However, they manage to do what they can with these rather bland roles.
James Mason (Timonides) and Alec Guinness (Marcus Aurelius)are both impressive in their respective roles, and Christopher Plummer, plays a Commodus a bit too refined to be that sinister and half-mad, but it all seems to work apparently well in this film. The final scenes are a subtle reminder that great empires do not fall to outside foreign influences before they first fall from within.
Rating: -
At last, after so many years we can finaly enjoy "The fall of the roman empire" with a new restored print in sound and picture quality.
The package design looks okay from Weinstein but why don't they use the original movie poster, is still beyond me,just like "El-Cid".
I have some comments on this long awaited dvd. The running time is not 179 min. but 188 min. Recently they found in London (United Kingdom) 30 min of never been seen scene's by anyone, so the duration of the picture will be longer then its 188 min. I sincerely hope that Weinstein put those lost scenes in, that will be a real treat! The film was shot in Ultra Panavision which has a different aspect ratio then 2:35.1. So they properly use a Cinemascope print 35 mm for the film transfer (bad idea) to dvd instead of using a 65 mm print.
The picture gives us a good look how the fall of the roman empire took place, however they made the mistake earlier just like "gladiator" of some historical facts. For example: Emperor Commodus was killed in his bed and his sister Lucilla was also a monster just like him, not a sweet lady as Sophia Loren portrays
The acting of all the actors is good but Christopher Plummer steals the picture before our very eyes. He indeed becomes very slowly mad when the picture is in progress.
The sets and costumes are very impressive, I have a lot of epic films on dvd but this one (after some considaration) should have an Oscar on both subjects. The saddest thing is they did'nt win any of those.
The only set back of this movie is the love affair between Stephen Boyd and Sophia Loren, when you watch them together you will get the feeling there is something missing in those scene's.
Forget those love scene's between those two actors and enjoy the rest of movie like the very good camera work, the fighting scenes by the second unit director the late Yakima Canutt, ( the battle scene's between the Romans and Persians becomes almost real no special effects shot's at all whatsoever) the music of Dimitri Tiomkin, the sets, and the costumes.
My only fear is that the Entr'act does'nt start to play after the intermission logo, and when the music ends we all have to put the second disc on the dvd disc tray to see the the rest of the movie, just as it happened with the El-Cid disc's.
Anyway: for those who love epic films buy this one and I hope you will enjoy the sight of it.
Rating:  -
This bloated, overlong epic marked the virtual end of multi-million dollar spectacular movies produced in the late fifties and early sixties. Boasting the largest budget ever at the time, it also grossed the least amount of money for this sort of film (a mere $500K). Its screenwriter, Philip Yordan, once told me that after this movie "the banks closed their doors whenever they saw Sam Bronston coming." Despite its impressive cast, the film is downright dreary. How did such a huge film on such a fascinating subject go so terribly wrong? It's too bad, really, because I miss this kind of spectacle with thousands of "live" extras and fabulous, rousing music scores.
Rating: -
oh, but if Kirk Douglas were in it-a whole new level would have been added.
Stephen Boyd is a poor choice for lead-no charisma
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