Saturday Night Cinema: Cleopatra (1934)

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Still in Philly, but Saturday Night Cinema will go on! Tonight’s fabulous feature is the supreme Cecil B. De Mille’s Cleopatra, starring Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Henry Wilcoxon.

Cleopatra (1934) NY Times film review:

Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Henry Wilcoxon in C.B. De Mille’s “Cleopatra.”

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By MORDAUNT HALL.
Published: August 17, 1934

Cecil B. De Mille, who has contributed to the screen such opulent
films as “The Ten Commandments,” “The King of Kings” and “The Sign of
the Cross,” presented last night before a specially invited gathering in
the Paramount his widely heralded production, “Cleopatra.” This current
picture is one of the director’s most ambitious spectacles. It has
substantial, decorative settings, a wealth of minor properties, an
imposing array of histrionic talent and an army of extras.

“Cleopatra” reveals Mr. De Mille in an emphatically lavish, but
nevertheless a relatively restrained mood. He may not neglect to dwell
upon Cleopatra’s amorous behavior and has evidently preferred that she
does not overdress. But, even so, the scenes wherein she is beheld are
less blatant than those he has depicted of other sorceresses in previous
films.

Claudette Colbert, the Poppaea of “The Sign of the Cross,” is
entrusted with the part of Cleopatra. She wears a dark wig and looks
even more attractive than usual. She speaks her lines with the necessary
confidence, whether they are concerned with love, hate or politics.
When it is a matter of disposing of Pothinos with a javelin, she
conducts herself with the coolness of a queen of the olden days. And
when the chance is offered for a little comedy she acquits herself
cleverly.

Julius Caesar is portrayed by “Warren William, who shines in his
rôle. There are moments when the dialogue is reminiscent of the
Shakespearean speech and other occasions when it is so modern that one
almost expects Mighty Caesar to have a typewriter and telephone at his
elbow, as when he, while in Egypt, dictates a letter to the Roman
Senators. Mr. William is especially apt when it comes to delivering a
brief line, such as “Take it away,” when he wishes the body of the
treacherous Pothinos removed from his sight.

Caesar’s first sight of Cleopatra is when she appears from a carpet
as it is unrolled. He thinks that it is a “good joke” when she declares
that she is Cleopatra. After having attempted to gain his interest, she
finally hazards something about India’s wealth, and then the bright-eyed
siren knows that she has found favor in Caesar’s eyes.

With its magnificent backgrounds, each episode affords much interest.
There are the three men plotting the murder of Caesar in the Roman
baths, and later Mr. De Mille gives even a more expansive view of the
baths, a feature seldom neglected by the director in any of his
productions. When a gathering of Roman women are talking about Caesar,
it is done in the modern fashion, with one of the fair ones remarking
that “the wife always is the last to hear” of her husband’s love
affairs.

In those scenes showing Caesar’s return to Rome from Egypt with the
audacious Cleopatra, Mr. De Mille has drawn on his fertile imagination
and spared no expense. After the assassination of Caesar Cleopatra
employs her feminine wiles to win Marc Antony, whose rôle is interpreted
by the English actor, Henry Wilcoxon, a fine figure of a man. His
acting is excellent, especially in the more dramatic sequences.


CLEOPATRA, directed by Cecil B. DeMille; a Paramount production. At the Paramount.

Cleopatra . . . . . Claudette Colbert

Julius Caesar . . . . . Warren William

Marc Antony . . . . . Henry Wilcoxon

Calpurnia . . . . . Gertrude Michael

Herod . . . . . Joseph Schildkraut

Octavian . . . . . Ian Keith

Enobarbus . . . . . C. Aubrey Smith

Cassius . . . . . Ian MacLaren

Brutus . . . . . Arthur Hohl

Pothinos . . . . . Leonard Mudie

Appollodorus . . . . . Irving Pichel

Octavia . . . . . Claudia Dell

Charmian . . . . . Eleanor Phelps

Drussus . . . . . John Rutherford

Iras . . . . . Grace Durkin

Achillas . . . . . Robert Warwick

Casca . . . . . Edwin Maxwell

Cicero . . . . . Charles Morris

A Soothsayer . . . . . Harry Beresford

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MA02169
MA02169
11 years ago

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Tapping at the window and crying through the lock,
Are all the children in their beds, it’s past eight o’clock?

MA02169
MA02169
11 years ago

Must See… Daylight: The Story of Obama and Israel (Video)
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, September 8, 2012, 5:58 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0wbH5KVPrPo#!

MA02169
MA02169
11 years ago

A clergyman walking down a country lane and sees a young farmer struggling to load hay back onto a cart after it had fallen off.
“You look hot, my son” said the cleric. “Why don’t you rest a moment and I’ll give you a hand”. “No thanks” said the young man.
“My father wouldn’t like it”. “Don’t be silly” the minister said. “Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water”. Again the young man protested that his father would be upset.
Losing his patience, the clergyman said “Your father must be a real slave driver. Tell me where I can find him and I’ll give him a piece of my mind!”
“Well” replied the young farmer “he’s under the load of hay”.

Underzog
Underzog
11 years ago

I saw “Cleopatra” with nice Jewish girl, Claudette Colbert, years ago. It was a neat movie.
I do like your taste in movies; etc.

Underzog
Underzog
11 years ago

Ixnay Pam! This one is not “Cleopatra.” Even if I like old movies.

Warren
Warren
11 years ago

This Movie was definately better that the Liz Taylor version.

john jay
john jay
11 years ago

pamela:
no naked claudette colbert in the bathtub? didn’t that happen in this movie?
john jay

Underzog
Underzog
11 years ago

No, John Jay….
I think that happened in a Cecil B. DeMille movie about Nero and persecuting the Christians.
I saw that movie decades ago, too.

Fred
Fred
11 years ago

Warren William is in this movie. Everyone should watch his other movies. WHAT AN ACTOR. Turner Classic Movies shows many of his films. Skyscraper Souls is one of his best.

Gustavo Garcia
Gustavo Garcia
11 years ago

This movie is amazing. As a cinematographer I find that movies from this era hold so much quality and character. Where in Philadelphia do you hold this screenings? I just moved to Jersey and would love to come out to support old cinema.
Thanks for keeping me updated and reminding me how good this movie is
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