40 Films in Robotech: Julius Caesar (1953)

       

Doubt Marlon Brando as an actor? Watch this. 

 ROBOTECH MENTION:  

In Robotech episode 18 Farewell, Big Brother, Rick Hunter quotes Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar to Lisa Hayes. Here is the scene. If it doesn’t cue up at 0:52, wait to hear the line when Lisa enters Rick’s hospital room…

 SYNOPSIS:  

I got this charming old book at my local library ‘Bag O’ Books’ sale called Feature Films on 8mm, 16mm and Videotape – Sixth Edition: A Directory of Feature Films Available for Rental, Sale, and Lease in the United States and Canada (1979). This book was published in the times before streaming and even video rental stores. It lists simple facts about a film and codes on which companies sell, rent or lease various types of media copies (film or videotape). Here’s the short write-up on Julius Caesar: “JULIUS CAESAR (MGM-1953-121MIN-16MM SOUND-b/w) Marlon Brando, James Mason (d) Joseph L. Mankiewicz.”

 AWARDS & KUDOS:  

Julius Caesar won the 1954 Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. Same year, it also won the Bodil Award for Best American Film. The National Board of Review, USA gave it three awards in 1953: Best Film, Best Actor (James Mason), and a place in their Top Ten Films of the Year. 

 OTHER COOL FACTS:  

In his book All-Time Movie Favorites (1977), Joel W. Finler writes: “In Julius Caesar (1953), producer John Houseman and director Joseph Mankiewicz used all the resources of M.G.M. plus some British stars, yet sensibly decided to photograph their simple, functional Roman setting in black-and-white, not colour. Praised by critics on both sides of the Atlantic as the best Shakespearean film since Henry V, the picture was adapted from the relatively exciting, fast-moving and surprisingly topical ‘political thriller’ which avoided any film techniques or tricks which might distract from the actors and their lines. Performances are uniformly excellent, including John Gielgud as Cassius and James Mason as Brutus; but the chief laurels go to Marlon Brando for his stunning portrayal of Mark Anthony. And if the film sags slightly in the second half, there is the suspicion that this is less the fault of the adaptors than of the original!” (p.103)

 ROBOTECH REASON:  

Sooner or later, you quote Shakespeare when writing a sprawling Earthbound space epic. You just do.

To read my ⭐⭐⭐⭐(out of a possible 5 star) rating for Julius Caesar on Letterboxd, click here.