SYNOPSIS

This 1953 version of JULIUS CAESAR is one of Hollywood's more successful screen adaptations of Shakespeare. In an attempt to be true to Shakespeare's words and intentions, producer John Houseman and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz authentically preserved the characters, actions and themes created by the great playwright, but adapted the drama to the technology of the day and the dynamics of a contemporary audience.

JULIUS CAESAR is the story of a man's personal dilemma over moral action, set against a backdrop of strained political drama. Brutus, a respected and influential Roman citizen, is approached by Cassius to join the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. After a series of victories, Julius Caesar, autocrat of Rome, returns to Italy having defeated Pompey's sons, a triumph that makes his popularity greater than ever. Brutus, one of Caesar's closest friends, is torn with indecision. He loves Caesar and knows he is a good leader, but fears, as the others do, that ambition will drive Caesar to tyranny. Convinced that to kill his friend is essential to the liberty of Rome, Brutus agrees to join the conspiracy.

Ignoring warnings about attending the Senate meeting, Caesar is assassinated by conspirators. His final words are uttered in disbelief, "Et tu, Brute?" At Caesar's funeral, Brutus addresses the crowd in an attempt to justify the crime; however, he makes a fatal mistake by allowing Mark Antony, Caesar's most faithful follower, to speak also. Antony's speech incites the crowd; although they respect Brutus, they turn against the conspirators. The conspirators are forced to flee and build an army, while Antony and Caesar's nephew, Octavius, takes control of Rome. Brutus, while preparing for battle, begins to regret his part in the assassination. Caesar visits him in his dreams, and he is haunted by his own actions.

In the final battle at Philippi, Antony's military forces defeat the conspirators and Cassius and Brutus each commit suicide. Antony, while viewing Brutus' body, recognizes that of all the conspirators, Brutus was the only one who did not strike Caesar out of envy. He declares, "This was the noblest Roman of them all," as the drums beat louder and the light circling Brutus' head fades to darkness.

Wanting to strip the film of color and produce a film that aesthetically captures the intensity of personal and political strife, Houseman and Mankiewicz made an excellent choice of imaging in monochromes. The end result is a powerful but faithful interpretation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.