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Drama Cult Classic

Ambition, betrayal, and power collide in this Shakespearean drama set in ancient Rome.

JULIUS CAESAR

MGM's acclaimed production of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

1953 · 2h · NR · Drama / History · IMDB TMDB

The growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate Caesar but they have both sorely underestimated Mark Antony.

Quick Answer

What is Julius Caesar about?

Julius Caesar is a 1953 American drama and history film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz about the political intrigue and personal betrayals surrounding Caesar's rise to power in Rome.

Programmer's Pick

When Shakespeare goes Hollywood, you get Marlon Brando speechifying in a breastplate and James Mason plotting under the marble shadows. This adaptation keeps the daggers sharp and the soliloquies sharper—proof that political drama never goes out of style.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Upon returning to Rome after a victorious civil war campaign, Julius Caesar finds himself awarded unprecedented powers as both consul and dictator for life, sparking unease among the moderate factions of Roman society. Adapted with near-complete fidelity to Shakespeare’s legendary play, this 1953 production immerses viewers in the charged atmosphere of 44 B.C., where loyalty and suspicion intermingle among Rome’s elite. As Brutus struggles with Caesar’s mounting ambition and Cassius schemes to shape Rome's fate, the film sets the stage for charged confrontations and political machinations, all spoken in Shakespeare’s famed language. The depiction of Rome’s bustling forums and tense assemblies establishes the film’s grand, classical tone.

Details & Specs

Director
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Writers
William Shakespeare, Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Release
1953
Runtime
2h
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Drama, History
Also Known As
Júlio César

Why This Matters

This adaptation of Shakespeare's play received critical acclaim, earning five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Marlon Brando, and won Best Art Direction – Black-and-White, with both Brando and John Gielgud also winning BAFTA Awards for their performances.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Writers: William Shakespeare +1 more
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Mark Antony James Mason James Mason Brutus John Gielgud John Gielgud Julius Caesar Louis Calhern Louis Calhern Julius Caesar Edmond O'Brien Edmond O'Brien Casca Greer Garson Greer Garson Calpurnia Deborah Kerr Deborah Kerr Portia George Macready George Macready Marullus Michael Pate Michael Pate Flavius Richard Hale Richard Hale A Soothsayer Alan Napier Alan Napier Cicero John Hoyt John Hoyt Decius Brutus Tom Powers Tom Powers Metellus Cimber WC William Cottrell Cinna Jack Raine Jack Raine Trebonius Ian Wolfe Ian Wolfe Caius Ligarius Morgan Farley Morgan Farley Artemidorus BP Bill Phipps DW Douglass Watson Octavius Caesar Douglass Dumbrille Douglass Dumbrille Lepidus Michael Ansara Michael Ansara Pindarus Dayton Lummis Dayton Lummis Messala Edmund Purdom Edmund Purdom Strato Paul Guilfoyle Paul Guilfoyle Citizen of Rome John Doucette John Doucette Carpenter, Citizen of Rome Lawrence Dobkin Lawrence Dobkin Citizen of Rome JG Jo Gilbert Citizen of Rome JH John Hardy CS Chester Stratton Lumsden Hare Lumsden Hare Publius VP Vic Perry Popilius Lena Michael Tolan Michael Tolan Officer to Octavius Rhys Williams Rhys Williams Lucilius John Lupton John Lupton Varro John Parrish John Parrish Titinius JW Joe Waring SR Stephen Roberts Dardanius Thomas Browne Henry Thomas Browne Henry Volumnius David Bond David Bond Citizen of Rome Ann Tyrrell Ann Tyrrell Citizen of Rome JO John O'Malley Citizen of Rome Oliver Blake Oliver Blake Citizen of Rome AH Alvin Hurwitz Citizen of Rome Donald Elson Donald Elson Citizen of Rome JC John Call Citizen of Rome (uncredited) RG Rudy Germane Citizen of Rome (uncredited) William Phipps William Phipps Servant to Antony CS Chet Stratton Servant to Caesar John Alderson John Alderson Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Al Bain Al Bain Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Robert Fuller Robert Fuller Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Ned Glass Ned Glass Cobbler (uncredited) Dabbs Greer Dabbs Greer Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Robert Nichols Robert Nichols Citizen of Rome (uncredited) William H. O'Brien William H. O'Brien Senator (uncredited) Vic Perrin Vic Perrin Hoodlum (uncredited) JP Joe Ploski Citizen of Rome (uncredited) CR Clark Ross Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Irene Tedrow Irene Tedrow Citizen of Rome (uncredited) JH John Hardy Lucius PH Preston Hanson Claudius JW Joseph Waring Clitus Henny Backus Henny Backus Citizen of Rome (uncredited) JB John Barton Citizen of Rome (uncredited) RB Ray Beltram Citizen of Rome (uncredited) George Blagoi George Blagoi Soldier (uncredited) EB Eumenio Blanco Citizen of Rome (uncredited) OB Oscar Blank Citizen of Rome (uncredited) JB Joe Brooks Citizen of Rome (uncredited) MC Michael Cirillo Citizen of Rome (uncredited) BC Bill Clark Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Booth Colman Booth Colman Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Gene Coogan Gene Coogan Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Jimmy Dime Jimmy Dime Citizen of Rome (uncredited) DD Darren Dublin Hoodlum (uncredited) RD Robert Dulaine Roman (uncredited) KD Ken DuMain Citizen of Rome (uncredited) CF Charles Ferguson Citizen of Rome / Centurion Lookout (uncredited) EG Elias Gamboa Citizen of Rome (uncredited) LG Leonard George Hoodlum (uncredited) JG Joseph Glick Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Chester Hayes Chester Hayes Roman Soldier (uncredited) Stuart Holmes Stuart Holmes Senator (uncredited) Shep Houghton Shep Houghton Soldier (uncredited) Kenneth Kendall Kenneth Kendall Citizen of Rome by Mark Antony's Speech (uncredited) RM Russell Meeker Senator (uncredited) Neyle Morrow Neyle Morrow Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Jack Perry Jack Perry Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Harry 'Snub' Pollard Harry 'Snub' Pollard Citizen of Rome (uncredited) BR Barry Regan Sentry (uncredited) NR Norman Rice Little Man (uncredited) VR Victor Romito Citizen of Rome (uncredited) PS Phil Schumacher Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Scott Seaton Scott Seaton Senator (uncredited) Cap Somers Cap Somers Citizen of Rome (uncredited) Ray Spiker Ray Spiker Citizen of Rome (uncredited)

Why Cult

Star-Powered Shakespeare

See Marlon Brando, James Mason, and John Gielgud deliver Shakespeare’s lines with gravitas and flair.

Faithful Adaptation

The film remains true to Shakespeare’s text, making it a must for purists and literature buffs.

Roman Pageantry

Expect elaborate period costumes, grand sets, and a visual feast that brings ancient Rome to life.

Political Intrigue

Plotting, conspiracies, and shifting allegiances take center stage in this drama of ambition and betrayal.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Julius Caesar? +

Julius Caesar was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

How long is Julius Caesar? +

Julius Caesar has a runtime of 120 minutes.

What genre is Julius Caesar? +

Julius Caesar is classified as a drama and history film.

Where can I watch Julius Caesar? +

Julius Caesar is available to stream on SassyFlix.

When was Julius Caesar released? +

Julius Caesar was released in 1953.

Trailers & Clips

Julius Caesar trailer
Official Trailer
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