Cleopatra

A detailed Summary of Cleopatra

The film Cleopatra is one of the most expensive and most involved films of all time. It was a major undertaking by Hollywood, and the end result was a classic that is still enjoyed by people today. The film opens with the narrator informing the audience that Julius Caesar is ruler of Rome, after winning the civil war. The opening scene is that of piles of burning Roman bodies, casualties of the Roman civil strife. Pompeii, Caesar's adversary had escaped to Egypt. Julius Caesar vows to go to Egypt to bring Pompeii to justice, and to prevent the looming civil war in Egypt. He said that wheat there is being burned, when instead it could be sold to Rome.

Marc Antony is left with control of Rome as Caesar heads to Egypt, he is suppose to act in accordance with how Caesar would if he were still in the city. Whether he does or not remains to be seen. As the scene changes to Egypt, we learn that King Ptolemy had driven Queen Cleopatra from Alexandria. This was because Cleopatra had plotted to kill Ptolemy. Caesar tries to make peace and resolve the issues. Ptolemy however doesn't want any part of this, and instead offers Caesar gifts and treasure to make him go away and not interfere in Egypt's business. Caesar stays, and

Back in Rome, the Romans get news that Caesar and Cleopatra are married, and that Cleopatra bore Caesar's son. Caesar decides to return to Rome, and that he will send for Cleopatra to come once he is ready. Caesar takes two years to return, and when he does, the people greet him as a hero. He is given dictatorship for life, but his power isn't absolute, the Senate must approve his dictates. Finally, Cleopatra is summoned to Rome, and she makes a grand entrance. The people are in awe of her and she comes riding into Rome on a giant float.

Cleopatra observes Caesar from a hidden room, and notices that he has a seizure, perhaps a result of epilepsy. Supposedly it is a sign of favor from the gods, but now Cleopatra knows that the great Roman ruler does have weakness and short fallings. Later on, Caesar has Ptolemy's ships burned, but as a result the Library of Alexandria burns down as well, Cleopatra is livid about this. She was very attached to the library, but she realizes she needs the help of Caesar. It is at this point that opposing armies attack Caesar, however, he fends off the attack by using the turtle technique, where the Roman soldiers form a modern day equivalent of a tank by uniting their shields, and thus they were able to get close to the enemy, without getting injured by arrows and thrown spears, and then engage in hand to hand combat.

Although this movie is not based entirely on historic fact, it does provide an interesting look at how people lived in those days. Also, it showed how all the influential figures in Rome were also striving to gain more and more power. This movie is an excellent cinematographic masterpiece, even though it is not the best history lesson.

After spending some time in Egypt, he returns to Rome to deal with Octavian and to regain his power. Octavian makes deal with Antony, so that Antony is to receive power of all of the eastern part of the Empire, and he also receives 10 more legions. Cleopatra is disheartened at this news. She wants Antony to be offered the same amount of power that was promised to Caesar. When Antony returns, Cleopatra tells him that she wants one third of the Roman territories in exc

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Approximate Word count = 1473
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Movies