Cleopatra (1912)

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

"Cleopatra" is clearly a case where I am giving a film a favorable rating even though I really thought the plot was pretty stupid. After all, as a retired history teacher, the film is a mess and creates a ridiculous image of Cleopatra which history cannot support. Imagine...in this film she is SO seductive and beautiful that a lowly fisherman agrees to kill himself after they complete a short love affair! And, imagine that the mere sight of her compels people to destroy their lives! That's the Cleopatra of this film--an almost complete fiction created by French playwright Victorien Sardou.The reason I STILL think it's worthwhile is the historical context for when the film was made. It was 1912--and a feature length film in America might be 20 or 30 minutes max---yet here we have a costume drama lasting nearly 90 minutes. And, although there's a bit of overacting here and there, the film is reasonably well directed by Charles Gaskill. Worth seeing as a curio at least--even if the story is pretty crappy.

I was watching with interest the 1912 production and found it fascinating by the different acting styles strong and weak in the primarily static shots until I realized that each scene may have meant to be tableaux that come to life. Charles Sindelar was a strong looking Anthony and thought the actress playing Octavia was more accessible to modern audiences.The so-called score made probably by some spoiled New York Artists especially that hideous groaning woman was really dreadful,but as with most scores to silents just a flick of the mute button can help as great silents stand on their silence alone!

This is a rare chance to see a very old picture that has been restored, and combined with a sound track that brings a rather classical approach to provide minimally invasive music that sets a tone for the tragedy together with a well measured modern song that adds color and personality to the character of Cleopatra. I'm sure that some viewers will be turned off by this, since the singer and the song sound rather out of place at first simply because they are unexpected and a surprise. Not everyone likes a surprise, especially when it's applied to something they think should be maintained in total integrity with the original presentation.My personal view is that these early silent films were meant to be supported by the best efforts of musicians available at the time to add their own personal interpretation to the film, and to support the film with appropriate artistic sound to help convey the viewer into a more complete sensory experience. I know there are some musicians who could provide an accompaniment that would sound more like a 1912 accompaniment, but I liked what the musicians did with this film. I added to my enjoyment and brought me more emotionally into the whole story.The film itself is an excellent example of how pure acting together with simple sets and costumes can by itself bring a good story to life for a viewer. It helps to have one of the greatest love stories of all time as the subject matter. And, the fact that almost everyone has some level of familiarity with the story as originally written for the stage by the greatest playwright, Wm. Shakespere, certainly provides a foundation that exceeds any minimum requirements.Scott Indy

This early silent (1912) is a bit creeky (canvas flats that move in the breeze and a ship pushed on from the wings) but is an early attempt to use ancient history as the inspiration for a film drama. Helen Gardner and her troupe filmed a stage production, typical for the time, with little awareness of the possibilities of the medium. The plot actually comes from another source than Shakespeare and is not the usual Anthony and Cleopatra story. It may be based on a French 19th century opera which, in turn, can be traced back to a short story by Alexander Pushkin. This film is an excellent example of the state of the art in the time that it was made.