The Fall of the Roman Empire

This and 'Spartacus' are the best of the Roman Epics, and it's no coincidence that 'Gladiator' is essentially a remake of TFOTRE; Scott was inspired by the best. This is a beautifully made, intelligent film with great performances, especially from Mason. And quite fitting that it was the last of the 'Epics'...I grew up watching these films on TV with my late father who always explained the history behind them, and they remind me of him when I watch them. I've just picked it up on Blu-Ray for very little. Although the transfer isn't as great as 'Ben Hur' or 'Cleopatra', which it fully deserves, it still looks good.

Far from awful, this Samuel Bronston produced epic features some great direction by Anthony Mann and some terrific acting by an unlikely cast. Marcus Aurelius dies and, knowing that leaving Rome to loony son Commodus is a bad idea, names Livius (Stephen Boyd) his heir. Livius insists that Commodus take command and thus begins the fall of the empire. The film moves quickly and it's apparent fairly fast that Commodus, played by the unbelievable Christopher Plummer, is a madman. Boyd is actually quite good and has some real chemistry with Sophia Loren (playing the daughter of Marcus Aurelius). Plummer steals the film with his wicked performance. There is perhaps one too many characters to keep track of, but for a 1960s epic, this is a standout. James Mason, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland and Alec Guinness co-star. Featuring one of Dimitri Tiomkin least bombastic music scores and stunning cinematography by Robert Krasker.

Very much a historical epic of yesteryear. THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE explores the political circumstances and characters that saw the Empire destroyed from within, and it's an expansive, engaging affair in which every penny of the budget has been put on the screen. You don't get this kind of lavish set-building and huge crowds/armies in films anymore, it's all created via cheaper CGI which is a real pity as this has an authenticity like few others. In an exemplary ensemble cast, Christopher Plummer stands out in a dangerous turn.

As the movie makes clear, the title refers not to a single event, but to a process. Ancient Rome's collapse came about through a combination of nonstop conquest and crass decadence. "The Fall of the Roman Empire" looks specifically at Emperor Commodus's rise, and how his rule contributed to the fall. The sets are a sight to behold, as is the cinematography. But the true credit should go to Christopher Plummer as Commodus and Sophia Loren as Lucilla. He makes Commodus out to be Machiavellian but likable, while she makes Lucilla out to be someone who just wants to get taken seriously. It's not a great movie, but you gotta admire the effort that went into it. One might think of it as a prequel to "Gladiator".