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Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento, Harry Andrews, Alberto Lupo ... see more see more... , Adolfo Celi , Venantino Venantini , John Stacy , Fausto Tozzi , Maxine Audley , Tomas Milian , Alec McCowen , Richard Pearson

Adapted by Philip Dunne from the novel by Irving Stone, The Agony and the Ecstacy is the story of the 16th century war of wills between Renaissance artist Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) and "warrior p... read more read more...ope" Julius II (Rex Harrison). Commissioned to paint a religious fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the independent-minded Michelangelo balks at the assignment. He is virtually strongarmed into accepting the job by Pope Julius, who wants to leave something for future generations to remember him by. Director Carol Reed deftly juggles screen time between the Pope's activities on the battlefield and Michelangelo's slow, arduous completion of his monumental task. The film also gingerly approaches the subject of Michelangelo's sexual orientation vis-a-vis his relationship with the Contessina de Medici (Diane Cilento). Too long and limited in subject matter to score at the box office, The Agony and the Ecstacy holds up pretty well when seen today, especially when viewed in a wide-screen print. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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78% liked it

3,259 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

5 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Carol Reed

Release Date: September 16, 1965

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DVD Release Date: February 22, 2005

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Stats: 161 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (161)

  • rayman0071
    February 18, 2011
    rayman0071
    Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison portray two of the Renaissance's most colorful figures in this brilliant historical epic drama based on Irving Stone's best selling novel. When Pope Julius II(Harrison)commissions Michelangelo(Heston) to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel,the... read more artist initially refuses. Virtually forced to do the job by Julius,Michelangelo later destroys his own work of art and therefore flees Rome. Nominated for three Oscars including Best Supporting Actor(Harrison),Best Director(Carol Reed),and Best Cinematopgraphy and was named of the year's best films by the National Board of Review,"The Agony and the Ecstasy" is a fascinating dramatization behind one of the world's artistic masterpieces. Filmed on location in Italy and Spain and shot in brilliant Todd-AO and Color and directed by the great British director Carol Reed,Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison(in their first and only film together)give two of the screen's best performances.
  • DrLappos
    August 27, 2008
    DrLappos
    Very long, intricate retelling of the story...but still great.
  • magisterbrodd
    March 26, 2010
    magisterbrodd
    One of my favorite Chuck Heston movies, and Rex Harrison is amazing as Pope Julius II! Owned on DVD.
  • MetalStar
    December 15, 2008
    MetalStar
    Somewhat slow moving but worth watching to see Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison's on screen chemistry.
  • jazzyjamy2k
    August 27, 2008
    jazzyjamy2k
    I truly loved this movie as it protrayed Charles Heston as the great artist Michaelangelo and Mr. Rex Harrison as the waring pope Julius II who is like a true father to him, but at times causes him great surffering as he will not permit him to finish his work! It is only when the... read more pope has been injured in battle that he permits Michaelangelo to do what he wants. I foundl it quite interesting how they displayed the strained relationship between these to strong-willied and dominating powers, each one wanting do do something different from the other, for anyone who is into art and love to fight for what they believe for the sake of it I would truly reccommend seeing this movie
  • divecompany1
    August 27, 2008
    divecompany1
    Rex Harrison and Charlton Heston in a synthesis of the sixteenth Chapel painting projectct. It really depict Michel Angelo's process of creativity and discipline...Wow, good movie!
  • PolarisDiB
    August 27, 2008
    PolarisDiB
    Charlton Heston played big men, and in this he plays one of the biggest artists of all time, the Renaissance master Michelangelo. Set as a foil, however, is Rex Harrison, who plays a man who thinks he's a bigger man than Michelangelo, Pope Julius II, and their story and struggle... read mores are set against a period of civil unrest, war, and famine. Michelangelo never felt so dark.

    Most of the story revolves around Michelangelo's drive to complete almost impossibly big tasks, most importantly the Sistine Chapel, which he painted alone. However, the drama revolves around his relationship with the Pope, a relationship that at times is respectful, at times is a father-son relationship, and at times is a tyrant-slave relationship. The two of them dance around each other, avoid each other, and beat each other (mostly verbally, some times not) as Michelangelo struggles to pour his life and soul into a controversial work that he seems to be unable to end. This movie is about the heroism of the artist, and it can get a bit hokey sometimes.

    Carol Reed directs intensely, but in typical British fashion he can't resist a few moments of subversive humor, such as dropping things on priests' heads once in a while. More importantly, however, he does well at providing the struggle of mind-against-mind/mind-with-mind in front of a stark portrayal of civil disorder. Rex Harrison and Charlton Heston shine, but most particularly because the background is so dark.

    --PolarisDiB
  • terris85017
    August 27, 2008
    terris85017
    (Directed by Carol Reed) Epic viewed looonnng ago! Charlton Heston as Michaelangelo & Rex Harrison. This movie has been translated into other foreign languages, including Frecnch which is available from www.visionvideo.com [The painting of the Sisteen Chapel]
  • corbinbleulover
    August 27, 2008
    corbinbleulover
    It was pretty good, but I don't think that Michelangelo was anything like Charlton Heston. And Rex Harrison just ISN'T a pope, okay? But the rest of it was good.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
July 6, 2010
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

As a chronicle of the artist Michelangelo, this is one of Carol Reed's most underwhelming films, though some of the production values are good. Full Review

October 18, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 10, 2005
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

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Chuck O'Leary
October 21, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Linda Cook
February 9, 2003
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

Philip Martin
July 31, 2002
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

David Poland
July 26, 2002
David Poland, Hot Button

No review available.

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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