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Alec Guinness, Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, James Mason, Christopher Plummer ... see more see more... , Omar Sharif , Anthony Quayle , John Ireland , Mel Ferrer , Eric Porter , Douglas Wilmer , Peter Damon , Andrew Keir , George Murcell , Lena von Martens , Gabriella Licudi , Rafael Luis Calvo , Norman Wooland , Michael Gwynn , Guy Rolfe , Finlay Currie , Virgilio Teixeira

Though Fall of the Roman Empire is now infamous as the epic which destroyed the cinematic "empire" of producer Samuel Bronston, the film is actually an above-average historical drama, attempting to ma... read more read more...ke sense of the political intrigues which resulted in the dissolution of the Glory That Was Rome. The film begins with wise, diplomatic emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) calling together the various representatives of the many nations within the Empire as a means of securing peace and prosperity for all involved. When Marcus intimates that he intends to turn over his crown to adopted son Livius (Stephen Boyd) rather than the logical successor Commodus (Christopher Plummer), he is poisoned by one of Commodus' cronies. Marcus' daughter Lucilla (Sophia Loren) tries to get Livius to claim the throne, but he wants no part of it; thus, the fate of the empire is in the incompetent hands of the preening Commodus. Despite efforts by cooler heads to save Rome from ruin, Commodus vainly declares himself a god and kills anyone who poses a threat to him. When he learns that Lucilla actually has a stronger claim to the throne than he does, Commodus condemns her to be burned at the stake. Only then does Livius intervene, slaying Commodus and promising to try to pick up the pieces of the disintegrating empire. Attempting to find a common ground between history buffs and action fans, Fall of the Roman Empire has come to be regarded as a classic. Alas, audiences in 1964 had grown weary of epics (especially after the highly touted but disappointing Cleopatra), and failed to turn out in sufficient enough numbers to justify Fall's exorbitant cost. Virtually wiped out, Samuel Bronston would not be able to return to filmmaking until 1971, and then only on a much smaller and more pinchpenny scale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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64% liked it

2,947 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 3 hr. 7 min.

Directed by: Anthony Mann

Release Date: January 1, 1964

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DVD Release Date: February 28, 2001

Stats: 132 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (132)

  • jjnxn
    January 18, 2009
    jjnxn
    Overlong, plodding spectacle. Good and great actors alike trapped in this ponderous bore.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 31, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Remade as an action film called "Gladiator". This one was a historical epic piece of cinema, with slightly cheesy production values.
  • gator681
    January 13, 2009
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]Throughout history, there have been focal points where events easily could have gone different ways. One such is in 180 A.D., depicted in the lavish spectacle "The Fall of the Roman Empire" that starts with blind soothsayer Cleander(Mel Ferrer) not being able... read more to find the heart of a chicken which is not a good sign. Dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius(Alec Guinness) is putting his affairs in order and wants peace after seventeen years of war and a talk with Ballomar(John Ireland), the enemy commander. He also names General Livius(Stephen Boyd) his heir over his own unstable son Commodus(Christopher Plummer).[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]The other divergence I want to bring up is the different possible approaches to the same material. "The Fall of the Roman Empire" and "Gladiator" are both inspired by the same events but that is where the similarities end. Whereas "Gladiator" exploits violence and revenge for their own sake, "The Fall of the Roman Empire" is a literate tragedy about peace and what it takes to govern an empire. It is helped by giving the various characters time enough to articulate their own positions. And James Mason is espeiclally superb at this and Finlay Currie has a great speech of his own. But don't worry. There are some epic battle scenes and a thrilling chariot ride through the forest, all of which are better appreciated when there are less special effects used.[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]In fact, "The Fall of the Roman Empire" marks the end of an era in a different way. This was one of the last grand epics of the Hollywood studio system.(Why so many of them had to feature Alec Guinness and Omar Sharif is beyond me.) After this, the movies would get smaller for a while. It was probably for the best.[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]Note: Christopher Plummer, James Mason and Anthony Quayle were also in "Murder by Decree."[/font]
  • burgerstar
    November 2, 2011
    burgerstar
    It takes 90 minutes to tell the same story that Gladiator told in the first 15 minutes. However, It is really cool to see Alec Guinness.
  • DrLappos
    April 27, 2009
    DrLappos
    Beautiful classic and Loren is and always will be a stunner.
  • TheJuniorEbert
    January 27, 2009
    TheJuniorEbert
    An uncommonly cerebral version of a sword-and-sandal epic. Not quite as good as it's progeny Gladiator but well-made and very entertaining, nevertheless. Alec Guiness was a natural choice for Marcus Aurelius and Plummer really established himself in Hollywood in a superb performa... read morence as Commodus. A bit long considering it's emphasis on dialogue over action but I would rather watch 4 hours of this than 2 hours of most contemporary historical epics.
  • machinemolle
    August 17, 2008
    machinemolle
    The least of Anthony Mann's movies, though every dollar that didn't get stolen is on the screen. Still, some startling moments amidst the general sprawl and turgid set-pieces. Boyd and Loren cannot carry the movie. Christopher Plummer is wonderfully evil as Commodus. The great Ja... read moremes Mason is an embarrassment in the thankless role of a second century hippie. Alec Guinness is actually pompous and uninteresting as the historically fascinating Marcus Aurelius. (Who'd know that Guinness was the greatest comic actor of his generation?) As for much of the movie. "Here we are on the German frontier. Oops, I've been summoned to Rome." Scenes of travel. "Here I am in Rome. Ooops---" Despite all of this, it succumbs to ridiculousness, but never to tedium. Worth watching, really.

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Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 15, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

While The Fall of the Roman Empire is even more technically assured than El Cid, it's less interesting narrative-wise. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
May 14, 2008
Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online

... surely the most magnificent period piece of its era. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
April 26, 2008
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine

Put bluntly, the difference between El Cid and Fall is the difference between faith in a concept of heroism that can transcend even death. Full Review

Peter Canavese
April 25, 2008
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

From back in the day when epic meant upwards of 10,000 extras, gargantuan sets, and 122-piece orchestras...in other words, CGI is for wimps.

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

An above average epic. Full Review

October 18, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 9, 2005
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Thomas Delapa
September 9, 2005
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
July 7, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Carol Cling
November 7, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

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The Fall of the Roman Empire Trivia

  • The characters Commodus, Lucilla and Marcus Aurelius (from "Gladiator") also appear in what other movie about the Roman Empire?  Answer »
  • Joaquin Phoenix played Commodus in Gladiator. But who played this same historical character in The Fall of the Roman Empire?  Answer »
  • Gladiator (2000) has several historical characters in common with which 1964 epic?  Answer »
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