Cleopatra

1912
Unrated
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The fabled queen of Egypt's affair with Roman general Marc Antony is ultimately disastrous for both of them.The fabled queen of Egypt's affair with Roman general Marc Antony is ultimately disastrous for both of them.The fabled queen of Egypt's affair with Roman general Marc Antony is ultimately disastrous for both of them.

Director
- Charles L. Gaskill
Writers
- Victorien Sardou
- Charles L. Gaskill
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.1/10

637

YOUR RATING

Director
- Charles L. Gaskill
Writers
- Victorien Sardou
- Charles L. Gaskill
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos15

+ 7

Top cast15

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Helen Gardner

Cleopatra - Queen of Egypt
(as Miss Gardner)

Pearl Sindelar

Iras - An Attendant
(as Miss Sindelar)

Miss Fielding

Charmian - An Attendant

Miss Robson

Octavia - Wife of Antony

Helene Costello

Nicola - a Child
(as Miss Helene)

Charles Sindelar

Antony - a Triumvir and General
(as Mr. Sindelar)

Mr. Howard

Pharon - a Greek Slave and Fisherman

James R. Waite

Venditius - a Roman Soldier
(as Mr. Waite)

Mr. Osborne

Diomedes - a Rich Egyptian
(as Mr. Osborn)

Harry Knowles

Kephren - Captain of the Guards to the Queen
(as Harley Knowles)

Mr. Paul

Octavius - a Triumvir and General

Mr. Brady

Serapian - an Egyptian Priest

Mr. Corker

Ixias - Servant to Ventidius

Robert Gaillard

Miss Winter

Charmian - Attendant to the Queen
(uncredited)

Director
- Charles L. Gaskill
Writers
- Victorien Sardou
- Charles L. Gaskill
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This film is one of the first six-reel feature films produced in the US. With the tagline "The most beautiful motion picture ever made", the film was the first to offer a feature-length depiction of Cleopatra, although there had been a short film about Antony and Cleopatra earlier.

Goofs
The costumes and hairstyles of Cleopatra and her servants are reminiscent of the Greek style, definitely not Egyptian, albeit in the Roman Period. This is not a goof. Cleopatra was part of a Greek dynasty that had ruled in Egypt for a couple of centuries since Alexander the Great. Her statues show her in Greek-style dress.

Quotes
Pharon - a Greek Slave and Fisherman: You may kill me, Queen, but the love in my soul for you will never perish!
Cleopatra - Queen of Egypt: If I let you live - and love me - ten days, will you swear then to destroy yourself?

Crazy credits
Certain stage traditions originally founded in ignorance and preserved after they became traditions, have not been considered; the object of the Director has been to insure naturalness in an atmosphere of romance, the object of the Author to intimate the nobilities and grandeur of the woman who was devotedly loved by Julius Caesar. Perfect freedom has been exercised in the adaption.

Alternate versions
A restored version, funded by Turner Classic Movies and in the George Eastman House Collection, was shown on Turner Classic Movies on 10 August 2000. It has an original music score by Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida and runs 88 minutes.

Connections
Featured in Fractured Flickers: Pat Carroll (1964)

User reviews28

Review

Featured review

6/10

Very interesting

I just saw this version of "Cleopatra" as part of TCM's Women Pioneers in Film Series. Although I think they did a beautiful job on the restoration, I found the new, avant-garde soundtrack too invasive and distracting. In fact, I had to watch it with the mute on.

Having said that, though, I did find this adaptation interesting. It is true that, like many films of this era, it is a bit creaky and primitive. However, it provides a fascinating glimpse of early filmmaking--no closeups, the camera hardly ever moves, etc. I also found Ms. Gardener fascinating, given how much of the production was actually done by her, including costume design. I wish there were more information available on her life and career.