Antony and Cleopatra ** (1972, Charlton Heston, Hildegard Neil, Eric Porter, John Castle, Fernando Rey, Freddie Jones) – Classic Movie Review 8700

Director Charlton Heston’s 1972 Antony and Cleopatra gives Heston his chance to play Marc Antony in this school-play-type film version of the Shakespearean tragedy.

Heston looks noble and is full of enthusiasm but is unsubtle in the lead role, while Hildegarde Neil is poorly cast as Egypt’s queen Cleopatra. However, John Castle as Octavius Caesar, Eric Porter as Enobarbus, Fernando Rey as Lepidus and Freddie Jones as Pompey are considerably better, indeed quite impressive.

Heston’s 1972 Antony and Cleopatra is entirely acceptable, but sadly Heston hasn’t quite enough inspiration, sensitivity or money to realise the full potential of his long-cherished endeavour.

Also in the cast are Peter Arne, Warren Clarke, Roger Delgado, Julian Glover, Jane Lapotaire, Joe Melia and Douglas Wilmer.

Antony and Cleopatra is directed by Charlton Heston, runs 160 minutes, is made by Snell, Izaro Films, Folio Films, Filmtransac and The Rank Organisation, is released by J Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1972) (UK), is adapted for the screen by Charlton Heston, based on the play by William Shakespeare, is shot in Technicolor by Rafael Pacheco, is produced by Peter Snell, is scored by John Scott and Augusto Alegero, and is designed by Maurice Pelling.

It was filmed on location in Spain, including Almería, and in the studio at Moro Studios, Madrid, Spain, and Hollywood National Studios, Hollywood.

It was Heston’s directorial debut, and unsurprisingly he found it difficult to raise the finance ($1,600,000).

Hildegard Neil with Roger Moore.

Hildegard Neil was born in London on 29 July 1939. She married Brian Blessed on 28 December 28 1978 and they have one child, Rosalind Blessed. She starred with Roger Moore in The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970).

RIP Freddie Jones (1927–2019).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8700

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