Cleopatra
The film Cleopatra is one of the most expensive and most involved films of all time. It was a major undertaking by Hollywood, and the end result was a classic that is still enjoyed by people today. The film opens with the narrator informing the audience that Julius Caesar is ruler of Rome, after winning the civil war. The opening scene is that of piles of burning Roman bodies, casualties of the Roman civil strife. Pompeii, Caesar's adversary had escaped to Egypt. Julius Caesar vows to go to Egypt to bring Pompeii to justice, and to prevent the looming civil war in Egypt. He said that wheat there is being burned, when instead it could be sold to Rome. Marc Antony is left with control of Rome as Caesar heads to Egypt, he is suppose to act in accordance with how Caesar would if he were still in the city. Whether he does or not remains to be seen. As the scene changes to Egypt, we learn that King Ptolemy had driven Queen Cleopatra from Alexandria. This was because Cleopatra had plotted to kill Ptolemy. Caesar tries to make peace and resolve the issues. Ptolemy however doesn't want any part of this, and instead offers Caesar gifts and treasure to make him go away and not interfere in Egypt's business. Caesar stays, and
Caesar's desire (with some prompting from Cleopatra) is to be appointed Emperor of Rome. They spend the night together, and thus Cleopatra casts her spell on another ruler of Rome, and he goes back to Egypt with her. Antony then encounters a problem, in that he needs to find gold, wheat and supplies to pay his troops because they are starting to dessert. Later on, Caesar has Ptolemy's ships burned, but as a result the Library of Alexandria burns down as well, Cleopatra is livid about this. He wants to make a last stand and die with honor, however no one will fight him. as he is in his quarters of the palace in Alexandria, Cleopatra is sneaked in by her servant, rolled up in a rug. He is to be made emperor on the Ides of March. He rides on horseback to the battlefield, and faces the huge Roman army. Then, a movement comes through the Senate giving Caesar the power to be king and emperor of all of the Roman Empire, except for Italy and the city of Rome. When Antony returns, Cleopatra tells him that she wants one third of the Roman territories in exchange for an alliance between the two powers. The people are in awe of her and she comes riding into Rome on a giant float. Caesar takes two years to return, and when he does, the people greet him as a hero. He kills himself by stabbing himself with his sword, however he lives long enough to be taken to Cleopatra's hiding spot, in her tomb. Antony still tries to fight Octavian.
Common topics in this essay:
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Library Alexandria,
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Egypt Cleopatra,
Julius Caesar,
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Ptolemy Caesar,
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civil war,
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