ew qualities that would demand respect from an entire empire. It is known that Cleopatra herself used sex and bribery to achieve her political goals, but Colbert seems more amused with flirting than she does with advancing politically. It is a weak depiction of someone who is supposed to be so powerful. She is playful, relaxed, confident, flirty, sexy and almost ditzy. The film even goes so far as to use Apollodorus to remind her to mention India as a tantalizing tease to Caesar. It appears as if she has forgotten why she is there with Caesar until Apollodorus reminds her. Once Apollodorus clues in Cleopatra, she then dominates Caesar for a moment. But she never dominates with outright intelligence; it is always with cunning, mischief, sex and wit. She has to hide her intelligence and resort to creatively witty tricks in order to achieve her goals. In the seduction scene aboard her ship, she must make everything seem to be Marc Antony's idea. She plays dumb and giv
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