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The Fall of the Roman Empire

Play trailer Poster for The Fall of the Roman Empire 1964 2h 33m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Toward the end of his reign, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) intends to hand over his throne to the steadfast soldier Livius (Stephen Boyd). Before he can enact his intentions, a loyalist to Commodus (Christopher Plummer), the de facto heir, poisons Aurelius. Commodus becomes an ineffectual leader, corrupt and pompous -- and although Livius concedes to Commodus' rule, he cannot stand by when Commodus threatens to kill Aurelius' daughter, Lucilla (Sophia Loren).

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

Critics Reviews

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Michael Sragow The New Yorker 03/09/2015
Commodus, played here by the flamboyant Christopher Plummer, forsakes the Pax Romana and turns Rome into an empire of camp. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine 04/26/2008
3.5/4
Put bluntly, the difference between El Cid and Fall is the difference between faith in a concept of heroism that can transcend even death. Go to Full Review Penelope Gilliatt Observer (UK) 03/05/2024
It is an astonishing picture to watch. Go to Full Review Judith Crist New York Herald Tribune 08/15/2022
The Fall of the Roman Empire, costing sixteen million dollars, is half the price of Cleopatra but twice as tolerable because there's a complete lack of pretension, a childish innocence, about it. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 04/12/2022
6/10
Mann pompously puts on a sword-and-sandal spectacle, but with a rather uneven result that only makes his chronicle of the decline and corruption of an empire to collapse more quickly. Full review in Spanish Go to Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television 08/06/2013
Spectacular crowd scenes, costumes and snow-filled landscapes mix with intelligent, powerful pro-peace and Civil Rights commentary. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
The Fall of the Roman Empire

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Cast & Crew

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Anthony Mann

Director

Sophia Loren

Lucilla

Alec Guinness

Marcus Aurelius

Stephen Boyd

Livius

James Mason

Timonides

Christopher Plummer

Commodus

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Toward the end of his reign, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) intends to hand over his throne to the steadfast soldier Livius (Stephen Boyd). Before he can enact his intentions, a loyalist to Commodus (Christopher Plummer), the de facto heir, poisons Aurelius. Commodus becomes an ineffectual leader, corrupt and pompous -- and although Livius concedes to Commodus' rule, he cannot stand by when Commodus threatens to kill Aurelius' daughter, Lucilla (Sophia Loren).
Director
Anthony Mann
Producer
Samuel Bronston
Screenwriter
Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina, Philip Yordan
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Samuel Bronston Productions
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 26, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2012
Runtime
2h 33m