''Julius Caesar'' (Italian:''Giulio Cesare'') is a 1914 Italian silent

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swa ...

directed by

Enrico Guazzoni Enrico Guazzoni (18 December 1876 – 23 September 1949) Birth name Enrico Guazzone. Additionally, document states in lower right, "è morte in Roma in 23-9-49 / died in Rome 23 September 1949". was an Italian screenwriter and film director. G ...

and starring

Amleto Novelli Amleto Novelli (18 October 1885 – 16 April 1924) was an Italian film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 110 films between 1909 and 1924. Selected filmography * ''Brutus'' (1911) * '' Agrippina'' (1911) * '' Quo Vadis'' (1913) * '' A ...

Bruto Castellani Bruto Castellani (1 December 1881– 1933) was an Italian film actor of the silent era. Castellani appeared in more than thirty films during his career, including ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (1913).Hatchuel & Vienne-Guerrin p.294 Selected filmograph ...

and

Pina Menichelli Giuseppa Iolanda Menichelli (10 January 1890 – 29 August 1984), known professionally as Pina Menichelli, was an Italian actress. After a career in theatre and a series of small film roles, Menichelli was launched as a film star when Giovanni Pas ...

. Taking minor inspiration from

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's 1599 play of the same title, the film portrays the events leading up to the

assassination of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, was assassinated by a group of senators on the Ides of March (15 March) of 44 BC during a meeting of the Senate at the Curia of Pompey of the Theatre of Pompey in Rome where the senators stabbed Caesar 23 ti ...

. In the wake of Guazzoni's internationally successful ''

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'' it was produced on an epic scale, including vast sets recreating

Ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 B ...

and more than 20,000 extras.Moliterno p.158

Plot summary

Cast

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

* Irene Mattalia as Servilia *

Ignazio Lupi Ignazio Lupi (1867–1942) was an Italian actor and film director. Lupi appeared in more than eighty films including several historical epics such as ''Cabiria'' (1914).Cowie p.38 Selected filmography * ''Quo Vadis'' (1913) * ''Antony and Cleopa ...

* Augusto Mastripietri * Antonio Nazzari as

Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC), often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Serv ...

* Gianna Terribili-Gonzales *

Lia Orlandini Lia Orlandini (January 12, 1896 – April 9, 1975) was an Italian film actress.Pruzzo & Lancia p.53 She was also a voice actor, dubbing foreign films for release in Italy. Selected filmography * ''Quo Vadis'' (1913) * ''Julius Caesar'' (1914) * ' ...

* Ruffo Geri *

* Orlando Ricci

References

Bibliography

* Moliterno, Gino. ''Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema''. Scarecrow Press, 2008.

External links

* * * 1914 films Italian historical drama films Italian silent feature films 1910s Italian-language films Films directed by Enrico Guazzoni 1910s historical drama films Films set in ancient Rome Films set in the 1st century BC Italian films based on plays Italian black-and-white films Films about Julius Caesar 1914 drama films Articles containing video clips Silent historical drama films {{historic-film-stub