10-23-2005, 04:53 PM
I've always been a bit dubious about the paternity of Caesarion myself, though I think Cleopatra would have been a bit more discreet. Caesar was notoriously infertile, she desperately needed to cement an alliance with him and, who'd've thunk it, she goes and presents him with a healthy son. Awfully convenient, if you ask me.
Beyond that, Cleo may have been a teenaged punk sexpot as portrayed, but I wish they'd emphasized that she was also the most formidably educated woman of her time. For my money, the best Cleopatra is still Claudette Colbert. The script and acting of that movie are way superior to the usual DeMille production, and her Cleo is witty, intelligent and totally focussed on cutting the best deal she can get for herself and for Egypt.
Beyond that, Cleo may have been a teenaged punk sexpot as portrayed, but I wish they'd emphasized that she was also the most formidably educated woman of her time. For my money, the best Cleopatra is still Claudette Colbert. The script and acting of that movie are way superior to the usual DeMille production, and her Cleo is witty, intelligent and totally focussed on cutting the best deal she can get for herself and for Egypt.
Pecunia non olet