Best Movies Set in Rome

[john m roberts]

is the sound preceding the last battle scene, the jiggle of the legionnaire aprons as the Romans march down the hill towards the slave army.

t

This was the accomplishment of the legendary sound effects artist Foley. Challenged by Kubrick to find a proper effect for that scene he reasoned that the soldiers were marching in step wearing mail, so he dug out a box that contained hundreds of old keys. He shook this box to make the sound he wanted.

[M. Demetrius]

Well, it's good to know that Foley played a key role in that scene, isn't it?
:lol:

[D B Campbell]

2. "Masada" aka "The Antagonists"- one of my favorite ones with the unforgettable Peter O'Toole as Flavius Silva and Peter Strauss as his adversary Eleazar Ben Yair. For me spine-staking when legion X parades below of the rock in the glow heat of the desert and the liticens make their announcements.

Haven't seen it since 1981, but I'm looking forward to watching the DVD that Santa brought me! (I can still hear Peter O'Toole saying, "We've won a rock, in the middle of a wasteland, on the shores of a poisoned sea", as only Peter O'Toole can say it.)

[Lanista]

The bit where Anthony Quale and O'Toole are discussing tactics and the best way forward is so brilliant. Its acting at its very, very finest. I only watched this a couple of months ago and the memory is still fresh. Loved it

Cheers

Russ

[Arturus Uriconium]

I think the recent series Rome has to be on the list... even if it isn't a movie as such.

[Lanista]

There's rumours that there will be a movie - I'll try to find the link. The guys who wrote it were saying that the reason why the second season was so pants compared to the first was that they were told it was all over, so they tried to squeeze in the whole story whereas they originally thought they'd have four or five years out of it.

Cheers

Russ

[Arturus Uriconium]

I can well believe that! Look forward to the movie... if it happens.

Thanks Russ,

Mak

[marcust]

Does anyone know of a fairly recent roman military film that is good and accurate?

[Tim Edwards]

Asterix in Britain...

That landing scene is superb!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlp6-ASxFkI

[Niedel]

Does anyone know of a fairly recent roman military film that is good and accurate?

I don't know what you mean by "roman military film", but costume-wise, the 2001 Polish version of "Quo Vadis" is probably the most authentic Roman epic film I have seen so far (apart from a few left-over leather Cinecitta segmentas, those with those huge shoulder flaps).

[marcust]

By military film I meant one about the roman army

[Niedel]

I don't really think there is any feature film exclusively about the Roman army, apart from some late 50s/early 60s Italian peplums.

[Narukami]

There's rumours that there will be a movie - I'll try to find the link.

Cheers

Russ

Look at this thread for an article from the Hollywood Reporter with details of a possible feature film sequel to Rome:

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... c&start=40

:wink:

Narukami

[Theodosius the Great]

I received the DVD of "QUO VADIS ?" as a Christmas present. It was finally released in November. Now I own all the major Hollywood Roman epics. Funny how this is the only movie on Rome that has a Latin title ! Much of it is dated but still worth owning. It's the first Roman epic filmed in color although, curiously enough, it wasn't filmed with a wide-screen camera. I guess the director was too old school to use one or they couldn't afford it.

I still haven't seen the modern remake. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to it.

~Theo

[Niedel]

The first Roman epic completely filmed in color would actually be the 1945 version of "Caesar and Cleopatra" with Vivian Leigh and Claude Rains, if I'm not completely wrong.