It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This production could have been great, but too many mistakes were made. It has so much going for it. Alec Guiness as the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, is brilliant in his role. Also honorable mention to James Mason as Timonides and Christopher Plummer a very under-rated Commodus. As far as acting, that is about it.Also not to be forgotten is the amazing set design and photography, which I think remain unmatched to this day. On the negative side, a fright wigged Stephen Boyd as Livius practically begs the audience to chuckle. Likewise Sophia Loren, sporting about ten pounds of 1960's Italian Vogue make-up, is wasted. She and Boyd are actors that could, if given proper direction, deliver decent performances. That direction was sadly lacking in this movie. At times, when these two are together, the movie feels like a Barbra Cartland Bodice ripper, with hot declarations of love and long simmering stares at one another. The director obviously had no idea WHAT he wanted to do with the movie. Most egregiously, the score was absolutely horrendous. That mishmash of genres and boring symphonic melodies clashed with almost every minute of screen time in which they were utilized. A worse example of a score I cannot imagine.And let us not forget the plot, if it can be described as such. Somehow the meandering, at cross purposes, vague and boring plot managed to stretch 188 minutes into a seeming 188 THOUSAND, waiting in vain for something to actually happen. Nothing really ever does.

Far from awful, this Samuel Bronston produced epic features some great direction by Anthony Mann and some terrific acting by an unlikely cast. Marcus Aurelius dies and, knowing that leaving Rome to loony son Commodus is a bad idea, names Livius (Stephen Boyd) his heir. Livius insists that Commodus take command and thus begins the fall of the empire. The film moves quickly and it's apparent fairly fast that Commodus, played by the unbelievable Christopher Plummer, is a madman. Boyd is actually quite good and has some real chemistry with Sophia Loren (playing the daughter of Marcus Aurelius). Plummer steals the film with his wicked performance. There is perhaps one too many characters to keep track of, but for a 1960s epic, this is a standout. James Mason, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland and Alec Guinness co-star. Featuring one of Dimitri Tiomkin least bombastic music scores and stunning cinematography by Robert Krasker.

This and 'Spartacus' are the best of the Roman Epics, and it's no coincidence that 'Gladiator' is essentially a remake of TFOTRE; Scott was inspired by the best.This is a beautifully made, intelligent film with great performances, especially from Mason. And quite fitting that it was the last of the 'Epics'...I grew up watching these films on TV with my late father who always explained the history behind them, and they remind me of him when I watch them.I've just picked it up on Blu-Ray for very little. Although the transfer isn't as great as 'Ben Hur' or 'Cleopatra', which it fully deserves, it still looks good.

Great sets! Particularly "Fort Apache, the Rhine" in the first hour. The Barbarian village toward the end is good too. By far the best work by the team that brought you "El Cid" and "55 Days at Peking".But with Anthony Mann at the helm & Yakima Canute leading the second unit, it seems more like a western with chariots soon beginning to look like buckboards and the Roman Legions morphing into the US Cavalry. By the time the Romans take on the Persians one almost expects the Magnificent Seven to come riding through.Findlay Curry gets a single scene where he uses his stentorian voice to deliver the "author's message". There's also a nice scene in which Sofia Lauren is followed through the streets of a partying Rome by Zardoz. All else, cinematography, casting, costumes, stunts, writing etc. are mundane to the point of tedium. Tiomkin's music, despite being Oscar nominated, is loud and annoying and includes such inappropriate instruments as an electric harpsichord (enjoying a pop vogue in the 60s) and a bugle call during a cavalry charge.About the only thing historically accurate here aside from some of the sets is that, like the fall of Rome, this movie goes on and on. I never realized that every barbarian had long red hair.