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The Making Of "Cleopatra" 1963: A New Begining In Rome (page 3)

With Elizabeth Taylor now an Oscar winner 20th Century Fox decided to go ahead with “Cleopatra”. The decision was made to move the production from chilly London to warm and exciting Rome. This would not only insure Taylor’s health but Rome’s Cinecitta Studios was more than perfect for the production. Such Hollywood epics as “Quo Vadis” 1950 and “Ben-Hur” 1959 had been filmed there. And the artistry of the Italians when it came to set building and costumes was unsurpassed outside of Hollywood.

Rome in 1962 was the international Jet Set center and in the throws of la dolce vita madness with many stars strolling along the Via Veneto. Yet something else lurked along the Veneto and it’s side streets, something more sinister and particularly Italian. Not many outside of Italy knew much about these creatures but after “Cleopatra” and a film being made by Fellini at the same time, “La Dolce Vita” the name paparazzi would be a household word and the profession would spread across the glob like a seething virus.

During the months following the 1961 Oscar presentation during which Elizabeth Taylor recuperated Joseph Mankiewicz took the time to completely re-write the screenplay that both he and Taylor found appalling. Fox also found that it had lost two of the original films stars. Peter Finch (Caesar) and Stephen Boyd (Antony) had moved on to other commitments. Laurence Olivier who had been so stunning in “Spartacus” was considered for Caesar but he had commitments to the British National Theater deeming him unavailable. Mankiewicz wanted Rex Harrison for the role of Caesar. They had worked together previously and were good friends. Harrison also had a way with witty dialog that lent it’s self to Mankiewicz style of writing. Keith Baxter was replaced by Taylor’s childhood friend Roddy MacDowell in the role of Octavian. Then there was the role of Antony. Fox decided on a contract player who had not made much of a hit in America since his role in “The Robe” nine years before. The Welsh actor who was touted in theater circles as the next Olivier was now a huge hit on Broadway as King Arthur in “Camelot”. Fox decided to give him one more chance at stardom. They bought out his Broadway contract at $250,000.00 and hoped that the magic he had on the stage would finally transfer to the screen.

Ka-ching! “Cleopatra” had now surpassed “Ben-Hur’s” 15 million budget making it the most expensive film in Hollywood history. And what did they have to show for the expense? About ten minutes of film that could not be used after all since new sets were being designed by John DeCuir, an uncompleted script and no sure starting date. “Cleopatra” was draining the studio coffers to such an extent they shut down other film projects except for a sure moneymaker just starting production. “Something’s Got To Give” staring Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin and Cyd Charisse. Fox was in deep trouble and needed to get “Cleopatra” Rolling. The studio heads took a collective deep breath and set a date for shooting to begin.

“Cleopatra” entered Rome in September 1961 and just as she had done two thousand years before created quite a stir among the citizens of the eternal city. The script was not ready; Elizabeth Taylor’s dressing room was five times larger than any in Hollywood that when she saw it she said, “It’s a bit much isn’t it?” The set for the Roman Forum was twice as large as the original and at Torre Austura near Anzio Cleopatra’s magnificent palace at Alexandria rose from the Tyrannian Sea.


The first scene to be shot was at night in Cleopatra’s camp outside of Alexandria from which she is exiled by her brother Ptolemy. She learns of Caesars imminent arrival and makes plans to meet him. It was also the first scene in the script. Because the script was still being written it was decide to film in sequence which is never done due to the huge expense added by this method. For the duration of the shoot, Mankiewicz filmed during the day and wrote at night. Sleeping was not on the schedule.

Over the next few months things went along slowly but smoothly as cast and crew created the story of Caesar and Cleopatra. But problems began to arise. The dancing girls went on strike complaining that their costumes were too skimpy. Rex Harrison threw a tantrum when his limousine was replaced with a smaller car. Elizabeth Taylor recalls in her autobiography “Elizabeth” by Elizabeth Taylor 1965;

“One day Rex Harrison came out from his house on the Via (Appia) Antica and there was his chauffeur with a Mercedes-Benz. “Where’s my Cadillac?’ The chauffer said, “They think it’s too expensive.” So Rex rode in this car, stalked onto the set and said, “Where’s the money man?”—who soon appeared. “Where is my car?” demanded Rex in his best Henry Higgins voice. The money man said, “Ah, ah, well, we, ah, felt perhaps you wouldn’t mind a Mercedes because it’s a little cheaper.” And Rex went stark staring mad and said, “I want my Cadillac and I want it now. And I do not appear on the set until my Cadillac is back. And what’s more, I understand that Elizabeth Taylor’s chauffeur is being paid far more than my chauffeur. I insist that my chauffeur get the same pay as Elizabeth Taylor’s chauffeur. Why the hell should Elizabeth Taylor’s chauffeur get more than my chauffeur just because she has a bigger chest!’”

By early winter it was time to shoot Cleopatra’s grand entrance into Rome. Thousands of extras, dancers, horsemen, archers and a three story high black stone sphinx to be pulled by three hundred slaves were assembled. Just as Mankiewicz was about to yell “roll camera” the cinematographer Leon Shamroy said, “Hold on Joe we have a problem.” The forum set had been built the summer before and angled on the back lot of Cinecitta to catch the light for summer and fall. Now in winter the shadows were all wrong and the set was too dark. Everyone went home and the scene had to wait until the following spring to be shot. (An interesting foot note on this set. The now standing set for the Forum in HBO’s Rome is on the exact same spot that “Cleopatra’s” forum stood. If you Google Cinecitta Rome on Google Maps you can see the HBO set from a satellite photo. See below.)

Yet still Mankiewicz and his cast were happy. They were getting a witty, smart, and more accurate than ever filmed before tale of Cleopatra in the can. Elizabeth and Rex were enjoying working together. And Fox back in California though generally happy with what they were seeing had one complaint. “We’re not getting enough publicity on this film!” They knew this was the biggest film being made and for some reason it was not getting the coverage it deserved.

Meantime, Richard Burton with his wife and children in tow was cooling his heals in his villa outside Rome. He had arrived in September along with the rest of the cast only to be told he was not needed yet but to wait just in case. By early winter had only filmed one scene with Gwen Watford as Caesars wife. He was restless and not looking forward to working with a woman he considered just a movie star more famous for her marriages and bosom than her acting ability. There was nothing to do but tour Rome’s night spots and wait. He was bored. That was all about to change.

HBO's "Rome" Forum set on the footprint of the Cleopatra set at Cinecitta Rome.

The Making of "Cleopatra" 1963 (Page 1)

The Making Of "Cleopatra" 1963: A New Begining In Rome (page 3)