The Fall of the Roman Empire

1964 188 min ★ 6.5 Drama, History, War

In the year 180 A.D. Germanic tribes are about to invade the Roman empire from the north. In the midst of this crisis ailing emperor Marcus Aurelius has to make a decision about his successor between his son Commodus, who is obsessed by power, and the loyal general Gaius Livius.

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Cast

Sophia Loren

Lucilla

Stephen Boyd

Livius

Alec Guinness

Marcus Aurelius

James Mason

Timonides

Christopher Plummer

Commodus

Anthony Quayle

Verulus

John Ireland

Ballomar

Omar Sharif

Sohamus

Mel Ferrer

Cleander

Eric Porter

Julianus

Details

Director

Anthony Mann

Screenplay

Philip Yordan

Tagline

"Never before a spectacle like the fall of the Roman empire"

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$19,000,000

Revenue

$4,750,000

Production

Samuel Bronston Productions, Paramount Pictures

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

June 1, 2024

★ 7/10

It's amidst the frozen forests of Germany that we meet Caesar Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) who is pondering a crucial question. He is ailing, aware that he'll be with his gods soon and that his son "Commodus" (Christopher Plummer) should not be entrusted with the empire. That honour ought to go to his childhood friend, and the emperor's commander "Livius" (Stephen Boyd). When he announces this,...