William Shakespeare's multifaceted dialogue, layered upon complex human motivations, gives actors a chance to sink or shine, and in this film adaptation of JULIUS CAESAR, Marlon Brando, John Gielgud, and James Mason prove themselves well up to the task, creating one of the most watchable versions of the tragic play. Warnings for Caesar to beware the Ides of March heighten a tension already made urgent by Cassius's exhortations to his fellow senators to assassinate Caesar before he gains more power. Controlled camera shots maintain the vintage stagelike feel of many scenes, reminding the viewer of JULIUS CAESAR's prestigious history, while characters flowing from one scene to the next break the play out of its past and into the more dynamic world as only the film drama can. The Oscar-nominated Brando's (as Marc Antony) powerful "Friends, Romans, countrymen" speech is the centerpiece of this masterwork, throbbing with pain, indignation, and secret intentions. This adaptation of the monumental play will reassure viewers that Shakespeare can be brought to marvelous, vibrant justice on the screen; it garnered an Academy Award
nomination for Best Picture.