Cleopatra: About the ultimate in conquest
Huang Zihong
There is a saying: "Men conquer women by conquering the world, and women conquer the world by conquering men", and the 1963 American epic film "Cleopatra" is the most authentic and direct interpretation of it. This is a truth that is universal and indestructible in ancient and modern China and abroad.
Cleopatra is one of Elizabeth Taylor's masterpieces, and it is also the most beautiful and charming one of her screen images, in which her beautiful and luxurious appearances and several nude scenes became the hot ceiling of the time.
Cleopera was the last female pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty of ancient Egypt, who was brilliant, intelligent and witty, good at wrist, and wrote legends in her lifetime. In particular, she was involved in the political whirlpool at the end of the Roman republic, and was closely related to Caesar and Antony, and after her death, Egypt became a Roman province, and she was known as "Cleopatra" in later generations.
Caesar, the prominent military commander of the late Roman Republic, was captivated by Cleopatra's charm during her expedition to Egypt, helping her defeat her political enemies and rule Egypt. Caesar was later assassinated by members of the Roman Senate for his marriage to Egypt and other events.
The ancient Roman statesman and military figure Antony was one of Caesar's most important army commanders and administrators, and was in love with Cleopatra, so he stayed in Egypt, which was regarded as a betrayal by the Romans, and later after the defeat of the Yarachen army to Rome, Antony and Cleopatra chose to commit suicide together.
Octavian was Caesar's nephew, designated caesar's first heir and adopted as his adopted son, who came to the political arena after being assassinated, defeating the armies of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Yaksing and bringing Egypt into Rome.
Antony and Queen Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Yaksing and fled back to Egypt, where their legions were defeated in the land battle, and Anthony committed suicide and died in Cleopatra's arms. Egypt was occupied by Roman troops. Cleopatra, who lost her lover and power, unwilling to succumb to Octavian's rule, ended her life with a cobra.
With the 1949 epic blockbuster "Bin Hur" sweeping several important Oscar awards in the front, producers, companies and directors are full of confidence when investing in "Cleopatra", which is close to the style. Even in order to increase the degree of topic, with the sky-high salary of 1 million US dollars at that time, elizabeth Taylor was selected to star, with a total investment of more than 40 million US dollars.
However, in the process of filming, due to the huge investment and prolonged cycle, the box office and word-of-mouth after the release of the value did not receive the expected effect, becoming the most loss-making film in history; as for the Oscar selection the following year, it only won a few unpopular nominations such as best makeup.
This is elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's first co-production of the film, during the filming process, Burton and Taylor fake real drama, gradually developed feelings, made a lot of noise, after which they counted the film co-production of eleven movies, but also began their love-hate relationship, the two married twice and divorced twice, becoming Elizabeth Taylor seven marriages, six husbands have to mention.
However, Cleopatra finally clarifies the extreme of conquest: "Men conquer women by conquering the world, and women conquer the world by conquering men."