Cleopatra

If the term "Hollywood ham" really does apply to a film, then it is CLEOPATRA from 1963. On the one hand, the visually stunning monumental work captivates with true spectacles on the screen, with epic scenes of battles and triumphant entrances with thousands of extras and tells stories of great love, power and betrayal.

On the other hand, the turbulent production of the drama with all its possible side effects caused more of a stir from the outset than the film itself: exploding costs, a constantly revolving personnel carousel, bitter disputes over the final version and, last but not least, the love affair between stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which was perceived as scandalous and caused their marriages to break up.

In the end, CLEOPATRA is an elegantly staged character drama with masterful dialogue and spectacular visual effects.