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The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
7 October 1965 (USA) moreTagline:
From the age of magnificence comes a new magnificence in motion pictures morePlot:
The biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations moreUser Comments:
excellent historical drama more (44 total)Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Charlton Heston | ... | Michelangelo | |
| Rex Harrison | ... | Pope Julius II | |
| Diane Cilento | ... | Contessina de'Medici | |
| Harry Andrews | ... | Bramante | |
| Alberto Lupo | ... | Duke of Urbino | |
| Adolfo Celi | ... | Giovanni de' Medici | |
| Venantino Venantini | ... | Paris De Grassis | |
| John Stacy | ... | Sangallo | |
| Fausto Tozzi | ... | Foreman | |
| Maxine Audley | ... | Woman | |
| Tomas Milian | ... | Raphael |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
138 minCountry:
USAColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 moreFun Stuff
Trivia:
The material used as the wet plaster that drips into the mouth of Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) was chocolate pudding. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: Michelangelo was a homosexual, yet in the movie he seems to like women. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (44 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Blu-ray | Wailmer1990 |
| Differences between book and movie? | scottyg109 |
| Pope Julius II | keithbryantm |
| Intermission? | porcacultor |
| Wasn't Michelangelo gay? | mrjones7 |
| Loved this bit.. | sametic |
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I would be more generous than Maltin was with this one. I watched it again recently on tape and my impression improved over my first viewing. The production values are sumptuous, and the construction of a 1:1 mockup of the Sistine Chapel by Dino deLaurentis is a story in itself, evidently. Heston is pretty good as Michelangelo but is, I think, overshadowed by Harrison, who is just marvelous as Pope Julius (a previous commenter remarked on the historically inauthentic absence of his beard; in addition, Julius was too old & inform too ride a horse into battle, but insisted on leading while carried on a litter). The conflicted interplay between Julius & Michelangelo is the core of the film, of course, and the script does its job well in this regard, particularly in the closing dialogue. It is interesting, though, to see how the movie dances around the issue of Michelangelo's purported homosexuality. We are so much more frank today (not necessarily for the better), and one shudders to consider how a contemporary movie would treat this subject (not that there's a chance in hell of a major movie being made today on the subject of the creation of one of the masterworks of West's artistic inheritance). If any movie definitely needs the letterbox format to show it off at its best, it is this one, so watch for it on AMC where it is often shown that way.