Musings on Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
When I learned that the From Left to Write Book Club was reading Cleopatra: A Life, I realized that I could picture Cleopatra in my mind. She looks exactly like Elizabeth Taylor. Apparently, I’m not the only one. The first page of Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff mentions that, among other things, Cleopatra is “a synonym for Elizabeth Taylor.” Liz makes an appearance again on page 2:
The Ptolemies were in fact Macedonian Greek, which makes Cleopatra approximately as Egyptian as Elizabeth Taylor.
We watched several Elizabeth Taylor movies after her death in March. My favorite was a sentimental choice from a memory of watching National Velvet with my family when it was shown on television sometime in the 70s. I also recommend The Sandpiper with some reservation. The storyline is unconvincing, but the cinematography and Taylor’s presence in that setting are stunning. The Sandpiper also has a haunting score that includes the 1965 Academy Award winner for Best Original Song, “The Shadow Of Your Smile.”
We did not watch Cleopatra this spring, so I requested that movie. Since the run on Elizabeth Taylor movies is over, I received it in time to watch it over the weekend, at the same time I was reading the book. I also requested another movie version of Cleopatra, the 1934 film that was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and stars Claudette Colbert. It was a Cleopatra weekend!
We watched the older movie first. The best parts were the scantily-clad women and suggestive dances from a time before the Production Code was rigidly enforced. We also got a kick out of laughing at the obviousness of the dialogue and plot in certain places, although it’s hard to judge old movies on that. Maybe what seems obvious now was cutting edge when Cecil B. DeMille did it.
We preferred the 1963 film. There were still scantily-clad women, the dialogue was more believable, and the story more cohesive. It probably helped that it was a four hour movie (we watched it over two nights). I liked the soundtrack in the older movie — it was more evocative. The ’63 soundtrack sounded like a sixties movie soundtrack. I was surprised how often this Cleopatra pulled me out of the ancient world and into sixties Hollywood with an anachronistic fabric, a jarring philosophical speech, or modern choreography. Still, over all it worked as the epic film it was meant to be.
I haven’t finished the book Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff, yet, but I’m very much looking forward to finding out what the films got right and wrong in the story of this powerful woman.
In Cleopatra: A Life, Stacy Schiff digs into the history books to share with us who the true Cleopatra was. As a member of From Left to Write book club, I received a copy of this book for review. You can read other members posts inspired by Cleopatra: A Life on book club day, September 27 at From Left to Write.
I’ve yet to see any of the Cleopatra movies. I can imagine the 60s soundtrack would remind you that you’re not really in ancient Egypt.
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I’ve got to watch the entire Taylor movie someday. And Claudette Colbert! Love her – another to add to the list. I love watching historical movies over time, seeing how 1940s Britain interpreted the 1800s versus 1960s America, for example. Or the differences in how 1950s covered the turn of the century (1900) vs the 1960s, even. Every age brings their own lens to historic interpretation.
What a great idea to have a film fest of a book you are reading. This sounds like a lot of fun. Probably the most fun was making fun of the old movies.
I think one of the things Schiff does well in her book is try to separate Cleopatra the historical figure from Cleopatra of stage and film. But of course, it is only because the life of the real Cleopatra was so remarkable that the myth developed.
I really want to watch the Elizabeth Taylor Cleopatra. They always refer to it in Sound of Music documentaries, as in Cleopatra nearly brought down 20th Century Fox and Sound of Music saved it. It must be epic!
I know I’ve seen bits and pieces of the Liz Taylor Cleopatra but I’ve never seen the Claudette Colbert movie. That would make for a great weekend. Maybe once the weather gets cooler and it’s time to snuggle under a blanket and just watch movies. Interesting post!
I haven’t seen any of those movies, but the book has already really surprised me at what assumptions I’ve had in my mind about Cleopatra. Maybe I’ll rent one of the movies once I finish the book…to compare like you suggest. Would be interesting!
I am afraid most of my knowledge of Cleopatra comes from Hollywood. I will have to check out the book and learn more about her actual history.
Just wanted to let you know that Macmillan Audio is offering 3 audio books to participants in the War Through the Generations Civil War Challenge. Go here to enter!
I struggled with this book and set it aside. I know some of it was timing – my dad made a turn for the worse as I was reading it. Anyway, I passed it on to my mom and she recently read it and was fascinated by it – she thought it was fantastic!
Joy,
What a great juxtaposition of the two movies and this new book. I only vaguely remember snip-its of the Cleo starring Liz Taylor – being aired on PBS when I was a child. I have never watched it in its entirety, but what an interesting thing to do now that I know all I gathered from Schiff’s book. Great post.
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I too have never seen the Cleopatra movies; the only thing that’s come close for me was the play “Antony & Cleopatra.” I think it would be interesting to read a book that could replace that image of Elizabeth Taylor in one’s mind.