History Film / TheFallOfTheRomanEmpire

The narrative focuses primarily on the trio consisting of General Livius (Stephen Boyd), and the children of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) -- Commodus (Christopher Plummer) and Lucilla (Sophia Loren). Livius and Commodus are childhood friends, and he is in love with Lucilla, and all things considered would like to MarryForLove and become part of the Imperial family. However, tensions in the final years of the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) and a series of conspiracies by senatorial factions lead to the fracturing of their friendship. Commodus, unexpectedly and against his father's intentions, becomes Emperor, Lucilla enters into an ArrangedMarriage, and, little by little, the empire crumbles from within.

The narrative focuses primarily on the trio consisting of General Livius (Stephen Boyd), and the children of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) -- Commodus (Christopher Plummer) and Lucilla (Sophia Loren). Livius and Commodus are childhood friends, and he is in love with Lucilla, and all things considered would like to MarryForLove and become part of the Imperial family. However, tensions in the final years of the Emperor's reign and a series of conspiracies by senatorial factions lead to the fracturing of their friendship. Commodus, unexpectedly and against his father's intentions, becomes Emperor, Lucilla enters into an ArrangedMarriage, and, little by little, the empire crumbles from within.

** Marcus Aurelius made it clear that Commodus would be his heir and had no hesitancy whatsoever about his choice of claimant. Indeed, Aurelius defied the conventions of Imperial Succession by instituting primogeniture.

** The finale where the Throne is auctioned to the highest bidder, didn't happen after Commodus' death, or immediately after Commodus' death, but it happened in the Year of the Five Emperors that followed Commodus' death, so it's best a simplification.

Together with the previous year's ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}'', the film is considered by some to be the real end of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood old Hollywood]] {{Epic Movie}}, or at least the end of epic SwordAndSandal theatrical films for a long time. It boasted the largest outdoor set in the history of film, a 92,000 square meter replica of the Roman Forum. 2000's ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' would [[GenreRelaunch relaunch the genre]] and, ironically, borrowed a lot from this film while not being a remake.

It's considered by some to be the real end of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood old Hollywood]] {{Epic Movie}}, or at least the end of epic SwordAndSandal theatrical films for a long time. It boasted the largest outdoor set in the history of film, a 92,000 square meter replica of the Roman Forum. 2000's ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' would [[GenreRelaunch relaunch the genre]] and, ironically, borrowed a lot from this film while not being a remake.

It's considered by some to be the real end of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood old Hollywood]] {{Epic Movie}}, or at least the end of epic SwordAndSandal theatrical films for a long time. It boasted the largest outdoor set in the history of film, a 92,000 square meter replica of the Roman Forum. 2000's ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', while not a remake, borrowed a lot from this film.

It's considered by some to be the real end of the old Hollywood Epic. It boasted the largest outdoor set in the history of film, a 92,000 square meter replica of the Roman Forum. 2000's ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', while not a remake, borrowed a lot from this film.

It's considered by some to be the real end of the old Hollywood Epic. It boasted the largest outdoor set in the history of film, a 92,000 square meter replica of the Roman Forum. 2000's ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', while not a remake, still borrows a lot from this film.

The narrative focuses primarily on the PowerTrio of General Livius (Stephen Boyd), and the children of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) -- Commodus (Christopher Plummer) and Lucilla (Sophia Loren). Livius and Commodus are childhood friends, and he is in love with Lucilla, and all things considered would like to MarryForLove and become part of the Imperial family. However, tensions in the final years of the Emperor's reign and a series of conspiracies by senatorial factions lead to the fracturing of their friendship. Commodus, unexpectedly and against his father's intentions, becomes Emperor, Lucilla enters into an ArrangedMarriage, and, little by little, the empire crumbles from within.

''The Fall of the Roman Empire'' is a 1964 EpicMovie directed by Creator/AnthonyMann and produced by Samuel Bronston. It has an AllStarCast that includes Creator/SophiaLoren, Creator/StephenBoyd, Creator/ChristopherPlummer, Creator/AlecGuinness, and Creator/JamesMason. Creator/OmarSharif also appears, in a small role.

The narrative focuses primarily on the PowerTrio of General Livius (Stephen Boyd), and the children of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Creator/AlecGuinness) -- Commodus (Christopher Plummer) and Lucilla (Sophia Loren). Livius and Commodus are childhood friends, and he is in love with Lucilla, and all things considered would like to MarryForLove and become part of the Imperial family. However, tensions in the final years of the Emperor's reign and a series of conspiracies by senatorial factions lead to the fracturing of their friendship. Commodus, unexpectedly and against his father's intentions, becomes Emperor, Lucilla enters into an ArrangedMarriage, and, little by little, the empire crumbles from within.

''The Fall of the Roman Empire'' is a 1964 EpicMovie directed by Creator/AnthonyMann and produced by Samuel Bronston. It has an AllStarCast starring Creator/SophiaLoren, Stephen Boyd (Messala from ''Film/BenHur''), Creator/ChristopherPlummer, Creator/AlecGuinness, Creator/JamesMason and Creator/OmarSharif in a small role.

* AncientGrome: The film idealizes the Empire under Marcus Aurelius, then shows it sinking into decay under Commodus's rule.

The narrative focuses primarily on the PowerTrio of General Livius (Stephen Boyd), and the children of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Creator/AlecGuinness) -- Commodus (Christopher Plummer) and Lucilla (Sophia Loren). Livius and Commodus are childhood friends, and he is in love with Lucilla, and all things considered would like to MarryForLove and become part of the Imperial family. However tensions in the final years of the Emperor's reign, and a series of conspiracies by senatorial factions, lead to the fracturing of their friendship. Commodus unexpectedly and against his father's intentions, becomes Emperor, Lucilla enters into an ArrangedMarriage, and little by little, the empire crumbles from within.

It's considered by some to be the real end of the old Hollywood Epic. It boasted the largest outdoor film set in the history of film, a 92,000 square meter replica of the Roman Forum. 2000's ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', while not a remake, still borrows a lot from this film.

** The finale has Commodus plan on making Lucius and Lucilla HumanSacrifice to Zeus. HumanSacrifice was illegal in Rome at this point. The last recorded sacrifices happened in the Republican era, famously after defeat at Cannae, and some other isolated incidents documented by Pliny the Elder.