Alexander the Great *** (1956, Richard Burton, Fredric March, Claire Bloom, Danielle Darrieux, Barry Jones, Harry Andrews, Peter Cushing, Stanley Baker, Peter Wyngarde) – Classic Movie Review 6585

Writer-producer-director Robert Rossen’s Spanish-filmed 1956 historical epic of Alexander the Great [Alexander III of Macedon] (356-323 BC) is a clever and thoughtful movie.

The young Richard Burton proves a good choice as the Greek warrior and king of Macedonia, who conquered Greece and Persia, and founded Alexandria, then died aged 33.

The historical pageant is greatly enlivened with real acting from Richard Burton, Fredric March (Philip of Macedonia) and Harry Andrews (Darius), Danielle Darrieux as Queen Olympias, Claire Bloom as Barsine, Barry Jones as Aristotle, Peter Cushing as General Memnon, Stanley Baker as Attalus, Michael Hordern as Demosthenes, Niall MacGinnis as Parmenio, Helmut Dantine as Nectenabusand Peter Wyngarde as Pausanias.

The other main assets are a convincing though downbeat screenplay by director Rossen, Robert Krasker’s Technicolor and CinemaScope cinematography, the lavish production beautifully designed by Andrei Andreiev, Mario Nascimbene’s score and the exciting battle scenes.

Also in the cast are Marisa de Leza, Gustavo Rojo, Rubén Rojo, William Squire, Frederick von Ledebur, Virgilio Teixeira, Teresa del Rio, Julio Peña, José Nieto, Carlos Baena, Larry Taylor and José Marco.

Alexander the Great may not be great, but it is good. The story is retold in Alexander (2005). That shows just how this movie could have gone down. Oliver Stone should have been warned before making Alexander that Alexander the Great flopped big time; costing $4 million, it grossed only $2.5 million in the US.

It runs 141 minutes and the cut version runs at 135 minutes.

It was filmed in the studio at Estudios CEA, Madrid, and on various Spanish locations.

RIP Peter Wyngarde, who died on 15 January 2018, aged 90. He was most famous for his Jason King TV series (1971-1972), but he also starred in The Siege of Sidney Street (1960), The Innocents, Night of the Eagle [Burn, Witch, Burn!] and Flash Gordon.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6585

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