When most of us think of the ancient Roman world, we don’t think about the scholarship of hard-working historians or the discoveries of patient archaeologists. We think, first and foremost, of what we’ve seen at the movies.
From the sword-and-sandal epics of the 1950s to the resurgence of grittier stories in the 21st century, cinema has exerted an undeniable power over our cultural understanding of ancient Rome. The iconography is always fresh in our minds: gladiatorial battles and chariot races, defiant slaves and nefarious emperors, magnificent public structures and white toga costumes. But just because these and other sights are popular in movies doesn’t mean they should always be taken as historical fact.
What would an award-winning historian think of films like Ben-Hur, Spartacus, Gladiator, or even a satire like Monty Python’s Life of Brian? How have these and other movies created our popular perceptions of ancient Roman history—and in what ways have they led us astray? And why, despite the occasional box-office flop, do movies set in ancient Rome still have the power to captivate us, and to turn each of us into theater-going history buffs?
In A Historian Goes to the Movies: Ancient Rome, Professor Gregory S. Aldrete uses his prolific scholarship to give you a front-row look at the great movies that have shaped ancient Rome’s role in popular culture and memory. Packed with insights into both history and filmmaking, these 12 lectures immerse you in the glory and grandeur (and, sometimes, the folly) of classic and contemporary films featuring over 50 years of cinematic talent, including directors like Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, and Ridley Scott, and actors such as Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Elizabeth Taylor, Patrick Stewart, and Russell Crowe. You’ll investigate portrayals of ancient Roman life on the big screen and small screen; learn how to tease out fact from fiction in some of Hollywood’s most stunning spectacles; and deepen your appreciation for films that, when made right, are thrilling time machines into the past.
Author(s): Gregory S. Aldrete
Series: The Great Courses
Publisher: The Teaching Company
Year: 2020-01
Language: English
Pages: 128
Professor Biography......Page 3
Course Scope......Page 7
Lecture 1—Quo Vadis Kick-Starts the Sword-and-Sandal Genre......Page 10
The Classic Era of Sword-and Sandal Films......Page 11
Christians and Romans......Page 12
Historical Accuracy......Page 15
Lecture 2—Ben-Hur: The Greatest Chariot Race......Page 19
A Gamble and a Triumph......Page 20
The Central Judah-Messala Relationship......Page 21
The Naval Battle......Page 22
The Chariot Race......Page 24
Lecture 3—Spartacus: Kubrick’s Controversial Epic......Page 28
The Film as History......Page 29
Gladiator School......Page 31
The Final Battle......Page 32
Political Controversy......Page 35
Lecture 4—Cleopatra: Spectacle Gone Wild......Page 38
Historical Information......Page 39
The Costumes......Page 42
The Sets......Page 44
Characterizations of Roman Historical Figures......Page 45
Lecture 5—The Fall of the Roman Empire and Ancient Epics......Page 48
A Somber, Serious Vision......Page 49
How Should Peoples Relate to One Another?......Page 52
Recreating Rome......Page 54
A Bleak Ending......Page 55
Lecture 6—I, Claudius: The BBC Makes an Anti-Epic......Page 57
Intimate Family Drama Replaces Visual Spectacle......Page 58
The Show’s Claudius and Augustus......Page 60
Livia the Schemer......Page 62
Critical Reaction......Page 64
Lecture 7—Life of Brian: The Roman World’s a Funny Place......Page 65
The Ancient Epic Becomes Ripe for Parody......Page 66
Monty Python Goes to the Games......Page 67
Monty Python’s Take on Romans......Page 69
The Pythons’ Take on Religion......Page 70
Reaction to the Film......Page 71
Lecture 8—Gladiator: The Historical Epic Revived......Page 73
Historical Accuracy......Page 74
Depiction of the Main Characters......Page 76
Gladiatorial Combat......Page 77
Roman Warfare......Page 80
Lecture 9—Rome: HBO’s Gritty Take on Ancient History......Page 82
A More Accurate Vision of Roman Life......Page 83
Roman Paganism......Page 84
Slavery......Page 86
Politics and Oratory......Page 87
Problematic Aspects......Page 89
Lecture 10—Centurion and The Eagle: The Legions in Britain......Page 91
The Legend of the Lost Legion......Page 92
Centurion......Page 94
The Eagle......Page 97
Lecture 11—Scipione l’africano and Fellini Satyricon......Page 100
Scipione l’africano......Page 101
Fellini Satyricon......Page 105
Lecture 12—Bread and Circuses in Sci-Fi Films......Page 109
“Bread and Circuses”......Page 110
The Hunger Games......Page 111
The Running Man......Page 113
Rollerball......Page 114
Ready Player One......Page 117
List of Notable Films Set in the Ancient Roman World......Page 118
Bibliography......Page 126
