Agony and the Ecstasy (The)
- Director: Carol Reed
- Writer: Irving Stone; Philip Dunne
- Producer: Carol Reed
CGiii Comment
....and it is agony.
What was Reed thinking?
Did the Studio get its grubby hands on this and hacked it to death?
The first 20 minutes can be cut without any pain...it would be a welcomed relief.
In fact, if all the fiction was cut from this lousy epic - only a few minutes would remain.
Hollistory at its worst - surely, there is someone that could be sued for this bending, beyond all recognition, of the truth.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Pope Julius II (Sir Rex Harrison) is eager to leave behind works by which he will be remembered. To this end he cajoles Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) into painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When not on the battlefield uniting Italy, the Pope nags Michelangelo to speed up his painful work on the frescoes.
Cast & Characters
Charlton Heston as Michelangelo;
Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II;
Diane Cilento as Contessina de'Medici;
Harry Andrews as Bramante;
Alberto Lupo as Duke of Urbino;
Adolfo Celi as Giovanni de' Medici;
Venantino Venantini as Paris De Grassis;
John Stacy as Sangallo;
Tozzi as Foreman;
Maxine Audley as Woman;
Tomas Milian as Raphael;
Alec McCowen;
Furio Meniconi as Peasant;
Adolfo Pezzini as Man at Quarry