Julius Caesar (1950 film)

Julius Caesar
Charlton Heston as Antony
Directed by	David Bradley
Produced by	David Bradley
Written by	David Bradley (script) William Shakespeare (original play)
Starring	Harold Tasker Charlton Heston David Bradley Theodore Cloak Mary Sefton Darr
Music by	Chuck Zornig
Cinematography	Louis McMahon
Distributed by	Brandon Films Inc.
Release date	March 1950 (1950-03)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Julius Caesar is a 1950 film adaptation of the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar. The first film version of the play with sound, it was produced and directed by David Bradley using actors from the Chicago area. Charlton Heston, who had known Bradley since his youth, and who was establishing himself in television and theater in New York, played Mark Antony. He was the only paid cast member. Bradley himself played Brutus, and Harold Tasker had the title role. Bradley recruited drama students from his alma mater Northwestern University for bit parts and extras, one of whom was future star Jeffrey Hunter, who studied alongside Heston at Northwestern.

The 16 mm film was shot in 1949 on locations in the Chicago area, including Soldier Field, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Elks National Veterans Memorial, and the Field Museum. The Indiana sand dunes on Lake Michigan were used for the Battle of Philippi. One indoor set was built in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. To save money, about 80% of the film was shot silently, with the dialogue dubbed in later by the actors.

After its premiere in Evanston in 1950, the film had only limited showings in the United States, mainly in schools, until it played at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1951, opened in New York City in late 1952, and tied for first place at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1953. On the basis of a private screening in Hollywood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired Bradley as a directing intern in 1950.