The Agony and the Ecstasy (film)
| The Agony and the Ecstasy | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster by Howard Terpning
|
|
| Directed by | Carol Reed |
| Produced by | Carol Reed |
| Screenplay by | Philip Dunne |
| Based on |
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone |
| Starring |
Charlton Heston Rex Harrison Diane Cilento Harry Andrews Alberto Lupo |
| Music by |
Jerry Goldsmith Alex North |
| Cinematography | Leon Shamroy |
| Edited by | Samuel E. Beetley |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
138 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7,175,000 |
| Box office | $8,000,000 |
The Agony and the Ecstasy is a 1965 American film directed by Carol Reed, starring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II. The film was partly based on Irving Stone's biographical novel of the same name. This film deals with the conflicts of Michelangelo and Pope Julius II during the painting of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. It also features a soundtrack co-written by prolific composers Alex North and Jerry Goldsmith.
The film was shot in Todd-AO and Cinemascope versions. The Todd-AO version was used for the DVD release because of its superior picture quality.
Michelangelo Buonarroti (Charlton Heston) is a renowned sculptor of the Republic of Florence in the early 16th century. When Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison) commissions him to paint the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo resists because he finds the ceiling's paneled layout of the Twelve Apostles uninspiring. Nonetheless, he is forced into taking the job. During the initial attempt, Michelangelo is discontent with the results and destroys the frescoes. He flees to Carrara and then into the mountains, where he finds inspiration from nature.
Michelangelo returns and is allowed to paint the entire vault in a variety of newly designed biblical scenes. The work proceeds nonstop, even with mass in session, as months turn to years. Michelangelo's work is threatened when he collapses due to fatigue. He is nursed back to health by Contessina de' Medici (Diane Cilento), daughter of his old friend Lorenzo de' Medici. After recovering, Michelangelo returns to work after learning he is at risk of being replaced by Raphael (Tomas Milian).
...
Wikipedia