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Alexander the Great (1956)

Rate: 4
Viewed: 3/09

AlexG
3/09: Although it's better than Oliver Stone's version, Alexander the Great is a flat picture with neither the imagination nor the excitement of Braveheart.

Although the best parts are costumes and the background which includes buildings, I wish I can say the same for the battle scenes, but they look pitifully mediocre and lack realism. The cast is good; however, stale performances abound. Richard Burton, the lone standout, holds his own well, but it's disappointing that he had to work with such inferior material.

The rivalry between Alexander the Great and Philip II of Macedon is interesting, but it's not convincing enough. The film's biggest advantage over Alexander is the dialogue which is never loquacious. Yet it needs more sharpening in terms of wit, relevance, and power.

All in all, Charlton Heston, who turned down Richard Burton's role, summed it up perfectly, "Alexander is the easiest kind of picture to make badly."