Cleopatra | Hollywood Yesterday

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

One of the most extraordinary actresses of all time was born on this date in Saint Mandé, France in 1903. This is an actress with a filmography that’s so remarkable – not just in quantity but quality as well.

Below are my… as of now… personal favorite Claudette Colbert movies (each link leads to the film on Amazon Prime or dvd). I know, as I watch more of her films, I’ll pick up new favorites to add along the way.

It Happened One Night (1934, directed by Frank Capra), co-starring Clark Gable. This film is so popular for a very good reason – it’s outstanding and the humor stands the test of time. It Happened One Night is also available on dvd.
Cleopatra (1934, directed by Cecil B DeMille), co-starring Warren William as Julius Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Antony. Visually stunning and the acting is superb.
I Met Him in Paris (1937, directed by Wesley Ruggles), co-starring two of my favorite actors – Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young. They (like Claudette, herself) are wonderful in everything!
The Sign of the Cross (1932, directed by Cecil B. DeMille), co-starring Fredric March and Charles Laughton. Beautiful and lush, as you’d always expect from Cecil B. DeMille.

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

There is beautiful, then there is BEAUTIFUL. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra was the latter.

Boy, was she ever the latter!

Yes, one could (and should) make the case that Elizabeth Taylor as Elizabeth Taylor was always the latter as well… but let’s just keep with the theme here for now.

Cleopatra (1963) is what I always think of as a “jaw-dropping” movie. Simply because you find yourself having to pick your jaw up so many times during the movie! Whether it’s the sets, Elizabeth Taylor’s outrageous beauty, Elizabeth Taylor’s outrageous talent, Rex Harrison’s talent, or Richard Burton’s next level performance as Mark Antony. Burton was a phenomenal actor and honestly deserves more credit than he gets. Being remembered as Elizabeth Taylor’s soulmate is, in and of itself, monumental, of course – but this was one of the greatest actors of all time.

If you doubt a word of that, please see Cleopatra (whether it’s for the first time or 20th).

Buy Cleopatra (dvd) on Amazon or watch on Prime.