Antony and Cleopatra (1972)

Bringing Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra was a long-standing dream project for Charlton Heston, who directs as well as stars. Hampered by a nonexistent budget, Heston and his fellow troupers serve up a production that would do justice to a good touring company. The film soars whenever the actors soliloquize in close-up, but falls down badly whenever an ensemble scene is required. Though Hildegarde Neil is merely an adequate Cleopatra, Eric Porter is brilliant as Enobarbus, rendering the fabled "barge she sat on" speech with eloquent panache. All in all, Antony and Cleopatra deserved a better distribution than it received (except for an occasional TV presentation, the film was never released in the US). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide