• Caesar and Cleopatra was, up until that time, the most expensive British film ever made. Based on the play by George Bernard Shaw (who also penned the screenplay), the film was marketed as a “prestige” picture by J. Arthur Rank. Vivien Leigh had very much wanted the play Cleopatra in a film version, and was more-or-less hand-picked by Shaw for the role owing to her kittenish looks and fiery temperament.
From the out-set, Caesar and Cleopatra was frought with problems for both cast and crew. Being filmed toward the end of WWII at London’s Denham Studios proved a precarious hazard. Bombs were often dropped near the set–one, according to biographer Hugo Vickers, nearly blew director Gabriel Pascal to pieces when it landed about 150 yards from where he was standing. Another problem was the weather. Though shooting began in June, it was quite cold and drafty on set, which caused problems for the actors who were dressed in thin costumes to portray life in Egypt. This was especially difficult for Vivien who had returned from an ENSA tour in North Africa not a year before in frail condition, having lost a good deal of weight while touring the desert entertaining troops.
George Bernard Shaw insisted on overseeing production, often being dissatisfied with costumes, make-up and the way his lines were being delivered by the cast. After the film wrapped, Shaw was allowed to view a preview with Gabriel Pascal and Kenneth Clark. He did not approve of Vivien’s performance, saying, “she’s ruined it,” although many critics at the time disagreed.
Shortly after filming began, Vivien discovered she was pregnant. This was something both she and Laurence Olivier had wanted from the outset–sealing their love for each other and their marriage. Gabriel Pascal was not happy with the news, and Vivien wrote to Leigh Holman telling him that everyone was being cross with her because how did she expect to portray a 16 year old in her condition? Pascal had the shooting schedule rearranged to film Vivien’s scenes first, and failed to hire a stunt double. During the scene where Cleopatra runs “up and down the Memphis Palace beating the slave,” Vivien slipped on the freshly polished studio floor. The fall caused her to miscarry the child she had desperately wanted. Though this is said to have triggered much larger problems, in terms of the film, Vivien was not enthusiastic about the part, though she did come back to finish her scenes. Stweart Granger, her co-star and friend, said she never forgave Gabriel Pascal and furitively tried to have him replaced as director, to no avail. Vivien did not attend the premier of the film in 1945. She was convalescing at Notley Abbey, and could not bring herself to view the film in its entirety for a number of years after its release.

美死了

[ROSE]

[ROSE]

女神和巨匠