March 15th. It transÂlates to the Ides of March on the Roman CalÂenÂdar. And it’s the date when Julius CaeÂsar was famousÂly assasÂsiÂnatÂed in 44 B.C. To mark the occaÂsion (today is the Ides of March), we bring you a draÂmatÂic, six-minute clip of the assasÂsiÂnaÂtion scene from the film verÂsion of ShakeÂspeare’s Julius CaeÂsar, directÂed by Joseph Mankiewicz in 1953. The scene feaÂtures Louis CalÂhÂern as CaeÂsar, John GielÂgud as CasÂsius and James Mason as BruÂtus. The film also stars MarÂlon BranÂdo as Mark Antony, but we only get a fleetÂing glimpse of him in this scene as the plotÂters conÂtrive to sepÂaÂrate him from CaeÂsar.
Note: You can downÂload a free audio verÂsion of ShakeÂspeare’s play thanks to LibÂrivox, or get a free etext here. And if you have an iPhone, feel free to downÂload a free app that includes all of ShakeÂspeare plays.
Mike, one of our faithÂful readÂers, gets all of the cred for this one! Many thanks.
It was BigÂgie Smalls, man.