Cinematic pageant in 6 parts.
Biography of the great Roman
general CAIUS JULIUS CAESAR
Produced by the Cines Film co.,
Rome. Film from sale and rental
office Jean Desmet, Amsterdam.
Lead roles in the first part:
For the young Caius Julius,
more pleasant than the
boisterous gaiety...
...is the company of the
amiable Servilia, who belongs
to the mighty family of Cato.
With the carelessness of youth,
they devote themselves
entirely to enjoyment...
...and to the pleasure of love.
A FEW MONTHS LATER
The strict discipline which rules
the family of Servilia...
...makes that Caius Julius can
only meet his beloved in secret.
Servilia visits with Cajus the
temple dedicated to the goddess
Iuno, the patron of fidelity.
Before the goddess' altar they
take the vow of eternal loyalty,
...and their secret marriage
is consecrated by a priest.
But Lutatius, the Cato family's head,
to which Servilia belongs too, has
promised her as wife to Marcus Brutus.
Cajus Julius is spied while leaving
his pretty Servilia's house. The
secret visits are told to Lutatius.
Lutatius, having learned of the
affair between Cajus and Servilia,
therefore wants to hurry the marriage
between Servilia and Marcus Brutus.
"You will marry Marcus Brutus!
Refuse, and the mighty dictator
Sulla, who is on our side,
...will certainly bring about
that Cajus Julius is executed."
"Stop!... I consent!..."
The last meeting. On the notice,
that he will have to part forever
from the by him so dearly beloved,
Cajus Julius wants to end his life.
"If not for me, then do it
for our child!" - "Yes! For
our child I will stay alive."
"Farewell, Servilia!
I swear, that I will keep
our secret in the grave.
Even our child will never
learn who was his father."
Servilia marries Marcus Brutus.
At the wedding feast she hides her
heart pain behind a proud smile.
The confession.
"I am already mother! Kill me,
if you will, it is in your right.
Our line knows how to die!"
"No! You will live on in shame!
That will be your punishment!
I will manage to save my honour."
To avoid possible suspicion from
Marcus Brutus, Cajus Julius has
married the noble Cornelia.
But neither marital bliss nor his
daughter Julia's birth can make
him forget all of his heart pain.
The Roman people await
the tyrant, Sulla.
"Be careful, Cajus Julius, for you
almost surpass the dictator Sulla.
It might sadly cost you your life."
"You here, Cajus Julius? Don't
you know that your presence
is most unpleasant to me?"
"But dictator, am I
not a Roman citizen?"
"Remember, Cajus Julius, that
contradiction and opposing
my will means death."
"Cajus Julius, the mediation
of the above all holy Vestal
Virgins has saved your life."
Despite the Vestal Virgins'
protection, Cornelia, wife of
Cajus Julius, fears...
the revenge of the dictator,
and she begs her husband to
flee before it is too late.
Cajus Julius to Servilia: "I leave
Rome, but do not flee. Now Sulla is
more powerful for our son shall live."
During the seven years of Cajus
Julius' voluntary exile in Asia,
the young Brutus, son of Cajus and
Servilia, receives the first lessons
from a member of the Catonian family
and the idea is impressed upon the
lad that Rome must stay a republic.
Slowly the young Brutus is
instilled with hate...
...against his unknown father
Cajus Julius, who is not a
follower of the republican party.
His mother Servilia attempts to
temper with soft words the hate
of Brutus for Cajus Julius.
By her promise to Cajus she is forced
to keep the secret and so she cannot
tell her son that he is is father.
The death of the dictator Sulla
(in the year 78 BC) brings an end
to the reigh of terror and joy to a
large part of the Roman population.
The news of the death of the dictator
has made Cajus Julius decide to return
to Rome after an absence of 7 years.
But Cajus Julius has nevertheless made
himself formidably heard of in his
city of birth during his stay in Asia.
His plans have taken solid form.
Rome trembles...Rome hopes for him.
Cajus Julius manages to win
the people over completely
with his generosity.
Visit of Tertullia, wife
of the rich and powerful
Crassus, to Cajus Julius.
Cajus Julius, you will be amazed
to find Tertullia visiting you,
...but for a long time I observe your
pursuits and your works with interest.
At the house of Tertullia,
the wife of Crassus,
...the friends and followers
of Cajus Julius meet to prepare
his election as consul.
At the senate session, noisy
debates take place...
...between the followers of
Cato's republican party and
the admirers of Cajus Julius.
"Cajus Julius, do you dare to
oppose the will of the senate?
Don't you fear to be called
an enemy of the republic?
If you are an honest man,
then show me the statement
that was just received by you."
"Here... read! and you will
see who Cajus Julius is."
Cicero to Cajus Julius. I have
already won many to our party, but
beware of the implaccable nature
...of Cato and his party. May
the gods save us from a second
tyrant like Sulla once was.
Tertullia, who admires Cajus Julius,
has him meet in her house Pompey,
also a powerful and influental man.
Cajus Julius wins Pompey too
for his grand plans, namely
his election as consul,
and supreme command of the Roman
legions. Now start the glorious
campaigns of Cajus Julius.
One year later. Tertullia moves to
meer Cajus Julius, who returns
with his invincible legions...
...from Iberia (present day Spain)
to Rome, to greet him as future
consul for the first time.
Although Cato tries with his great
speaker's talent to cross the
election of Cajus Julius as consul,
...the senate the next day still
greets Cajus Julius as consul.
Ten years later. Cajus Julius, who
for a long time held the plan to
penetrate even further into the land
of the Gauls (present day France
and Belgium) with the Roman legions,
wins Pompey over for this plan too.
He gives the latter his
daughter Julia as wife.
The glorious campagins and the many
done by Cajus Julius in the interest
of the republic...
...is belittled and depicted
as hostile to the republic by
the tutors of his son Brutus.
Irmidia, a Gaulish vestal
virgin, requests Julius
Caesar for an interview.
Despite the precautions of
Tertullia, she manages to
enter the room of Caesar.
Abandon your plans o Caesar! For
I predict you that your campaign
to Gaul will cost you your life.
Perhaps even sooner than you suspect.
Tertullia sacrifices herself for
Caesar. She takes the murdering
steel that was meant for him.
The people wish Caesar and his
legions luck on their departure
to the lands of the Gauls...
...and trusts, that they will
return as victors from there too.
Druids and druidesses (Gaulish priests
and priestesses) sacrifice to the gods,
and pray to them for protection of the
38 Gaulish tribes from the Roman rule.
Vercingetorix, king of the Arverni,
is appointed as supreme commander
of the Gaulish armies.
Irmidia, the Gaulish vestal virgin,
is inconsolable that her attempt
at Caesar's life has failed.
She wants to chop off her arm,
which was too weak to carry
the murdering steel.
"You have saved my arm. I will
give my life for the fatherland."
The siege of Alesia
by the Roman legions.
Gaulish reinforcements enter
by a secret road in the city
besieged by the Romans.
The Gaulish commander orders his
different chiefs to send messengers
to call all Gaulish tribes to Alesia.
One of the messengers has
been caught by the Romans.
To all Gaulish tribes that
fight for their freedom!
The Roman eagle threatens us!
Pay attention to the sign of
our commander Vercingetorix.
The signal of the tubicines.
[trumpet players]
The alerted Gauls move into
the city by the secret road.
At first light the Gauls stand
ready to storm the Roman army camp.
Lead by the heroic Camulogene,
the Gallic advance guard approaches
the defenses erected by the Romans.
Free Gaul lets you know: Run away
Romans, or Caesar's ambition will
make you find your grave here.
The Gauls accomplish little against
the military well-trained Romans,
and have to flee.
The catapults (ballistic machines)
cause great havoc among the Gauls.
With an extreme effort the
Gauls succeed for a while in
driving the Romans on the run.
...but eventually they have
to yield to Caesar's brave.
In vain the Gauls seek
refuge in Alesia...
...because that night already
this strong fortress is in
the possession of the Romans.
After the defeat of the Gauls.
Victors and vanquished.
Friends and enemies of Caesar await
impatiently in the "Curia Hostilia"
(senate's meeting place)...
...for messages of the
Gaul's desperate fight.
We bring good tiding!
Messages of victory
from the great Caesar!
Vercingetorix is the prisoner
of Caesar. The Roman eagle
now controls all of Gaul.
Because of the glorious victories
the hate has been set of even more...
...between the members of
the republican party of Cato
and the followers of Caesar.
The majority of the members
of the senate vote to remove
the consulship from Caesar.
The eloquent arguments of Caesar's
follower Curio are in vain. The
Catonian party is too strong.
Contemptful Mark Antony, Curio, and
the other party members of Julius
Caesar leave the "Curia Hostilia".
In Ravenna Mark Antony and his friends
bring the message of the hostile at-
titude of the senate to Julius Caesar.
The next morning the official
delegates of the senate arrive
at the army camp as well.
Brutus is the spokesman, who doesn't
know that Caesar is his father,
...and sees in him only a powerful
opponent of the republican party.
Cajus Julius Caesar hail!
We charge you to disband your legions
and remove you from consulship.
My legions will bring the response
to the senate themselves. And you,
fear not. Your life is sacred to me.
Caesar makes the message of the
senate known to his centurions.
Cajus Julius Caesar hail!
We charge you to disband your legions
and remove you from consulship.
The centurions, who know Brutus'
hate of Caesar, throw dice,
who of them will kill Brutus.
But the watchful father's love
protects the life of Brutus.
Stop! Not with the dagger in the
dark. I tolerate no assins among
my men. This life is sacred to me.
Expect no gratitude from me! I will
despise all my life those, who like
you, are enemies of the republic.
Caesar moves forwards with his
legions until the river Rubicon.
(The assumed border of Italy proper.)
The grand events in Roman history.
Roman marches on Roman!
"Alea jacte est!"
("The die is cast!")
The Roman eagle marches
on its fathercity.
In Rome there's great excitement
about the continuing advance of
Julius Caesar with his legions.
Always onward!
In great fear the senate decides to
put Julius Caesar outside the law.
Here with fear and there with joy,
is Caesar greeted by the Roman people.
"No servitude! No slavery! But
glory and freedom brings my Eagle."
Without listening to the words
of the temple guardian, Caesar
defiles the temple of Saturn...
...and seizes the contents
of the treasury to provide
food for his troops.
Caesar stop! Temple violator!
The treasury is inviolable!
Saus populi suprema lex! (The good
of the people is the highest law!)
Caesar's enemies have left Rome.
Caesar's friend and son-in-law Pompey
has gone over to his enemies also.
The latter has been charged
by the senate...
...with the defense of the republic
against Julius Caesar and embarks
with his army at Brindisi.
At Dyrrachium (Durrs in
Albania) the first galleys of
Pompey arrive with troops.
The next day.
Cato and Brutus blame Pompey, that
he is to hesitant against Caesar.
The advance of Caesar
against Pompey's legions.
Caesar gives his captains
the order, that the life
of Brutus must be spared.
On the signal of Caesar his
concealed warriors emerge.
The army camp of Pompey
is entirely surrounded.
When the morning red colours the
sky, the armies face each other.
Caesar the idea-creator of the
new fighting rule has his troops
advance in loose formation.
Pompey, follower of the old
way of fighting, leads his
troops with closed ranks.
Man against man!
Roman against Roman!
The forces of Pompey
fight with heroic courage.
...but in vain. Here too the brave
must yield and the army of Pompey
turns to a disorderly flight.
But also in the wilde pursuit,
the orders of Caesar are obeyed.
Brutus is captured and led
before his, still unknown
to him, father Julius Casear.
"I despise you. Thank the gods that
you are victor, otherwise... Now
I request you to have me killed."
"No, I want you to stay alive
for the fatherland. You will rule
the Gauls that I've conquered."
Moved by some much goodness,
Brutus bows the head.
The vanquished Pompey
seeks his salvation
in the flight to Egypt.
Caesar follows with his gaze
the galley of the fleeing Pompey.
Caesar is shown the head of
Pompey, who was killed at
the order of king Ptolemy.
The latter thought to be of
service to Caesar with this.
"Pompey! I did not want your death!"
Rome receives the victor
with the greatest honours...
...and gives an image of his many
victories in an allegorical parade.
Rome is now completely under
control of Caesar, who has
been named dictator for life.
Therefore the party hatred
has flamed even more.
A secret call.
My greeting to Marcus Brutus!
The republic of Rome, which
has already suffered...
...the tyranny of the dictator
for too long, cannot allow
this situation to continue.
The republic is in danger!
Brutus are you sleeping?
Are you no longer Brutus?
A few days later. Brutus is
entirely influenced again...
...and puts himself at
the head of the conspirators
in the house of Cassius.
Caesar is warned. However
he trusts his lucky stars
and disregards all warnings.
"Beware, great Caesar, for
the ides of Mars (15 March)."
Loyal friends inform him of the
conspirators' sign. When someone
lays the hand on Caesar's shoulder,
...the moment has come in which
an end will be made to his life.
"Have the senate guarded, Caesar."
"I do not wish the members
of the senate to be guarded
by my soldiers as enemies."
The ides of Mars
(15 March of the year 44 B.C.).
"Remember Caesar, the
ides of Mars has come."
In the most terrible moments of
his life, Julius Caesar does not
show that he knows his enemies.
"Him?!"
Ruunt fata! On the one hand, world
rule, on the other hand, his son.
"You too, Brutus, my son?!"
By the body of Caesar, Mark
Antony swears to avenge him.
Servilia is worried by
all the street uproar.
"I have killed Caesar...
and saved the republic from ruin!"
"Brutus! Unhappy man! What have
you done... it was your father."
At the ceremony Servilia sends her
last regard to Cajus Julius Caesar,
whom she's never stopped loving.
Mark Antony reminds the crowd of
people with inspiring words the
great deeds and merits of Caesar.
"Invincible in every battle, he
died by the hands of assassins!"
The excitement of the crowd of people
reaches its top when Mark Antony...
...reads Caesar's will in which he
bequeaths his estates to the people.
The people avenge
the murder of Caesar.
Now the murderers too suffer the same
fate, which they had inflicted on
Rome's greatest general and statesman.
The pyre's fire that burns Caesar's
body destroys the body, but not
the fame of his glorious victories.
Julius Caesar is immortal
in world history.