Those are the folks you see Rex Harrison fighting at the beginning of the film. When Giuliano Della Rovere became Julius II in 1503 succeeding Alexander VI he had it in mind to reclaim the states from the Borgias and their backer the French monarchy. The Borgias had been nibbling away at the Papal States for years and their triumph became complete when one of their's became Pope Alexander VI in 1491. The Papal States were the last independent entity to join a united Italy in 1870. They varied in geographic size depending on how relatively strong the Pope or his enemies were at a given time. He ruled a considerable piece of real estate in the center of the Italian peninsula that were called the Papal States. Back in those days the Pope was far more than the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The man who nearly replaces Michelangelo.The Agony and the Ecstasy is the story of the creation of the Sistine Chapel Roof painting, the time and money it took while Pope Julius II was busy establishing his Papacy as a political force. Michelangelo’s love interest int he story. Diane Cilento ( The Wicker Man) … Contessina de’Medici.And intentionally anger him enough that he gets up! And recovers … As he’s dying on his death bed, Michelangelo comes to visit. And, to that end, he’s fought much - and suffered much. He sees himself as a warrior pope, driven to war in order to keep the Catholic Church independent. Rex Harrison ( My Fair Lady) … Pope Julius II.He has an artistic vision, and he’s determined to follow it. Charlton Heston ( The Greatest Show on Earth) … Michelangelo.Yet I have tried to serve Him in the only way I know how. Pope Julius II: You make a better priest than I do, Michelangelo. Michelangelo: I wanted to paint man as he was first created – innocent, still free of sin, grateful for the… the gift of life. Michelangelo: Well, I thought my idea for the panel was that man’s evil he learned for himself, not from God. Pope Julius II: You’ve taught me not to waste my time trying to change your conception. Michelangelo: I cannot change my conception. Pope Julius II: As he is – corrupt and evil, his hands dripping with blood, destined for damnation. Pope Julius II: And this is how you see man? Noble, beautiful, unafraid? Pope Julius II: Not if you’re a saint, or an artist. Michelangelo: I hadn’t thought that faith needed proof. Pope Julius II: What you have painted here, my son, is not a portrait of God. There’s a wonderful moment, toward the end, where Julius and Michelangelo look at the nearly-completed work: Small wonder that these two butted heads. And how loyal to his vision - and pigheaded - Michelangelo was. The film does a good job of portraying how practical - and willing to bend principles, in order to achieve victory – Pope Julius II was. Pope Julius II: You see, my son… how well we understand each other… when you don’t shout? Rex HarrisonĪnd, the artwork in the film is visually stunning, as well. And those performances are what make the movie worth watching. Both Rex Harrison and Charleton Heston give great performances. There’s a background of wars and political intrigues. It’s the story of two stubborn men, fighting back and forth. Michelangelo: When I am finished! Rex Harrison to Charleton Heston Pope Julius II: When will you make an end? And Pope Julius II ( Rex Harrison) wants a beautiful work done. Michelangelo ( Charlton Heston) is painting ceiling as an offering to God. Both are trying serve God in their own way. It’s actually the story of the conflict between two men. Done by Michelangelo, commissioned by Pope Julius II. Review of The Agony and the Ecstasyįirst, The Agony and the Ecstasy is about the painting of the Sistine Chapel. Divine inspiration returns Michelangelo to the mural, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope’s demanding personality and threatens the success of the historic painting. Michelangelo doubts his painting skills and abandons the project. However, the pope changes his mind and asks the sculptor to paint a mural in the Sistine Chapel. He wants him to sculpt 40 statues for his tomb. The Agony and the Ecstasy(1965) starring Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento Synopsis of The Agony and the Ecstasyĭuring the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison) contracts the influential artist Michelangelo (Charlton Heston).
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