Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth versus Reality

by Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Lindsay Powell (Foreword)

An unparalleled exploration of films set in Ancient Rome, from the silent Cleopatra to the modern rendition of Ben-Hur.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

262 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2023

Reviews

[David Reinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many films start with a familiar title card: Based Upon A True Story.
Which in turn should be followed by: Except For The Parts We Changed.

Indeed, that epitomizes the Hollywood Romans, and this new book by Gregory Aldrete and Graham Sumner is an excellent guide through the historical accuracy minefield that is the Hollywood Romans.

The forward by historian Lindsay Powell sets up perfectly the lively and informative essays that follow. Like his lectures for the Great Courses (A Historian Goes To The Movies) Aldrete does not simply review the films, but also discusses the making of the films, for it is often the case that the story of the film is just as interesting as the story told by the film.

Now, as the book’s title indicates (Myth Versus Reality) the main focus here is on how the Hollywood Romans compare to their historic counterparts, a comparison brought fully to life in the excellent illustrations by Graham Sumner. It will become clear to the discerning eye that many films re-used costumes and props from previous productions. This was, of course, done to save money and indeed it is the rare film that goes to the extra trouble and expense of procuring new and sometime, though not always, more accurate costume. Graham supplements his superb artwork with photos of the actual costumes (many from his extensive collection).

For the student of Ancient History or the fan of the Hollywood Romans this is an excellent first volume. I say “first volume” in the hope that there will be more to follow. After all, while this book does a great job covering the films set in Ancient Rome, there are also a large number of films set in Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt. A volume that covered these films would be most welcome indeed.

A few words about format: As pointed out by others, the illustrations in the physical book have been printed in black & white even though they were originally rendered in color. This is not only a disappointment, but it undercuts the impact of Graham Sumner’s work. However, all is not lost, for in the Digital version of this book both the illustrations and the photos are presented in full color. Comparing the color renderings with the B&W, the difference is both obvious and striking.

Perhaps I am a bit old fashioned, as I much prefer physical media to digital. Even so, I recommend purchasing the digital version of this book so you are able to enjoy Graham Sumner’s superb work in glorious full color. That being said, in either format this book will make for an excellent addition to your cinema studies collection.

[Vanoooo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for history buffs and cinephiles, there's a strong emphasis on the accuracy of the costumes, as well as certain portrayals of historical figures and background details about the films' productions. However, I wished there had been more illustrations and film stills to further highlight particular aspects of certain films. Additionally, a prefatory summary of ancient Roman history would have been beneficial, especially for those with no prior knowledge about the films or ancient history. Some movies receive less in-depth presentations compared to others, which can lead to a sense of inconclusiveness. Furthermore, the book can feel repetitive, especially when read from beginning to end rather than jumping to individual chapters. Nevertheless, it's still a great book that combines two interests of mine, and I highly recommend it, particularly for enthusiasts of historical costume accuracy.