„Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?”

 

 

 

Heute wird es ein wenig speziell. Anlässlich der Osterfeiertage gibt es nämlich eine Liste mit meinen zehn liebsten Monumentalfilmen. Diese epischen und oft überbordend und mehr als üppig ausgestatteten Filme sind ja geradezu prädestiniert für solche Feiertage und haben ihren ganz eigenen Charme. In diesem Sinne: frohe Ostern!

 

 

 

10.

Land of the Pharaohs (1955)
	Rating: 6.6/10 (2,394 votes) Director: Howard Hawks Writer: William Faulkner, Harry Kurnitz, Harold Jack Bloom Stars: Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, Dewey Martin, Alexis Minotis Runtime: 105 min Rated: Approved Genre: Drama, History Released: 1955-06-24
Plot: A captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.

 

 

 

9.

El Cid (1961)
	Rating: 7.3/10 (8,543 votes) Director: Anthony Mann Writer: Fredric M. Frank (story), Philip Yordan (screenplay), Fredric M. Frank (screenplay), Ben Barzman (screenplay) Stars: Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone, Geneviève Page Runtime: 182 min Rated: Unrated Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama Released: 1961-12-14
Plot: The fabled Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz (a.k.a. El Cid) overcomes a family vendetta and court intrigue to defend Christian Spain against the Moors.

 

 

 

8.

Quo Vadis (1951)
	Rating: 7.2/10 (8,560 votes) Director: Mervyn LeRoy, Anthony Mann Writer: John Lee Mahin (screen play), S.N. Behrman (screen play), Sonya Levien (screen play), Henryk Sienkiewicz (based on the novel by) Stars: Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov Runtime: 171 min Rated: N/A Genre: Biography, Drama, History Released: 1951-12-25
Plot: A fierce Roman general becomes infatuated with a beautiful Christian hostage and begins questioning the tyrannical leadership of the despot Emporer Nero.

 

 

 

7.

Cleopatra (1963)
	Rating: 7.0/10 (18,641 votes) Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Rouben Mamoulian, Darryl F. Zanuck Writer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz (screenplay), Ranald MacDougall (screenplay), Sidney Buchman (screenplay), Plutarch (histories), Suetonius (histories), Appian (histories), Carlo Mario Franzero (book) Stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Pamela Brown Runtime: 192 min Rated: Approved Genre: Biography, Drama, History Released: 1963-07-31
Plot: Historical epic. The triumphs and tragedy of the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.

 

 

 

6.

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
	Rating: 7.6/10 (8,133 votes) Director: Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, Alexander Korda, Zoltan Korda, William Cameron Menzies Writer: Miles Malleson (screen play and dialogue), Lajos Biró (scenario by), Miklós Rózsa (story) Stars: Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin Runtime: 106 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy Released: 1940-12-25
Plot: After being tricked and cast out of Bagdad by the evil Jaffar, King Ahmad joins forces with a thief named Abu to reclaim his throne, the city, and the Princess he loves.

 

 

 

5.

The Ten Commandments (1956)
	Rating: 7.9/10 (41,893 votes) Director: Cecil B. DeMille Writer: Dorothy Clarke Wilson (this work contains material from the book "Prince of Egypt"), J.H. Ingraham (this work contains material from the book "Pillar of Fire"), A.E. Southon (this work contains material from the book "On Eagle's Wing"), Æneas MacKenzie (written for the screen by), Jesse Lasky Jr. (written for the screen by), Jack Gariss (written for the screen by), Fredric M. Frank (written for the screen by) Stars: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson Runtime: 220 min Rated: Approved Genre: Adventure, Drama Released: 1956-10-05
Plot: The Egyptian Prince, Moses, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people.

 

 

 

4.

Gladiator (2000)
	Rating: 8.5/10 (761,630 votes) Director: Ridley Scott Writer: David Franzoni (story), David Franzoni (screenplay), John Logan (screenplay), William Nicholson (screenplay) Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed Runtime: 155 min Rated: R Genre: Action, Drama Released: 05 May 2000
Plot: When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an emperor's corrupt son, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.

 

 

 

3.

Spartacus (1960)
	Rating: 8.0/10 (88,159 votes) Director: Stanley Kubrick Writer: Dalton Trumbo (screenplay), Howard Fast (based on the novel by) Stars: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton Runtime: 197 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography Released: 1960-10-07
Plot: The slave Spartacus leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic.

 

 

 

2.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
	Rating: 8.4/10 (160,815 votes) Director: David Lean Writer: T.E. Lawrence (writings), Robert Bolt (screenplay), Michael Wilson (screenplay) Stars: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins Runtime: 216 min Rated: PG Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama Released: 1962-12-10
Plot: A flamboyant and controversial British military figure and his conflicted loyalties during his World War I service in the Middle East.

 

 

 

1.

Ben-Hur (1959)
	Rating: 8.1/10 (133,406 votes) Director: William Wyler Writer: Lew Wallace (novel), Karl Tunberg (screenplay) Stars: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd Runtime: 212 min Rated: G Genre: Adventure, Drama Released: 1960-01-29
Plot: When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.