The Agony and the Ecstasy is a 1965 American film directed by Carol Reed, starring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II. The film was partly based on Irving Stone's biographical novel of the same name. This film deals with the conflicts of Michelangelo and Pope Julius II during the painting of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. It also features a soundtrack co-written by prolific composers Alex North and Jerry Goldsmith.
The film was shot in Todd-AO and Cinemascope versions. The Todd-AO version was used for the DVD release because of its superior picture quality.
Synopsis
Michelangelo Buonarroti, a sculptor from Florence, is first commissioned to craft the Pope's tomb in Rome. Instead, Pope Julius II orders him to paint frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling depicting the Twelve Apostles. After his first attempt at painting the Apostles, he destroys his work and flees to Carrara to quarry Carrara marble. He evades the pope's guard and flees into the mountains, where he becomes inspired.
On a battlefield, Michelangelo convinces the Pope to change the grand design and paint not just the panels of the ceiling, but the entire vault. The work proceeds nonstop, even with mass in session. Months turn to years. Michelangelo is accused of blasphemy and heresy by portraying Pagan symbols and myths, but is allowed to continue. Buonarroti suffers from blindness as a result of paint poisoning, and fatigue from overwork. While recovering, the Pope's architect Donato Bramante pressures the Pope to use Raphael to finish the ceiling. But Michelangelo garners the strength to continue. Meanwhile, the Pope's army is threatened by French and German forces, and Cardinals recommend fleeing Rome to safer territory. The painting scaffolds are torn down, and the commission is given to Raphael. Insulted and beaten, Michelangelo packs for Florence. Raphael, impressed with the work done, pleads with Buonarroti to finish his work. Contessina de'Medici, a former lover, convinces Buonarroti to beg the Pope for the commission again. A battle-bruised Pope is convinced a sacking of Rome is in order, but gives permission to continue painting.
Late at night in Rome, a war-torn and ailing Pope criticizes the images of God and Man (in The Creation of Adam), claiming they are too serene. The Pope becomes bedridden, and denies a request to stop painting the chapel ceiling. The conclusion is a Mass where the congregation is shown the completed ceiling. After the congregation leaves, the Pope offers Michelangelo work on painting the lower walls, but seeing his own life fading, the Pope rescinds and asks him to complete the tomb.
Cast
Charlton Heston – Michelangelo
Rex Harrison – Pope Julius II
Diane Cilento – Contessina de'Medici
Harry Andrews – Bramante
Alberto Lupo – Duke of Urbino
Adolfo Celi – Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini – Paris De Grassis
John Stacy – Giuliano da Sangallo
Fausto Tozzi – Foreman
Maxine Audley – Woman
Tomas Milian – Raphael
Production
The re-creation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling for the film was largely by the Irish painter Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo.
Awards
The film was nominated for five Academy Awards:
Best Art Direction (John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith, Dario Simoni)
Best Costume Design (Vitorio Nino Novarese)
Best Score (Alex North)
Best Sound (James Corcoran)
Best Cinematography (Leon Shamroy)
It was nominated for two Golden Globe awards:
Best Actor (Rex Harrison)
Best Screenplay (Philip Dunne)
It won two awards from the National Board of Review:
Best Supporting Actor (Harry Andrews)
One the Year's 10 Best
It won the Best Foreign Film from the David di Donatello Awards.
The film was shot in Todd-AO and Cinemascope versions. The Todd-AO version was used for the DVD release because of its superior picture quality.
Synopsis
Michelangelo Buonarroti, a sculptor from Florence, is first commissioned to craft the Pope's tomb in Rome. Instead, Pope Julius II orders him to paint frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling depicting the Twelve Apostles. After his first attempt at painting the Apostles, he destroys his work and flees to Carrara to quarry Carrara marble. He evades the pope's guard and flees into the mountains, where he becomes inspired.
On a battlefield, Michelangelo convinces the Pope to change the grand design and paint not just the panels of the ceiling, but the entire vault. The work proceeds nonstop, even with mass in session. Months turn to years. Michelangelo is accused of blasphemy and heresy by portraying Pagan symbols and myths, but is allowed to continue. Buonarroti suffers from blindness as a result of paint poisoning, and fatigue from overwork. While recovering, the Pope's architect Donato Bramante pressures the Pope to use Raphael to finish the ceiling. But Michelangelo garners the strength to continue. Meanwhile, the Pope's army is threatened by French and German forces, and Cardinals recommend fleeing Rome to safer territory. The painting scaffolds are torn down, and the commission is given to Raphael. Insulted and beaten, Michelangelo packs for Florence. Raphael, impressed with the work done, pleads with Buonarroti to finish his work. Contessina de'Medici, a former lover, convinces Buonarroti to beg the Pope for the commission again. A battle-bruised Pope is convinced a sacking of Rome is in order, but gives permission to continue painting.
Late at night in Rome, a war-torn and ailing Pope criticizes the images of God and Man (in The Creation of Adam), claiming they are too serene. The Pope becomes bedridden, and denies a request to stop painting the chapel ceiling. The conclusion is a Mass where the congregation is shown the completed ceiling. After the congregation leaves, the Pope offers Michelangelo work on painting the lower walls, but seeing his own life fading, the Pope rescinds and asks him to complete the tomb.
Cast
Charlton Heston – Michelangelo
Rex Harrison – Pope Julius II
Diane Cilento – Contessina de'Medici
Harry Andrews – Bramante
Alberto Lupo – Duke of Urbino
Adolfo Celi – Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini – Paris De Grassis
John Stacy – Giuliano da Sangallo
Fausto Tozzi – Foreman
Maxine Audley – Woman
Tomas Milian – Raphael
Production
The re-creation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling for the film was largely by the Irish painter Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo.
Awards
The film was nominated for five Academy Awards:
Best Art Direction (John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith, Dario Simoni)
Best Costume Design (Vitorio Nino Novarese)
Best Score (Alex North)
Best Sound (James Corcoran)
Best Cinematography (Leon Shamroy)
It was nominated for two Golden Globe awards:
Best Actor (Rex Harrison)
Best Screenplay (Philip Dunne)
It won two awards from the National Board of Review:
Best Supporting Actor (Harry Andrews)
One the Year's 10 Best
It won the Best Foreign Film from the David di Donatello Awards.
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