Cleopatra (1963 film) other commitments and were replaced by Rex Harrison and Richard Burton, as Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony respectively. During filming, Taylor met Burton and the two began an adulterous affair; the scandal made headlines worldwide, since both were married to others, and brought bad publicity to the already troubled production. Mankiewicz was later fired during the editing phase, only to be rehired to reshoot the opening battle scenes in Spain. The cut of the film which Mankiewicz screened for the studio was six hours long. This was cut to four hours for its initial premiere, but the studio demanded (over
The Banquet of Cleopatra who painted three versions of the subject in the early 18th century (two are in the Getty Center and Bayreuth, Germany). In both the Italian and northern traditions the subject fitted well into existing genres showing lavish dining, with the added attraction of making a more prestigious history painting with an impeccable and exotic classical origin. It often formed part of cycles on Antony and Cleopatra with other subjects including the "Meeting of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony", the "Death of Cleopatra", and sometimes her meetings with Julius Caesar and Octavian. The Banquet of Cleopatra The Banquet of Cleopatra is the