The film Caesar and Cleopatra is about the sudden intertwining of the lives of Julius Caesar, played by Claude Rains, and Cleopatra, played by Vivien Leigh. When Julius Caesar visits Egypt, he finds Cleopatra and her younger brother/husband fighting for sole dominion over the throne. Caesar helps Cleopatra earn her title and teaches her how to become a great ruler. The portrayal of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra in this film is historically accurate. For example, Julius Caesar visits Alexandria, finds himself in the middle of the dispute between Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII, played by Anthony Harvey. After the death of Ptolemy XII Auletes, Cleopatra is forced by ancient Egyptian custom to marry his brother Ptolemy XIII. Once Ptolemy sees that Cleopatra wants the throne for herself, he chases her away. At the beginning of the film, Cleopatra meets Julius Caesar in hopes that he will help her become the sole ruler of Egypt. To gain an audience with Caesar, Cleopatra convinces her servant to wrap her in a carpet and rush her to Caesar to plead her case. Fortunately for Cleopatra, Julius Caesar takes her side in the ordeal and teaches her courage and leadership. As Cleopatra and Caesar spend more and more time together, their relationship as lovers begins to blossom. Although Julius Caesar and Cleopatra loved each other, she also had a special place in her heart for Mark Antony. In fact, Cleopatra and Mark Antony eventually married, to the dismay of the Romans, and had 2 children. Eventually a war breaks out and Julius Caesar is called to fight with his men. Before leaving for war, Julius Caesar is informed that the Great Library of Alexandria has caught fire due to the raging war. Caesar displays a casual... middle of paper... Caesar's entire history has shaped his legacy. The Great Library was considered the largest library in the ancient world. Caesar's order to set fire to the city destroyed the holder of some of the largest collections of works in a variety of fields. Caesar and Cleopatra effectively and accurately shows the early relationship between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. After her father's death, Cleopatra seeks Caesar's help to help her achieve sole rule despite the presence of her brother/husband. As the film progresses, the viewer watches Caesar and Cleopatra grow as friends and lovers. Gabriel Pascal, the director, works very hard to create a setting that helps viewers feel transported back in time. This historically accurate interpretation of George Bernard Shaw's work is a pleasure to watch and entertaining for viewers young and old.