On May 28, Movie Addict HQ celebrates the Cleopatra 50th Anniversary with film historian James Colt Harrison, entertainment journalist Diana Saenger, and actress Joan Benedict Steiger. Veteran actor Martin Landau, who played a key role in the film, has also been invited to call in. Billed as “The motion picture the world is waiting for!” back in 1963, this epic movie won four Oscars out of its nine nominations, and a special Anniversary DVD is being released on May 28 also. Co-stars Elizabeth Taylor and  Richard Burton began their tumultuous romance during the long and problem-ridden filming, so if you enjoy hearing fascinating behind-the-scenes movie information, don’t miss this fun episode!

Joan Benedict Steiger -- whose film credits include A Month of Sundays and The Flying Dutchman opposite her late husband, Rod Steiger – relates her unusual Elizabeth Taylor/Cleopatra story. James Colt Harrison -- who has written a history of Hollywood movie studios – reveals interesting facts about this spectacular film. James served as the premier film critic for the La Jolla Village News and has contributed film commentary for Rage Monthly, No Cover Music Magazine and San Diego Metro Weekly. Diana Saenger, entertainment editor for the San Diego East County Gazette, also operates her own site called Review Express and is the founder of Classic Movie Guide. 

In addition to Taylor (Cleopatra), Burton (Mark Antony) and Landau (Rufio), the strong cast in Cleopatra includes such fine actors as Rex Harrison (Julius Caesar),  Hume Cronyn, and Roddy McDowall. The plot focuses on efforts by Queen Cleopatra to settle the tensions between her kingdom and the Roman Empire. Her strategy is to seduce Caesar when he visits Egypt. Mission accomplished – she even has a child by him. The Queen then travels to Rome to be by the Emperor’s side. Unfortunately, Caesar is killed, so she returns home. When Marc Antony goes to Egypt to smooth things over with Cleopatra, he falls under her spell. The two lovers think they will be able to rule the entire Roman Empire, but Octavian (McDowall), Caesar’s nephew, stands in the way.

Reviews of Cleopatra were mixed back in 1963. For example, Andrew Sarris of The Village Voice wrote “Cleo layed a big dinosaur egg.” But Bosley Crowther of the New York Times called the movie “a surpassing entertainment, one of the epic films of our day.” And many movie goers loved the picture’s lavish costumes, gorgeous scenery and massive sets. 

This Cleopatra 50th Anniversary celebration airs on BlogTalkRadio at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. Pacific Time) on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. During the live show, listeners are invited to call in and to participate in a chat. An archived segment will also be available.

CALL-IN NUMBER: 646-478=5668

HOST: Betty Jo Tucker

PRODUCER: Nikki Starr

LINK TO LISTEN: Click here.