Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen

Aldrete deftly guides the reader through hundreds of years of Roman history alongside alongside a hundred years of their cinematic counterparts … This will surely become a well-worn guide for any scholar's study of Ancient Rome on screen. * Cineaste *
This is a fascinating book that expertly goes behind the scenes to show how the needs of Hollywood have often clashed with the realities of the Roman past. Entertaining and erudite, its broad sweep of cinematic history tells a story of the use and abuse of ancient realities on an epic scale. -- Dr. Jerry Toner, Churchill College, Cambridge
Aldrete’s book is a triumph. Unlike the—many—other books that discuss ancient Rome and the cinema, it successfully combines historical analysis and film criticism. And it does so in an accessible writing style that does not presume prior knowledge of the bibliography of Roman history. It provides everything the reader needs to understand and appreciate these works of cinema, and to untangle fact from fiction, history from modern storytelling. -- Dr. Steven L. Tuck, professor of history and classics, Miami University
Graham Sumner is one of the finest illustrators of the ancient world living today, with a unique talent for bringing the past to life. His work animates his subjects in a very eye catching way. Graham also has an encyclopaedic knowledge of movies, which makes this work such a joy. -- Dr. Simon Elliott, archaeologist and broadcaster
Movies play a powerful role in shaping our understanding of history. This is especially true for how we visualize the ancient world. Unfortunately for history, the realities of film production and marketing grossly distort this picture, especially in representing ancient Roman warfare. This book, by a history professor and a talented illustrator reviews some fifty films related to ancient Rome, some famous, some very obscure, and finds most of them seriously lacking in historical accuracy. For each film, the director, producer, production company, and major cast members are listed.... [The book is] enhanced by 29 full-page monochrome drawings and photos, illustrating a variety of movie costumes and how their actual historic equivalents would have appeared. This is a book that will be enjoyed by film buffs, legionary re-enactors, and students of Roman warfare. * Strategy Page *