Alexander the Great Reviews

This engrossing spectacle from director Robert Rossen chronicles Alexander's conquest of the world in the fourth century, BC. In the early scenes, King Philip of Macedonia (Fredric March), a ruthless, slightly mad but powerful ruler, is plotted against by his wife, Olympias (Danielle Darrieux), and shown to be hated by his son, Alexander (Richard Burton). Philip, on the other hand, loves Alexander but distrusts his teachers, including Aristotle (Barry Jones), feeling that his son is engaging in lofty intellectual pursuits unbefitting a warrior prince. Father and son quarrel over philosophy and Philip's flagrant mistreatment of Olympias, but she gains her revenge by arranging for the king's assassination so that Alexander acquires the throne. Alexander and his armies then win the battle of Granicus, defeat the King of Prussia in the battle of Issus, consolidate Asia Minor, and invade India before this king of kings finally dies, at age 32, in 323 BC. Although Rossen was blessed with a superb cast, he chose to concentrate on the CinemaScope spectacle of the innumerable battles and Alexander's philosophizing about fate and destiny.