IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.3K
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The biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II.The biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II.The biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II.
- Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 3 wins & 9 nominations total
Fortunato Arena
- Pope's Bodyguard
- (uncredited)
Lars Bloch
- Baron Von Silenen
- (uncredited)
Angelo Boscariol
- Papal Guard
- (uncredited)
Calisto Calisti
- Physician
- (uncredited)
Amerigo Castrighella
- Quarry cart assistant
- (uncredited)
Anita Ceccotti
- Woman Under the Chapel
- (uncredited)
Enrico Chiappafreddo
- Tavern Customer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe book on which this movie is based covers the entire life of Michelangelo Buonarroti. This movie based on a single chapter. One of the shortest, if not the shortest, in the entire book.
- GoofsAs shown in the movie, Michelangelo created a flat wooden platform on brackets built out from holes in the wall, high up near the top of the windows. But contrary to what is depicted in the film, he did not lie on this scaffolding while he painted, but painted from a standing position.
- ConnectionsEdited from Prologue: The Artist Who Did Not Want to Paint (1965)
Featured review
I like historical films. Recently I watched three historical films all made in the early 1960s. These are 'El Cid', 'The Spartacus' and 'The Agony and The Ecstasy'. Of the three, I rate The Agony and the Ecstasy as the best. This film is based on the eponymous novel written by Irving Stone. I had read the book nearly a decade back and it was nice to see the film finally. The film is about the circumstances under which Michelangelo came to compose his famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel of Rome in the 16th century. The Sistine fresco, the 'creation of man' has become almost an emblem for the artist. But not many know that Michelangelo painted the Sistine frescoes reluctantly, only because he was forced to do so by his patron, Pope Julius II. The film is about the war of wits between these two great men Pope Julius II is a warrior pope, a worldly Pope. His concern is to protect the papal states from being over run by warring European powers. For this he is willing to take up arms. The pope knows that the posterity wont remember him for his spiritual prowess or leadership. Therefore he want to leave great works of art as his legacy. He therefore hires Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The artist is not very keen on painting and considers sculpture to be his true calling. He is also not willing to conform to the prevailing canons of artistic excellence. He feels constrained by the limits of time and money that is set. All the great moments of the film occur when the Pope and the Artist clash. It is a clash of ideas and world views: (1) Whether sculpture is a superior form of art as compared to painting; (2) Whether it is appropriate depict biblical figures in their raw humanity; (3) Whether it is moral for a man of god to take arms for his principles and so on. For me the finest scene in the film is where the Pope and the Cardinals come to see the frescoes and judge it as lacking in good taste. The Artist is forced to give a strong rebuttal and in the process he expounds the humanist philosophy of art. Shot in beautiful Technicolor, the film still looks spectacular. It is a visual and intellectual treat.
- appujosephjose
- Feb 14, 2013
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 18 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.20 : 1
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