The Agony and the Ecstasy backdrop

The Agony and the Ecstasy 1965 Directed by Carol Reed

From the age of magnificence comes a new magnificence in motion pictures.

During the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II contracts the influential artist Michelangelo to sculpt 40 statues for his tomb. When the pope changes his mind and asks the sculptor to paint a mural in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo doubts his painting skills and abandons the project. Divine inspiration returns Michelangelo to the mural, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope's demanding personality and threatens the success of the historic painting.

Country USA
Production Countries Italy , USA
Language English
Spoken Languages English , Latin
Budget $10,000,000
Revenue $4,000,000
Release Date 16 September 1965
138 mins
Cast
Charlton Heston Michelangelo
Rex Harrison Papa Giulio II
Diane Cilento Contessina de'Medici
Harry Andrews Bramante
Alberto Lupo Duca di Urbino
Adolfo Celi Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini Paride de Grassis
Tomas Milian Raffaello Sanzio
John Stacy Giuliano da Sangallo
Andrea Giordana aiutante di Michelangelo
Furio Meniconi contadino
Adolfo Pezzini uomo alla cava
Paolo Magalotti guardia svizzera
Alec McCowen Cardinal
Rosalba Neri Seductive Woman (uncredited)
Marvin Miller Narrator (uncredited)
Tomas Milian Raphael
Fausto Tozzi Foreman
Venantino Venantini Paris De Grassis
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