The Agony and the Ecstasy poster
Screenplay Philip Dunne
Director Carol Reed

The Agony and the Ecstasy

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

Release Date: 1965-09-16

Duration: 138 minutes

Synopsis

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.

Casting

  • Rex Harrison
    Papa Giulio II
  • Charlton Heston
    Michelangelo
  • Rosalba Neri
    Seductive Woman (uncredited)
  • Maxine Audley
    Woman
  • Fausto Tozzi
    uomo
  • Fausto Tozzi
    Foreman
  • Richard Pearson
    Cardinal
  • Venantino Venantini
    Paride de Grassis
  • Venantino Venantini
    Paris De Grassis
  • Adolfo Celi
    Giovanni de' Medici