The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) Review
The Fall of The Roman Empire showcased that Rome faced some of the same issues while it was an empire that plagued its republican period. Marcus Aurelius decides to nominate Livius as successor to the emperor instead of his son Commodus in the film. Instead of recognizing the power of the patria potestas, friends of Commodus kill the emperor before he can make his succession announcement official. Commodus starts undoing his father’s great work, such as refusing to honor a peace treaty that Marcus Aurelius made with potential northern invaders. Marcus Aurelius also promised provincial leaders that their people would become citizens of Rome. Commodus decides to stick to the status quo and not allow this change while also doubling taxes on the eastern provinces. These poor decisions ultimately lead to chaos in the city, Commudus’s death, and the public auction of the Roman throne. This film plays out like the Roman legends from the beginning of the semester in many ways. Through my research of the period where the film was set, it appears The Fall of The Roman Empire is not close to an accurate portrayal of events. The fall of the Roman empire did not occur for at least 200 years after these events. In reality, there was no question that Commodus would be the next emperor, and Marcus Aurelius died of natural causes. However, as the film implies, Commodus was considered the opposite of his father and a poor emperor. This film showcased what would happen when Rome decided to ignore its traditions, such as respecting the patria potestas, fearing an invasion from the north, or valuing possible allies. If this film were shown to any Roman elite in the late republic or the empire, they would probably appreciate the references to the culture the movie got correct, such as consulting with the auguries. I would predict a Roman would take the results of the movie as a warning not to let Rome devolve to that state. If this film was a story told in Roman times, it would obtain the same significance as Rome’s creation myths.
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Additional Commentary
I was able to watch this film with my grandmas. When I asked them what they thought, they made a valid point. The movie highlights that Rome fell because people stopped believing in its principles. The grandmas believe this lesson will apply to modern nations as well. This situation is accurate for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia is evaporating because Putin is a maniac. Meanwhile, Ukraine is holding together based on stories of bravery. People believe in the nation, so the culture will survive in some form for generations to come. Overall, this movie is a worthwhile watch with lessons for the ancient Roman and the modern earthling.
