The Agony and the Ecstasy

2h 18min

Drama

History

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.

Production Companies

DDL Cinematografica

International Classics

20th Century Fox

Cast

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston

Michelangelo
Rex Harrison

Rex Harrison

Papa Giulio II
Diane Cilento

Diane Cilento

Contessina de'Medici
Alberto Lupo

Alberto Lupo

Duca di Urbino
Adolfo Celi

Adolfo Celi

Giovanni de' Medici
Venantino Venantini

Venantino Venantini

Paride de Grassis
Tomas Milian

Tomas Milian

Raffaello Sanzio
John Stacy

John Stacy

Giuliano da Sangallo
Andrea Giordana

Andrea Giordana

aiutante di Michelangelo
Adolfo Pezzini

Adolfo Pezzini

uomo alla cava
Paolo Magalotti

Paolo Magalotti

guardia svizzera
Alec McCowen

Alec McCowen

Cardinal
Rosalba Neri

Rosalba Neri

Seductive Woman (uncredited)
Marvin Miller

Marvin Miller

Narrator (uncredited)
Venantino Venantini

Venantino Venantini

Paris De Grassis

Release date

16th Sep 1965

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English, Latin