Lot Essay
Marlon Brando was awarded this BAFTA in 1954 for Best Foreign Actor in Julius Caesar - John Gielgud won the same year for Best British Actor in the film.
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Julius Caesar, 1953
Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the director, assembled a good cast, including Louis Calhern, James Mason, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, Edmond O' Brien and John Gielgud, who played Cassius. Though English actors generally are far superior to American actors in their style, speech and familiarity with Shakespeare, many British actors are no better than we are in his plays. It takes someone of Gielgud's stature to perform with authority because he has played most of the important Shakespeare roles. But for me to walk onto a movie set and play Mark Antony without more experience was asinine.
I've heard it said that I should have devoted my life to the classical theater as Olivier did. If I had wanted to be a great actor, I agree that I should have played Hamlet, but I never had that goal or interest... If I had chosen to go on the classical stage, it would have been a mistake. I revere Shakespeare, the English language and English theater but American culture is simply not structured for them.
Julius Caesar, 1953
Details
Julius Caesar, 1953
A BAFTA award in the form of a pale blue Wedgwood Jasper circular plaque depicting a relief figure of Apollo within a band of oak leaves and acorns, with gilt-stamped lettering British Film Academy Award 1954, in original fitted presentation box, the lid gilt-stamped MARLON BRANDO; accompanied by approximately 17 black and white photographs of Brando as Marc Antony (some printed later), one signed in blue ink by John Gielgud, all -- 8x10in. (20.3x25.4cm.); two Life magazines, 20 April, 1953, depicting Brando in his role as Marc Antony on the front cover; an M.G.M. promotional booklet for the film; and a Saturday Review, 6 June, 1953, depicting John Gielgud as Cassius on the front cover (a lot)
A BAFTA award in the form of a pale blue Wedgwood Jasper circular plaque depicting a relief figure of Apollo within a band of oak leaves and acorns, with gilt-stamped lettering British Film Academy Award 1954, in original fitted presentation box, the lid gilt-stamped MARLON BRANDO; accompanied by approximately 17 black and white photographs of Brando as Marc Antony (some printed later), one signed in blue ink by John Gielgud, all -- 8x10in. (20.3x25.4cm.); two Life magazines, 20 April, 1953, depicting Brando in his role as Marc Antony on the front cover; an M.G.M. promotional booklet for the film; and a Saturday Review, 6 June, 1953, depicting John Gielgud as Cassius on the front cover (a lot)