The Agony and the Ecstasy
“From the age of magnificence comes a new magnificence in motion pictures.”
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Agony and the Ecstasy - TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-07-29
Top Cast
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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
Fausto Tozzi
uomo
Maxine Audley
Woman
Andrea Giordana
aiutante di Michelangelo
Furio Meniconi
contadino
Adolfo Pezzini
uomo alla cava
Paolo Magalotti
guardia svizzera
Alec McCowen
Cardinal
Richard Pearson
Cardinal
Rosalba Neri
Seductive Woman (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 7, 1965
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$10M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.4x
-$6M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Carol Reed
- Screenplay & Story
- Philip Dunne
- Original Score
- Alex North
- Original Title
- The Agony and the Ecstasy
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Latin
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Production Budget
- $10M
- Worldwide Gross
- $4M
- Production Studios
- International Classics
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Carol Reed
Philip Dunne, Irving Stone
Alex North
Leon Shamroy
Samuel E. Beetley
Elmo Williams, Darryl F. Zanuck, Carol Reed
Department Leadership Roster
Carol Reed
Director
John DeCuir
Production Design
Vittorio Nino Novarese
Costume Design
Philip Dunne
Screenplay
Carol Reed
Producer
Leon Shamroy
Director of Photography
Samuel E. Beetley
Editor
Alex North
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Agony and the Ecstasy.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Agony and the Ecstasy
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Agony and the Ecstasy about?
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.
Who directed The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The Agony and the Ecstasy was directed by Carol Reed.
Who stars in The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The principal cast of The Agony and the Ecstasy includes Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento, Harry Andrews, Alberto Lupo.
When was The Agony and the Ecstasy released and how long is it?
The Agony and the Ecstasy was released in 1965 with a total runtime of 2h 18m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The Agony and the Ecstasy had a reported production budget of $10M and grossed $4M at the worldwide box office (0.4 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Agony and the Ecstasy was composed by Alex North.
Is The Agony and the Ecstasy based on a book or true story?
The Agony and the Ecstasy is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Irving Stone".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The Agony and the Ecstasy holds official age classifications: FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).