In the year 180 A.D. Germanic tribes are about to invade the Roman empire from the north. In the midst of this crisis ailing emperor Marcus Aurelius has to make a decision about his successor between his son Commodus, who is obsessed by power, and the loyal general Gaius Livius.

Sophia Loren
as Lucilla

Stephen Boyd
as Livius

Alec Guinness
as Marcus Aurelius

James Mason
as Timonides

Christopher Plummer
as Commodus

Anthony Quayle
as Verulus

John Ireland
as Ballomar

Omar Sharif
as Sohamus

Mel Ferrer
as Cleander

Eric Porter
as Julianus
CinemaSerf
It's amidst the frozen forests of Germany that we meet Caesar Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) who is pondering a crucial question. He is ailing, aware that he'll be with his gods soon and that his son "Commodus" (Christopher Plummer) should not be entrusted with the empire. That honour ought to go t...