Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

Year: 1956

Runtime: 136 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Rossen

DramaWarHistoryAdventure

A sweeping historical epic set in the 4th‑century BC, following Alexander of Greece as he leads his army across the known world, driven by the conviction that Hellenic culture will enlighten conquered peoples. Son of the fierce Macedonian ruler Philip, Alexander’s brief but meteoric career is portrayed with grand battles, political intrigue and the relentless pursuit of glory.

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Timeline & Setting – Alexander the Great (1956)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Alexander the Great (1956). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

c. 336–323 BCE

The narrative spans the late Classical period and early Hellenistic era. It covers Philip II's reign, Alexander the Great's education and rapid rise, and his campaigns across Greece, Asia Minor, Persia, and into India. The arc culminates with Alexander's death in Babylon, marking the end of his empire’s early expansion.

Location

Macedonia, Olynthus, Mieza, Pella, Babylon, Phrygia, Athens, India

The story unfolds across the ancient Greek world and the Persian Empire, moving from Macedonian courtses to frontiers of Asia. Key locations include the capital Pella, the learning halls of Mieza, and battle sites like Granicus and Chaeronea, as well as Babylon and campaigns into India. The film traverses cities and provinces that defined Alexander's conquests and the broader Hellenic world.

🏺 Ancient World 🗺️ Historical Setting ⚔️ War Zones

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:34

Main Characters – Alexander the Great (1956)

Meet the key characters of Alexander the Great (1956), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alexander — Richard Burton

Young Macedonian prince and military prodigy, Alexander is driven by a thirst for glory and destiny. Trained by Aristotle, he blends scholarly insight with ruthless pragmatism. The film follows his rapid ascent from regent to decisive conqueror, navigating loyalty, rivals, and the burdens of leadership.

👑 Leadership ⚔️ War 🧭 Ambition

Olympias — Danielle Darrieux

Philip II's wife and Alexander's mother, Olympias is a formidable political actor whose influence shapes dynastic plans and court intrigue. Her pursuit of power and myth-making stirs tensions within the royal family. Her actions contribute to the succession pressures that haunt Alexander.

👑 Queen 🧠 Influence 🗡️ Family politics

Philip II — Fredric March

King of Macedon and father to Alexander, Philip II consolidates power and expands his kingdom through strategic campaigns. His distrust of Olympias and dynastic scheming fuels court intrigue and sets the stage for tragedy. His assassination plunges Alexander into sole leadership and further ambitions.

👑 King ⚔️ Conquest 🗡️ Dynasty

Parmenio — Niall MacGinnis

Seasoned general who counsels Alexander and helps shape early campaigns. He weighs loyalty to the king against practical military judgment and plays a key role in the unfolding power dynamics.

⚔️ Military Strategist 🧭 Advisor

Aristotle — Barry Jones

Philosopher who educates Alexander in history, science, and rhetoric. His mentorship shapes Alexander's worldview and informs how the future conqueror perceives knowledge, virtue, and fate.

🎓 Education 🧠 Philosophy 🗣️ Mentor

Pausanias — Peter Wyngarde

Loyal friend of Alexander whose devotion is tested by court politics. His later actions lead to the assassination of Philip II, triggering a chain of revenge and power struggles that define Alexander's early rule.

🗡️ Betrayal 🤝 Loyalty

Memnon — Peter Cushing

Exiled advisor to Darius who opposes Alexander from the Persian side. He represents the seasoned Persian counterforce and strategic opposition Alexander must outmaneuver.

⚔️ Persian Opposition 🧭 Military Strategy

Roxane — Teresa Del Rio

Darius's daughter who becomes Alexander's wife, symbolizing a political alliance and personal union between Macedonian and Persian realms. Her marriage mirrors the blending of cultures that defines Alexander's empire.

💍 Alliance 👑 Royalty

Cleitus — Gustavo Rojo

Alexander's loyal comrade who challenges the ruler's decisions; their fraying friendship culminates in a drunken quarrel that becomes a turning point in Alexander's leadership and self-control.

🗡️ Friendship 💥 Tragedy

Hephaestion — Ricardo Valle

Alexander's closest friend and confidant, a key military leader whose loyalty anchors the campaign. Their bond binds personal affection to political purpose, tested by the ruler's expanding ambitions.

🤝 Friendship ⚔️ Leadership

Attalus — Stanley Baker

A political actor within the Macedonian court who influences dynastic discussions and the early plans for succession. His presence highlights the competing voices guiding Philip and Alexander.

🏛️ Court Politics 🗡️ Intrigue

Eurydice — Marisa De Leza

Wife of Philip II and stepmother to Alexander; her marriage creates a volatile alliance and personal tragedy. Eurydice's fate—suicide or murder—adds a layer of dynastic brutality to the story.

👸 Royalty 🕊️ Tragedy

Aristander — Jess Luque

Prophetic adviser who interprets omens and guides Alexander's confidence, including references to eclipses and fortunes. His role shows the blend of science, magic, and politics in ancient leadership.

🔮 Prophecy 🧭 Guidance

Aeschines

Athenian observer who remarks on Alexander's feats, signaling how contemporaries perceive his campaigns and their place in mythic history.

🗣️ Public Opinion 🏛️ Athens

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:34

Major Themes – Alexander the Great (1956)

Explore the central themes of Alexander the Great (1956), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👑 Power

The film traces Alexander's ascent from royal heir to ruler of a vast empire. It examines how political ambition shapes loyalties and the fate of cities, as decisions driven by conquest and governance ripple across Greece and Asia. The pursuit of glory drives strategy, diplomacy, and the sometimes brutal costs of leadership.

💫 Hubris

Alexander proclaims himself the son of gods and pursues an unchallenged path to the outer edges of the known world. His arrogance fuels both stunning victories and personal downfalls, straining friendships and alliances. The story shows how charisma can mask volatility and how ambition can precipitate tragedy.

🧭 Legacy

Conquests redraw the map and seed future cultural exchanges across the Hellenistic world. The film questions succession and what remains of a ruler after glory turns to myth. It explores how one man’s dream reshapes civilizations and leaves a lasting imprint on history.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:34

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Epic Tragic Ambition Movies like Alexander the Great

Epic stories of rise and fall, where immense power is shadowed by personal ruin.Explore movies like Alexander the Great that chronicle the grand, tragic arcs of ambitious leaders. If you were captivated by the somber portrayal of a conqueror's rise and the heavy cost of his power, this thread features similar historical epics and dramas where ambition leads to profound personal downfall.

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This narrative pattern follows a protagonist's meteoric ascent to a position of immense power or influence. The story is defined by large-scale events—battles, political schemes, conquests—but the central conflict is internal. The protagonist's defining drive becomes their fatal flaw, leading to alienation, betrayal, and a deeply bittersweet or tragic conclusion where the achievement is hollowed out by personal loss.

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Somber Historical Epics and War Films like Alexander the Great

Grand-scale history films where spectacle is interwoven with grim political reality.Find movies similar to Alexander the Great in their epic scope and somber tone. If you enjoyed the grand battles and political tension but also the film's dark, reflective take on conquest and empire, this thread gathers other sweeping historical dramas that balance spectacle with a heavy, thoughtful mood.

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Stories in this thread use the canvas of history to explore timeless themes of power, legacy, and mortality. They follow a linear or biographical arc through significant historical events, but the focus is as much on the psychological and moral dilemmas of the characters as on the spectacle. The narrative is driven by tense political machinations and the grim realities of conflict, resulting in an ending that feels earned but far from triumphant.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique combination of epic visual scale and a consistently dark, introspective tone. They share a steady, methodical pacing that allows for both grand set-pieces and nuanced character study. The experience is intense and emotionally heavy, defined by a pervasive tension and minimal levity, making the historical drama feel weighty and consequential.

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Alexander the Great Summary

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Alexander the Great Timeline

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Alexander the Great Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Alexander the Great

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