Cleopatra

Cleopatra

Year: 1970

Runtime: 155 mins

Language: English

Director: Michel Auder

Documentary

The film mirrors Warhol and Morrissey’s relationship to Hollywood, using the 1963 Joseph Mankiewicz Cleopatra—starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton—as a framework. Auder’s troupe watched that classic and then improvised each scene. The cast is drawn from Warhol’s circle, including Viva, Louis Waldon, Taylor Mead, Ondine, Andrea Feldman, Gerard Melanga and others.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Cleopatra yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Cleopatra (1970) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Cleopatra (1970), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In the far future, a trio of humans—Jirō Tani, Hal Witcher, and Maria Fellow—stumbles upon a chilling revelation: an alien race called the Pasateli intends to conquer humankind using a mysterious scheme known as the Cleopatra Plan. With a time machine at their disposal, the three scientists of sorts decide to leap across centuries and into the very heart of ancient Egypt’s drama, hoping to uncover the truth and put a stop to this interstellar plot. Their mission hinges on inhabiting the bodies of key figures within Cleopatra’s legendary court, a risky intrusion that blends science fiction with historical fantasy in a way that unsettles even the bravest travelers. The first and most daring step is to place themselves inside the living world of the queen herself, and in this moment, the narrative becomes a collision of eras, ideas, and desires.

The story then shifts to a volatile chapter in the Roman conquest of Egypt, where a clandestine Egyptian faction plans to strike at the heart of Caesar’s power. Their bold tactic involves sending Cleopatra on a dangerous path to seduce and murder Julius Caesar. The Romans quickly uncover the rebellion and move to crush it, forcing Cleopatra to flee with her trusted handmaidens Libya and Apollodoria. In a twist that blends mysticism with political intrigue, Cleopatra seeks aid from an ancient priestess who, through magical means, grants her an irresistibly seductive allure intended to complete the mission. It is within this charged atmosphere that our time-travelers materialize, their minds now occupying the bodies of Cleopatra’s circle: Maria in the form of Libya, Hal inhabiting the priestess’s pet leopard Rupa, and Jirō becoming Ionius, a Greek captive who proves as resourceful as he is defiant.

As Cleopatra journeys to meet Caesar, the dynamics of power and passion collide. Caesar, overwhelmed by Cleopatra’s beauty, elevates her status and designates her queen of Egypt. The seduction is not just political—it becomes a theater of sorts, where Cleopatra’s influence grows as the Roman public begins to rally behind Ionius, who uses his knowledge of future technology to create modern hand grenades, catapulting him into a place of unexpected celebrity. This popularity sends tremors through the Senate, which conspires to kill both Caesar and Ionius to curb their rising influence. The plot thickens as Libya and Apollodoria push Cleopatra toward the act of assassination, while Cleopatra herself wrestles with a shift in priorities: personal desire and romance begin to supersede the original mission.

The drama intensifies when Cleopatra returns to Rome, where Caesar’s murder unfolds at the hands of his own senators. After the fall of Caesar, his adopted son Octavian—who will become Augustus—assumes command. Cleopatra’s attempts to seduce Octavian face a brutal obstacle: he is homosexual and seemingly immune to her charms, forcing Cleopatra to recalibrate her strategy. Meanwhile, Antony—Caesar’s trusted ally—falls for Cleopatra, forging a dangerous alliance that jeopardizes the political balance. In a surprising turn, Octavian shows more mercy toward Ionius, sparing his life, while the clash of loyalties and ambitions rages on. The story builds toward a climactic confrontation at the Battle of Actium, where Octavian’s fleet defeats Antony’s Egyptian forces. Antony dies by his own hand, and Cleopatra, left to face capture, endures a moment of heartbreak and ultimate despair when Caesar’s memory—and her own chances of influence—slip away.

The capture that follows is a crushing denouement for Cleopatra. Refusing to surrender to a world that no longer believes in her, she confronts the end with courage, accepting the fate prescribed by history as she chooses to die by an asp’s venom rather than endure subjugation. The three time travelers—having witnessed the collapse of the Cleopatra Plan from within—return to their own era with a sobering conclusion: the Pasateli’s scheme was an attempt to inhabit the bodies of Earth’s most powerful men to destabilize leadership on a planetary scale. The revelation confirms that Earth was seconds away from being overwhelmed, and only a timely realization of the danger allowed humanity to root out the intruders before a catastrophic crisis could unfold.

Throughout the voyage, the tension between duty and desire threads through every scene. The civilization-crossing journey emphasizes how history can be both a weapon and a mirror, reflecting humanity’s enduring struggles with power, loyalty, and the lure of personal ambition. The travelers’ perspectives expand as they observe Caesar’s charisma, Cleopatra’s formidable intelligence, and Octavian’s political shrewdness colliding with ambition, romance, and betrayal. The narrative never loses sight of its core premise: an alien conspiracy manipulates historical figures under the guise of grandeur, only to be exposed by a quartet of modern minds who understand that the past is not merely a backdrop but a living, mutable stage.

In the end, the trio’s exposure of the Cleopatra Plan serves as a cautionary tale about how easily narratives of power can be engineered and how fragile the line is between liberation and domination when seduction and strategy intersect. The interplay of eras—ancient empires and a distant, technologically advanced future—creates a meditation on humanity’s resilience in the face of manipulation by forces beyond comprehension. The journey closes with the promise that, even when confronted with an overwhelming vendetta from spacefaring aggressors, Earth can endure—so long as its leaders remain vigilant and its history remains a record of insight rather than surrender.

Note: The first appearance of key figures from the cast is linked to their respective pages: Cleopatra and Caesar. The rest of the cast names appear only as contextual references without external links, in keeping with the provided cast information.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:19

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Cleopatra

Don't stop at just watching — explore Cleopatra in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Cleopatra is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Cleopatra Timeline

Track the full timeline of Cleopatra with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Cleopatra Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Cleopatra

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Cleopatra. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Cleopatra

More About Cleopatra

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Cleopatra: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Cleopatra