Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great is a 1956 American sword and sandal epic film written, directed and produced by Robert Rossen with Gordon S. Griffith as executive producer. It was released by United Artists and starred Richard Burton as Alexander. In the beginning of the film, Demosthenes is agitating for war to resist Philip II's takeover of Greek city-states. While Philip II is leading a campaign to take over Olynthus, he is informed that his spouse Olympias has born him a son whom she claims is "a god born of a god." Philip is angry because he suspects that Olympias has committed adultery and that she... was not impregnated by a god; however, General Parmenio advises the king to let Alexander grow up and succeed him. Alexander grows older and receives instructions in history, mathematics, logic, and other subjects from Aristotle in Mieza. Alexander is eager to rule and tells his tutor that like Achilles he would rather have a "short life with glory" than a "long life of obscurity." Philip then decides to send Alexander to the Macedonian capital, Pella, as a regent to rule the city while Philip is away fighting wars.
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