The Agony and the Ecstasy

“From the age of magnificence comes a new magnificence in motion pictures.”

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.

Director

Carol Reed

Screenplay

Philip Dunne

Novela

Irving Stone

Music

Alex North

Status

Released

Release date

16/09/1965

Original language

English

Budget

US$ 10 M

Box office

US$ 4 M