Titus

film by Taymor [1999]

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July 22, 2026

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The film Titus (1999), directed by Julie Taymor, is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's early tragedy, Titus Andronicus. The play, written between 1589 and 1592, is known for its violent and melodramatic style, featuring a cycle of revenge between the Roman general Titus Andronicus and Tamora, Queen of the Goths.12

The plot involves Titus returning to Rome victorious but having sacrificed Tamora's son. This act sets off a brutal chain of events, including rape, mutilation, and murder, culminating in Titus serving Tamora her own sons in a pie. Despite its graphic nature, modern criticism generally accepts the play as Shakespeare's authentic work. Taymor's film, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange, is noted for its visually striking, Fellini-esque imagery that attempts to make the play's savagery aesthetically bearable.13

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Steve Bannon
Entertainment finance, moviemaking, and Breitbart
…co-executive producer on the film Titus (1999), an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus.
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…co-executive producer on the film Titus (1999), an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus.
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Julie Taymor
Feature films and beyond
…feature films, releasing her first, Titus, based on Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, in 1999. The score was composed by Goldenthal, and the film starred Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. Taymor followed up with Frida (2002), a visually stunning film about artist Frida Kahlo, portrayed by Salma Hayek. The biopic won Academy
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…feature films, releasing her first, Titus, based on Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, in 1999. The score was composed by Goldenthal, and the film starred Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. Taymor followed up with Frida (2002), a visually stunning film about artist Frida Kahlo, portrayed by Salma Hayek. The biopic won Academy
Read More