52岁的凯撒(雷克斯•哈里森 Rex Harrison 饰)以罗马执行官的身份驾临埃及,为了解决王室姐弟争位的事端。皇姐克里奥佩特拉(伊丽莎白•泰勒 Elizabeth Taylor 饰)美艳绝伦,凭借自身的魅力和政治手腕,迅速让凯撒拜倒在她的石榴裙下,不但获得了对埃及的统治权,而且还以美貌征服了罗马。
克氏与凯撒完婚后,为其产下一子,深得凯撒喜欢,被立为继承人。但此事引起了凯撒手下大将安东尼(理查德•伯顿 Richard Burton 饰)与屋大维(罗迪•麦克道尔 Roddy McDowall 饰)的不满。在凯撒遇刺驾崩之后,安东尼接掌了罗马的统治权,但他同样无法抵挡克氏的绝世美貌。当安东尼彻底沉溺于暴风雨般爱情的时候,身在罗马的屋大维已经吹响了夺权的号角……
美国东部,位于波士顿近郊的查尔斯城,俨然一个被法制遗忘的失乐园。城中爱尔兰裔的工薪阶层占有很大比例,区域贫困的生活条件和令人无法喘息的压力让人们铤而走险,银行抢劫案时有发生,一切都变得癫狂无望。某个早晨,美丽的银行经理人克莱尔·吉塞(丽贝卡·豪尔 Rebecca Hall 饰)遭遇一伙头戴骷髅面具的劫匪,而她更被劫持为人质。奇怪的是,克莱尔最终意外生还,似乎这个早晨的变故从未发生过一样。一天,她邂逅了高大英俊的男子道格·麦克雷(本·阿弗莱克 Ben Affleck 饰),奇妙的缘分就此展开,两人的命运也由此改变……
本片根据库克·霍根(Chuck Hogan)的原著改编。
By 1820, Edmund Kean is the most admired Shakespearan actor. But if his art is peerless, his free lifestyle is ill thought of, particularly by the high society. Kean has fallen passionately in love with Countess Elena de Koefeld, the wife of the ambassador of Denmark. Elena loves him too but hesitates to give up her rank in society and follow Kean. On the other hand, Anna, a rich heiress who refuses to marry Lord Mewill, the husband chosen by her parents, confesses her love for Kean and decides to become an actress like him... The aristocrats, outraged by Edmund's profligate ways, decide to boycott his performances and his career is broken. Kean does not recover from such a blow and, on a stormy night, dies in Elena's arms.
Heaven is now happily married and ready to settle back in her hometown. But after a trip to Farthinggale Manor, Heaven is persuaded to stay. Lured by her grandfather to live amidst the wealthy and privileged Heaven seems to have it all until the ghosts of her past rise up once more, threatening her precious new life.