[2] The film starred Theda Bara in the title role, Fritz Leiber Sr. as Julius Caesar, and Thurston Hall as Mark Antony.

Cleopatra (Bara), the Siren of Egypt, by a clever ruse reaches Caesar (Leiber) and he falls victim to her charms.

He gives her his love instead and, when she is in need of some money, leads her to the tomb of his ancestors, where she tears the treasure from the breast of the mummy.

[3][4][5][6] Bara visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was shown the Egyptology section by Albert Lythgoe.

The throne prop used in the film ended up, years later, in the possession of Leon Schlesinger Productions; its disposition after the acquisition of that company by Warner Bros. is unknown.

[citation needed] However, despite its controversies, the film was a huge box office draw, becoming one of the most successful blockbusters of 1917.

[14][18] On August 22, 2023, an additional 40 second fragment was found packaged with a 1920s toy film projector on eBay, and then uploaded to YouTube.