Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the film's director, made the unusual gesture, for him, of contributing extensive liner notes for the 1963 Original Soundtrack Album.

These notes provide a valuable elucidation of many points in Mankiewicz's conception of Cleopatra that are unrealized in the version of the film that was released.

Ironically, it was Mankiewicz's son Christopher who recommended North after his enthusiasm for his great score for Spartacus (1960).

The original vinyl selection of tracks had long gone out of print before digital restorations of the soundtrack was released.

[2] The versions are as follows: Cleopatra: Original Soundtrack Album was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music Score - Substantially Original at the 1964 ceremony, and for the Grammy Award for Best Sound Track Album – Background Score from a Motion Picture or Television at its 1964 ceremony, but on both occasions it lost to Tom Jones (1963), with music composed by John Addison.