Commodus' imperial quarters

These interior sets of the imperial palace of Commodus (including the royal palace's roman baths) plus the interior of the temple of Jupiter (where Commodus enters after being crowned emperor--just before intermission--and later when he confronts Livius about Livius bringing about "a new Rome" and Commodus can hear the gods laughing were all filmed in Rome, Italy at Cinecitta studios on brand new (and especially lavish) interior sets. Both Ben Hur (1959) & Cleopatrra (1962) had both been filmed there previously (i.e. Cinecitta studios) on both lavish exterior AND interior sets (including the huge chariot race for the former and the spectacular entry of Cleopatra into the forum of Rome in the latter) so these studios had plenty of experience of large sets for historical epics on the grandest of grand scales. "The Fall of the Roman Empire" only utilised interior sets at Cinecitta studios in Rome, Italy with all exteriors being filmed in Spain. It is rumoured that this was due to a complex tax break deal that Bronston negotiated with the Italian government to use italian facilities for part of his film (as he did in "El Cid").

According to the documentaries on the 2 & 3 disc dvd versions plus Christopher Plummer's remarkably detailed autobiography absolutely no expense was spared on any of the sets--interior or exterior--or costumes. If marble was required for a scene then real marble was used (used extensively in the royal palace bath scenes between Christopher Plummer's character & both Sophia Loren's & Anthony Quayle's characters). If real fur or silk were required then real fur & silk were used. Plummer states that his costumes as emperor were particularly ornate with even his sandals embroidered with jewels. This excessive over expenditure on realistic sets & costumes plus both "Fall of the Roman Empire" & "Circus World"'s overall box office failures obviously went some way towards Bronston's backers filing for his bankruptcy in the year after this film & "Circus World" were released (i.e. 1965). Mel Martin's excellent book on Bronston states that the real budget of "Fall of the Roman Empire" was actually something like 28 million USA dollars (equivalent to approximately $200 million USA dollars now) & not the $20 million USA dollars often quoted. This puts it up with "Cleopatra", "Titanic", "Avatar" & now "John Carter" as one of the most expensive films ever made (when adjusted for inflation).

However it's still hard to forget the sheer overwhelming magnificence of the sets (interior and especially exterior) & costumes in this film. I also agree that this film should not only have been nominated for an academy award for best sets & costumes but also won the oscar for that category.