The present work is a costume design for Vivien Leigh in the 1945 film Caesar and Cleopatra, directed by Gabriel Pascal and starring Stewart Granger and Flora Robson alongside Leigh. Messel designed the costumes, props and interior decorations for what was, at the time, one of the most lavish productions in film history, costing over £1 million, the cost even more surprising considering filming started only a few days after the D-Day landings. In addition to Messel's brilliant attention to historic detail, he was praised for his improvisation in sourcing materials, given the wartime ratitioning.

Oliver also famously threatend to quite production during filming - the producer Pascal took a dislike to a long black wig Oliver had made and proceed to swap various wigs on set. During the heated exchange and Oliver's threat to leave the production, Vivien Leigh stepped into the scene declaring 'If Oliver goes... so do I' (C. Castle, Oliver Messel, London, 1986, p. 123).

For a comparable costume design, formerly in the collection of Lord Snowdon, see Victoria and Albert Museum S.367-2006.

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