This is the story of Cleopatra, a motion picture made in 1917; how it was made, how it was received, how it was lost, and why its absence is such a tragedy. This is a true story, except for the parts that are not true.

The tale involves different personalities who became involved in the production, including Ruth St. Denis, one of the founders of modern dance; Anne Haviland, the 'famous psychic perfumist;' Edward Bernays, 'the father of public relations;' Major Funkhouser, the powerful Chicago censor; and Topsy, the Army camel. However, the two dominant figures in the story of Cleopatra were its producer, William Fox, and its star, Theda Bara.