I, Claudius/The Epic That Never Was
List Price: $49.98Amazon.com's Price: $37.49
You Save: $12.49 (25%)as of 03/18/2010 22:55 EDT Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: STEWART,PATRICK
EAN: 0014381510126
Feature: Roman history comes alive in this magnificent 13-part series. I, Claudius ranks among the most acclaimed productions in television history. Tracing the lives of the last of the Roman emperors, it's an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have marke
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Item Dimensions: 25
Label: Image Entertainment
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishUnknown
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
MPN: ID5101CUDVD
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Release Date: December 02, 2008
Running Time: 669 minutes
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 1976
Features:- Roman history comes alive in this magnificent 13-part series. I, Claudius ranks among the most acclaimed productions in television history. Tracing the lives of the last of the Roman emperors, it's an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have marke
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display
Editorial Review:Product Description:Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 2-DEC-2008
Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com essential video:This superbly acted, mordantly funny romp through 70 years or so of Roman history is one of the best-loved miniseries ever made, and deservedly so. Derek Jacobi plays Roman Emperor Claudius, who reflects in old age on his life and his remarkable family, giving us a history lesson that's unlike anything you learned in school.
The story begins in 24 B.C. during the reign of Augustus Caesar, Rome's first emperor, and ends in A.D. 54 with Nero on the throne. In between,
I, Claudius details the scheming, murder, madness, and lust that passed for politics in the early years of the Pax Romana. The biggest worm in the Roman apple is Augustus's wife, Livia (the superb Siân Phillips), whose single-minded pursuit of power shapes the destiny of the Empire. With a carefully planted rumor here and a poisoned fig there, she gradually maneuvers her son, Tiberius, toward the throne, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and treachery that starts Rome on its helter-skelter slide into bloody chaos. Phillips somehow makes us understand this extraordinarily wicked woman. As she ages and her carefully wrought webs begin to unravel, it becomes clear that Livia has been as thoroughly poisoned by her own ambition as her victims were by her carefully prepared meals.
Further acting honors go to George Baker as Tiberius, who resists but eventually succumbs to the destiny forced upon him by his mother, and to John Hurt as a hilarious and absolutely terrifying Caligula. In one breathtakingly tense scene, the mad Emperor performs a dance in drag, then asks Claudius to critique it, perfectly capturing the horror of a world where one wrong word means death, or worse. Jacobi is the perfect Claudius, hiding his intelligence behind a crippling stammer and shuffling around the edges of events--until he finds himself pulled to the very center. His wry comments give shape to the tangled story of his family and help the audience make sense of a dauntingly complex cast of characters.
I, Claudius might seem a little studio-bound to viewers brought up on more recent big-budget costume dramas, but the topnotch cast and the incident-filled plot are more than enough to hold the attention through almost 11 hours of gripping, deliciously wicked Roman follies. This boxed set also includes a documentary entitled "The Epic That Never Was," about Alexander Korda's failed attempt to film
I, Claudius in 1937. The film, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Charles Laughton as Claudius and Merle Oberon as Messalina, was abandoned unfinished, and it remains one of Hollywood's great lost movies.
--Simon Leake
Average Rating:
Rating:
-
I, Claudius was a brilliant piece of work, a masterpiece, of the BBC that generated a huge response from critics and viewers, both in the UK and in the US. The fact that I can now get a good copy, an uncut copy, is wonderful. One of the best historical dramas to come out of television, outside of HBO's ROME. And let us look at all the star power. John Hurt, Derek Jaccobi, Patrick Stewart, Brian Blessed, George Baker, and John Rhys-Davies just to name a few of the actors you will notice.
Based on a book from the 1930s, some of the facts are no longer facts and some of the scenes were pure fiction to begin with, but it makes for great television viewing, even if we know that Claudius is fact was NOT a very nice person. Just sit back, turn down the lights and enjoy it. I would suggest, reading Sick Caesars: Madness and Malady in Imperial Rome if you want to know more about the early Emperors.
Rating:
-
This is an series from several years back on the life and times of Claudius who was Emperor of Rome after Caligula.
It is based on 2 books written many years ago that have been criticized for filling in the many blanks of the actual historical records and relying on some suspect accounts from at or around the period covered. Well, it was interesting TV, so I won't complain. I have purchased the 2 books and plan to enjoy them as well.
Claudius had some sort of birth defect - maybe cerebral palsy. He was seen as an idiot, but apparently was not this at all. The series covers the period just before his birth to just after his death. These were wild times in ancient Rome!
I really like Derek Jacoby's performance as Claudius. Many of the other characters were very well done too. I especially enjoyed the performance of the actress who played Livia, the wife of Augustus and I think Claudius' grandmother; she was just wicked and enjoyed being wicked - a truly great performance here. Wait until you see how she describes how she killed Augustus. Fans of Star Trek, the Next Generation will enjoy Patrick Stewart (Cpt. Picard) as Sejanus. Another really evil character - but he does get what he deserves in the end. The guy who played Caligula was excellent - he looked truly nuts.
That being said, I guess the series budget was not large. The sets were maybe a little cheesy at times. Some of the choices of actors were a little off too. It is hard to take seriously some of the really puny guys selected for roles of celebrated Roman warriors, and the not so voluptuous women chosen to play some of the most desirable women on offer in Rome. Well, they were not major characters. Ignore this stuff and focus on the rest as it is worth the small effort required.
Even if there was some bending of the facts, the series does show things were pretty wild in ancient Rome. It is a wonder that they could keep things going so well.
Highly Recommended!!
Rating:
-
Unfortunately I gave this as a gift so I can't review the actual DVD--but the process was fine. Arrived as promised, priced right, no hassles.
Rating:
-
I HAVE JUST FINISHED VIEWING THIS NEW REMASTERED EDITION OF I CLAUDIUS AND I CAN STATE THAT IT IS:
NOT EDITED OR CENSORED -IT IS THE MOST COMPLETE EDITION THAT I HAVE SEEN
VIDEO AND AUDIO QUALITY IS EXCELLENT - ALSO THE BEST I HAVE SEEN
THIS IS SIMPLY THE FINEST I CLAUDIUS THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON - LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM ALL THE
PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ON THE MARKET IN THE PAST - AND I HAVE SEEN THEM ALL.IF YOU WANT A COPY
OF THIS FANTASTIC MINI-SERIES THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY.
Rating:
-
I have been wanting this BBC mini-series for years but the cost was way out of range for me. Then I discovered Amazon.com so I gave myself a Christmas present. It was simple, easy and came in half the time indicated. I have enjoyed seeing the series again more than I can say. Now I can order other wonderful movies that you can't find in the typical movie store. Thank you Amazon.com
Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.
