I, Claudius

Starring:Derek Jacobi, SiÃ¢n Phillips, Brian Blessed, George Baker, John Hurt, Margaret Tyzack, Ian Ogilvy, Frances White (II), John Paul, Christopher Guard, Kevin McNally, Patricia Quinn, David Robb, Fiona Walker, John Castle (II), James Faulkner, Patrick Stewart, Stratford Johns, Irene Hamilton, John Rhys-Davies
Director: Herbert Wise
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
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 SiÃ¢n 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.

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.

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

Description

Roman history comes alive in this magnificent 13-part series. "I, Claudius" (1976, 668 min.) ranks among the most acclaimed productions in BBC 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 marked him a fool--yet whom prophesies have foretold will one day rule Rome. This collector's edition set includes a unique documentary feature, "The Epic That Never Was" (1965, 71 min.), a remarkable behind-the-scenes look at Alexander Korda's ill-fated 1937 screen adaptation of "I, Claudius." Starring Merle Oberon and Charles Laughton, the chronicle of this uncompleted masterpieces is an unforgettable coda to one of the greatest stories ever told.

Customer Reviews:

Great hit from Great Britain........2007-06-27

If you are looking for a good Roman series that includes conspiracy,skullduggery,betrayal,mayhem, and murder THIS IS IT.

I, Claudius.......2007-05-27

A great BBC series that stands the test of time. Great characterization and great performances by a superb cast about the Roman empire. It doesn't have the slick, modern 'look' of the newer Rome series, but surpasses it with a quality that doesn't seem to be matched in today's productions.

An oldy but a definite goody.......2007-05-21

I bought this for my husband for his birthday. Thanks to Amazon, tracking it down was not nearly as hard as it would have been in the past. I agree with another reviewer, the first half is definitely more superior, whilst Augustus and Livia are still firmly in control (mostly Livia!).

The series has definitely dated and today's viewer has to exercise a little patience with this. I believe the financially beleagured BBC actually filmed this in stage form. Hence there are many 'Actors!!', with heavy makeup. Costumes were obviously not too taxing everyone is in a toga), and sets could be got round by confining the action to a couple of rooms and probably only one 'outdoor' fountained courtyard. As for the crowd scenes one would expect to see at the Coliseum forgeddaboudit!!! This is the Beeb! With all the budgetary restrictions a Beeb production involves (I cite Mr and Mrs Badger from the BBC production of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' in support of this - they were giants draped with what looked like shagpile).

All this aside, this adaption of Robert Graves book is one of the greats. It is carried by the magnificent story and actually requires one to watch, listen and engage. It can be quite funny and horrific. Violence is everpresent, but in those days it wasn't necessary to rub the audiences' faces in it. I am transported back to my childhood when my parents watched the series as originally televised. We were not allowed to watch it, but I went and borrowed the book from the library anyway.

In the current cultural slump we are enduring, I Claudius is well worth a long weekend with wine and cheese and blankets and someone to giggle with. Expect to scramble frequently for the pause button while you consult the handy family tree and character guide that comes with this edition, and the ensuing arguments about who is currently banished to a miniscule island and who is related to whom by birth or adoption. Have fun!!

Save the best for first.......2007-05-13

Excellent performances, but I lost most interest after Livia and Augustus died. Later episodes more of the same with less appealing characters.

So what's the problem here?.......2007-05-10

I just received this in the mail. I was worried about the picture and sound quality, based on other people's review. It's great! I'd say it looks better than standard TV, although it doesn't compare to more modern DVDs. Maybe I just have a special setup in my entertainment system, without knowing it, but as I said, it looks better than COPS or a standard baseball broadcast or what have you.

The menus are archaic and the "big box" setup for the box set is disappointing (no slimline cases or folding cases to save shelf space)

As for the story, I haven't seen this in years but I remember it being great. Everyone else already agrees on that, so you don't need to hear from me. I just wanted to add my voice to the presentation debate.

Average customer rating:

I, Claudius [Region 2]
Starring: Derek Jacobi , Siân Phillips , Brian Blessed , George Baker , and John Hurt
Director: Herbert Wise
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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I, Claudius [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

Average customer rating:

A masterpiece

I, Claudius [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]
Director: Herbert Wise
Manufacturer: Movie Power
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o Dutch (subtitles on/off) o English (Dolby Digital 2.0) Synopsis: Often called the finest TV miniseries ever made, I, Claudius burgeons with exceptional scriptwriting, character development, and acting. It centers on the lives of ruling Romans of the Imperial Age between 24 B.C. and 54 A.D. The audience's guide is Claudius Caesar (10 B.C.-54 A.D.), a clumsy, stuttering good-for-nothing who is deceptively clever and becomes emperor in 41 A.D when nobody is looking. Claudius was the son of General Nero Claudius Drusus and the grandson of Livia Drusilla, the wife of Caesar Augustus, who ruled Rome as its first emperor from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. Claudius wrote a history of Rome that does not survive, but novelist and poet Robert Graves (1895-1985) imagined what Claudius reported and presented it in two books -- I, Claudius and Claudius, the God -- on which the miniseries is based. Although the production depicts known history factually, it interprets the private lives of Caesarean nobility through Claudius (Graves). The script is mordantly witty and so titillating in its depiction of political intrigue, decadence, murder plots, insanity, and unbridled ambition that it manages to fascinate and horrify at the same time. Sian Phillips steals the show as the conniving, unremittingly despicable, and sometimes drop-dead funny Livia, the wife of Augustus, even though Brian Blessed (Augustus), John Hurt (Caligula), and Derek Jacobi (Claudius) are all nearly flawless in their roles. Although the backdrop is static, the plot and pacing are nimble and dynamic. The decline of the Roman Empire was never so uplifting and entertaining as in this television tour de force. Special Features: o Interactive Menu o Scene Access

Customer Reviews:

A masterpiece.......2006-01-26

The BBC production of 'I, Claudius', now decades old, still captures the imagination, and is as fresh and timeless as when it first was broadcast. This is a testimony to the skill not only of the actors and production crew, but also to the writer (Graves) who produced what is essentially an historical novel in colloquial English which gives a real feel for the day-to-day life in the imperial family in Rome. Drawing heavily on Suetonius (the People-magazine writer of his day, far more interested in intrigue and personality than great historic events), Graves constructed a storyline that covers the major events of the advent of the Roman Empire (from out of the Roman Republic) by following the lives of the first four Emperors, primarily narrated as a 'history' written by Claudius.

The series consists of 13 one-hour episodes. They begin prior to Claudius' birth and continue through to his death. We are introduced to the men and women who were important imperial figures: Augustus, portrayed as a reluctant emperor; his wife Livia, mother of the nation, far more ambitious than any around her, and in many ways the power behind the dynasty; her sons Drusus and Tiberius, one destined to die early and the other to become emperor (the only emperor never to be deified, in fact); Agrippa, also ambitious but bumbling; Antonia, daughter of Marc Antony, and portrayed ultimately as the most honourable woman in Rome.

With this mix, the story begins of the jockeying for position within the royal family. Livia is determined that Tiberius succeed Augustus, and systematically eliminates all rivals. Whenever someone rises to prominence such that he might pose a challenge (Julia's sons, Germanicus, etc.) they are either discredited and exiled or, for safety sake, an accident or illness is arranged. After Livia is gone we see the rise and fall of Caligula, and the unlikely succession to power of Claudius. Once again intrigue enters in the form of the emperor's wife, not once, but twice, with finally Nero being favoured over Claudius' son Britannicus, who is murdered shortly after Claudius' death. Nero is the last of the Claudians, a prominent family Livia worked to hard to secure on the throne.

Perhaps the greatest scene is the dinner part in which Livia, Claudius, and Caligula are discussing prophecies and the future, at which point Livia confesses her crimes and her motivations to Claudius in hopes that he will, when emperor (a prediction he in no way believes), see to her deification.

Derek Jacobi plays Claudius (from young man to old) with great skill and care. Fortunately for Jacobi, whose career spans stage and screen as well, he has the acting ability to avoid being type-cast, but there is a tendency to default to Claudius (see the scene in the movie 'Dead Again' in which Jacobi plays a man with a stutter). Sian Phillips almost steals the show with her masterful portrayal of Livia. Her speech to the dying Augustus, explaining to him as he slips away why she was compelled to poison him, is a remarkable performance. Brian Blessed plays Augustus with skill. John Hurt, known for bizarre and eccentric performances, manages to interject the right amount of mania into Caligula.

Ultimately, Claudius did write histories and commentaries, but they have not survived. It is unknown if they did not survive due to political censorship (which I, Claudius implies) or because they simply weren't that good.

Alas, in truth, Claudius was neither as competent or caring an individual as one would believe from this re-creation. But it is fair to say that he was a good sight better than those before and after his reign. If you'll invest 13 hours in this series (and yes, it is worth it), take the time to invest a few hours in a legitimate history to find some of the historical realities that were 'glanced over lightly'.

This DVD release is specifically for those with PAL players (the standard NTSC of North America will not show these DVDs properly).

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