I, Claudius to be repeated on BBC4!

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Starts 16th August. Presumably this means it will be on i player for a reasonable time too. If you've never seen it, I strongly recommend it. Made in the late 70s. Everything about it hit the spot. Stars Derek Jacobi, Sian Phillips, Brian Blessed, John Hurt and lots of other top actors. Based on the novels by Robert Graves. Set in Ancient Rome, starting at the point when Julius Caesar's great-nephew and adopted son, Octavian, has beaten Mark Antony and become the first Emperor, taking the name Augustus. Historical drama, and you can see how it influenced Game of Thrones and various other subsequent dramas focussing on political power struggles and family feuds.

It will be interesting to see what a modern audience makes of it! It caused quite a stir at the time.

Looking forward to the next episodes very much indeed. Sian Phillips is unbelievably good, in a crowded field. Brian Blessed is marvellous. Seems like an old buffer but every so often a hint of steel shows through.

I recall that John Hurt was excellent as Caligula, so that'll be a compensation for losing Augustus and Livia.

Just seen the first 3 episodes. Wow - I'd forgotten you really have to focus (no phone scrolling whilst watching) to keep up with the plotline as so much skulduggery going on - love it! 😉
And spotting budding actors in minor roles back then who became stars later!

Yes! An incredibly young Kevin McNally, for one.

The whole point of I Claudius was that it was Graves’ reinterpretation of Suetonius, especially in the character and achievements of Claudius as Emperor. His version of Livia the scheming poisoner is almost entirely his own invention, to explain the many deaths in the Augustan family.

Well to be fair, it's not like it was unknown in the ancient world (or indeed the modern world).

There is nothing really implausible in I Claudius.

I have been re-watching it. Absolute masterpiece. Probably one of the best things the BBC ever produced.

How can you forget El Dorado ?

Or Triangle ?

With the greatest of ease!

OMG I remember I Claudius! Looking forward to rewatching this on iPlayer

I keep wondering when there'll be a proper historical drama on the Moghuls.
There are lots of po faced attempts on Pakistani and Indian TV and on various other rulers but it's emphasis is on gloss and not the sheer level of violence and manoeuvring

Good god. Patrick Stewart is a Sex People

AND He's GOT HAIRY SHOULDERS

I'd watch it.

Really enjoying rewatching this .so many good actors .Odd but I'm really noticing the thick makeup on the woman HD TVs I suppose.

Ah theres this

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empire_(Indian_TV_series)

Re-watching this masterpiece, I was struck by how beautifully the characters speak. No way would I Claudius be made today. There would be complaints that it’s too ‘elitist’. The characters speak too quickly and too intelligently for a modern audience. We struggle to process the words. There would also be complaints about the beautiful RP accents. I was told by a teacher that in 1900 an educated Brit had a vocabulary of around 100,000 words. Today, it’s about 60,000.

And Patrick Stewart as Serjanus!

I saw the tail end of Sian Phillips and Brian Blessed being interviewed by the Queen of All Things Roman ie Mary Beard, if she has given it her approval there is nothing more to say.

Sian Phillips looks amazing, she is 90 and is still stunningly beautiful. I hope it is on iPlayer because I binged the episodes that followed the interview but have missed the first few.

John Hurt is clearly having an absolute SCREAM as Caligula

Really been enjoying this, but Caligula has taken it to the next level. I could watch a whole series with John Hurt as this character and particularly love the scene where Claudius meets Caligula after his metamorphosis.

Apparently the Sopranos was inspired by this and the Godfather inspired by the Borgia family. Tony Soprano’s lovable mum is meant to be Livia and my theory is that Paulie is Claudius as he is the survivor. I’ve tried watching the recent series Domina which is about young Livia but there is no comparison with the awesomeness of I Claudius

I’m really enjoying this. The acting is spectacular so far. Have just got to the death of Germanicus.

I love how the focus is on the dialogue and relationships. A modern production would be more likely to add ‘drama’ and ‘spectacle’ by battle scenes/vast crowds etc.

.

The theme of the rise of the Empire and demise of the Republic as a backdrop also chimes with modern events. Especially in the US which consciously modelled itself after the Republic.

Trump as Caesar ?

Don't touch the figs.

I think I read something online about how the decision to film in the studio was deliberately taken to create a particular kind of production. It really does work and it so good, isn’t it.

And lots more rutting

What about John Hurt’s bikini? Still getting over the dance.

Did they show the most graphic version of Drusilla’s exit?