"I, Claudius" (1976) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 November 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out.

Plot:

The history of the Roman Empire as experienced by one of its rulers.

Plot Keywords:

Claudius | Emperor | Roman Empire | Tiberius | Conspiracy

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Derek Jacobi	...	Claudius (12 episodes, 1976)
George Baker	...	Tiberius (9 episodes, 1976)
Margaret Tyzack	...	Antonia (9 episodes, 1976)
Siân Phillips	...	Livia (7 episodes, 1976)
James Faulkner	...	Herod Agrippa / ... (7 episodes, 1976)
Brian Blessed	...	Augustus (5 episodes, 1976)
John Hurt	...	Caligula (5 episodes, 1976)

Runtime:

650 min (13 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:7 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-11 (DVD) (2005) | UK:15 | USA:Not Rated

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Humourously referred to as "I, Clavdivs" because the title sequence followed the Roman convention of using a letter "v" to stand for either a "u" or a "v".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the Senate chamber, the famous statue of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf appears above the door. But the two children were actually added to the statue in the 15th century.

Quotes:

Tiberius: Has it ever occurred to you, mother, that it's you they hate and not me?
Livia: There is nothing in this world that occurs to you that does not occur to me first. That is the affliction I live with.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I Claudius: A Television Epic (2002) (V)

The British show the world how to make a TV drama.

Nobody, absolutely nobody on planet Earth could do such an intelligent, superbly acted and brilliantly directed drama series like I, Claudius than the British. If one wanted to learn how to act, they should watch I, Claudius, if one wanted to learn to write drama, they should watch I, Claudius. In an age of dull, repetitive and childish immature television, I, Claudius stands out as a show that seems to good to be true. The viewer is spoiled with the staggering quality offered by the series.

With all due respect to American actors, and there are some very fine ones, they could never have achieved what the British actors did in I, Claudius. What we see are actors doing what they love so effortlessly without the benefit (or hindrance??) of mega-Hollywood bucks.

The show is, and I know this from my own experiences and from seeing the reaction of others, incredibly addictive. One simply cannot get enough of it. The series treats its audience as intelligent individuals which is such a refreshing change from the attitude of most current and past programs.

Without any hesitation, watch this series. Television can never get any better than this!