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MguyXXVI 
"X marks the spot"
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 Posted - 04/07/2008 : 03:31:51
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Certainly one of the most compelling books I've ever read. Recently someone reminded me that there had been a BBC mini-series, so I found it on Netflix and awaited my five disks.
For a 1976 production with a relatively low budget, the series holds up rather well. This is likely due to the outstanding acting contributed by Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Brian Blessed, Si�n Phillips, to name a few. It's a 13-hour primer on post-Julian Rome From Augustus, to Tiberius, to Caligula and ultimately to Claudius and is utterly fascinating for all of the plotting, poisoning and intrigue, supplied primerily by Augustus' wife Livia (Si�n Phillips). I found myself sitting for three hours at a time just gobbling up the story.
If you get a chance, immerse yourself in this thoroughly enjoyable work; if you remember it from back when, immerse yourself again for a treat.  |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 07:09:05
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My sister was totally hooked on it back when they ran it on PBS in Chicago's Channel 11, but I didn't get into it as much. Of course, since then I got into the Colleen MacCullough "Masters of Rome" books and I'd probably really enjoy it much more now.
(Now they're bringing "The Tutors" to TV here so that should be fun!) |
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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 08:21:16
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Yeah, it caused quite a sensation in the UK when it first aired. In those days Graves was getting something of a revival.
Unless I'm much mistaken [and let's face it how likely is that!  ] I'm pretty sure the book was at one point in the 1930s a film project for Charles Laughton - but the leading actress was in a car crash during filming. I'll do some research and get back to you.
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Conan The Westy
"Father, Faithful Friend, Fwiffer"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 08:31:38
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| The sequel "Claudius the God" is well worth a read. I'm with the Chocolate Lady on the Masters of Rome series too. Made me much more appreciative of the first season of Rome (I'm eagerly awaiting season 2 to reach Australia). |
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MguyXXVI
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 09:16:18
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| I had trouble with "Claudius the God." It wasn't as immediately compelling, as I recall; but I am a great fan of Robert Graves (having read even the unbelieveably turbid "King Jesus," which I yet found enjoyable). I got through about one-fourth of CTG and got interrupted (that was easily 20 years ago -- must have been that "law" thing). I've got to dig it out and finish it. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 10:39:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Conan The Westy
The sequel "Claudius the God" is well worth a read. I'm with the Chocolate Lady on the Masters of Rome series too. Made me much more appreciative of the first season of Rome (I'm eagerly awaiting season 2 to reach Australia).
Lucky you. We didn't get this here on my subscription, and while my sister gets her TV through the company that does have it, she watched in through the 'net. She sent me the link but I couldn't get it to play for me straight through. What I did see looked very good, despite them casting a dark-haired Cesaer. |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 10:51:16
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
Yeah, it caused quite a sensation in the UK when it first aired. In those days Graves was getting something of a revival.
Unless I'm much mistaken [and let's face it how likely is that! ] I'm pretty sure the book was at one point in the 1930s a film project for Charles Laughton - but the leading actress was in a car crash during filming. I'll do some research and get back to you.
Ah, yes ... good old imdb verifies my suspicion! I forgot it was von Sternberg's vehicle for Laughton.
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lemmycaution
"Long mired in film"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 13:00:46
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I remember devouring the book as a teenager, and then finding Grave's follow up a bit of a letdown. A few years later I was impressed with the TV series. This was near the beginning of the British TV Invasion here in North America.
As for the Laughton version.... |
Edited by - lemmycaution on 04/07/2008 18:49:17 |
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Whippersnapper. 
"A fourword thinking guy."
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 13:09:01
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
Yeah, it caused quite a sensation in the UK when it first aired. In those days Graves was getting something of a revival.
Unless I'm much mistaken [and let's face it how likely is that! ] I'm pretty sure the book was at one point in the 1930s a film project for Charles Laughton - but the leading actress was in a car crash during filming. I'll do some research and get back to you.
Ah, yes ... good old imdb verifies my suspicion! I forgot it was von Sternberg's vehicle for Laughton.
CRASH WRITES OFF VEHICLE. |
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Conan The Westy
"Father, Faithful Friend, Fwiffer"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 13:25:53
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by Conan The Westy
The sequel "Claudius the God" is well worth a read. I'm with the Chocolate Lady on the Masters of Rome series too. Made me much more appreciative of the first season of Rome (I'm eagerly awaiting season 2 to reach Australia).
Lucky you. We didn't get this here on my subscription...
Me either; I bought Season 1 on DVD. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 13:35:11
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Wanna lend it to me? I've got a multi-zone DVD player.
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MguyXXVI
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 16:44:23
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quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
I remember devouring the book as a teenager, and then finding Grave's follow up a bit of a letdown. a few years later I was impressed with the TV series. This was near the beginning of the British TV Invasion here in North America.
As for the Laughton version....
Got my vote.   |
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lemmycaution
"Long mired in film"
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Posted - 04/07/2008 : 18:52:04
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quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
I remember devouring the book as a teenager, and then finding Grave's follow up a bit of a letdown. A few years later I was impressed with the TV series. This was near the beginning of the British TV Invasion here in North America.
As for the Laughton version....
Got my vote.
You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.  |
Edited by - lemmycaution on 04/07/2008 18:52:34 |
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MguyXXVI
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 04/09/2008 : 16:20:47
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
Yeah, it caused quite a sensation in the UK when it first aired. In those days Graves was getting something of a revival.
Unless I'm much mistaken [and let's face it how likely is that! ] I'm pretty sure the book was at one point in the 1930s a film project for Charles Laughton - but the leading actress was in a car crash during filming. I'll do some research and get back to you.
Ah, yes ... good old imdb verifies my suspicion! I forgot it was von Sternberg's vehicle for Laughton.
In fact, if you watch the DVD set, the film you reference ("The Epic that Never Was") is on the last DVD. Let us thank God that those involved had the good grace to put that monstrosity out of our potential misery. The surviving footage depicts beutiful sets, but some very incongruent acting. Laughton's Claudius doesn't merely pale, it blanches in comparison to Jacobi's: all appear agreed that Laughton just could not get into the role. Further, I can barely imagine how the rich tapestry of intrigue encapsulated within both the book and (later) the miniseries could have translated into a perhaps three-hour film.
Admirable that a British studio thought to take on the project at the time -- especially as they had recently scored huge successes that seriously attacked the then steaming, monolithic Hollywood juggernaut. (Hey, it's drama, so why not mix some metaphors). Even more admirable that they had the good sense to discern that the production simply was not working. |
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Beanmimo 
"August review site"
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Posted - 04/09/2008 : 16:40:45
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Apart from being an avid Adventures of Asterix Fan as a child and teenager, I, Claudius was another influence that helped me choose the study of clasical civilisation in University.
The wonderful cast and attention to detail of the adaptation of Graves' two books with the chilling performance of John Hurt and the unhinged Caligula caught m attention.
A must for anyone with even a fleeting interest in ancient Rome.
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Koli
"Striving lackadaisically for perfection."
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Posted - 04/09/2008 : 19:19:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Conan The Westy
The sequel "Claudius the God" is well worth a read. I'm with the Chocolate Lady on the Masters of Rome series too. Made me much more appreciative of the first season of Rome (I'm eagerly awaiting season 2 to reach Australia).
I should offer a smugness warning here...
About 15 years ago I scored points for my quiz team because I knew the name of the sequel to 'I, Claudius'. You may well conclude that this merely proves that my companions were philistines, but it did wonders for my street cred at the time. |
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I, Claudius
