Miniseries – I, Claudius

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Michael Antony A Mikey’s TV Review: I, Claudius (1976) It’s hard to believe that the BBC’s production of I, Claudius, based Robert Graves’ titular 1934 novel and its 1935 sequel Claudius the God, is almost 50 years old! Adapted for the screen by Jack Pulman, it starred the crème de la crème of British acting talent of the day. Derek Jacobi as Claudius, Siân Phillips as Livia, Brian Blessed as Augustus, George Baker as Tiberius, Margaret Tyzack as Antonia, James Faulkner as Herod Agrippa, John Hurt as Caligula and a host of cameos from the likes of Patricia Quinn, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill… Many of whom went on to earn household name status in Blockbuster movies while others, such as Ian Ogilvy (Return Of The Saint), Simon MacCorkindale (Falcon Crest) and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: TNG) became 80’s TV heartthrobs and heroes. That also means there is scenery chewing galore! But with themes of sex, jealousy, incest, murder and corruption set against The Fall of Rome, what else could there be? Wilfred (The Prisoner) Josephs’ unnerving title theme perfectly sets up the intrigue and the horror within, but the lack of any incidental music allows each powerful, precise word to be delivered uninterrupted. In retrospect, modern viewers might find some of the props and backdrops a little fake, the wigs and beards a little cheap and some of the acting just a little camp. But for fans of brilliantly acted classic British drama there’s still no finer example, or exceptional band of thespians. Mikey’s TV Rating: 5/5* Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review christine c One of the best TV series of all time. See it for the dialogue and the terrific performances. The acting overwhelms the lack of production values and risible makeup In my opinion, Sian Phillips and Derek Jacoby deliver the best acting performances of all time Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Jacob B This was my introduction to Masterpiece Theatre. More importantly it was also my introduction to some of the greatest British actors of that era. They brought the story of the first few emperors of Rome to life in my little living room. The novels by Graves ( “I,Claudius” and the sequel “Claidius The God”) were faithfully adapted for the small screen with an equally small budget. If you are a total bore and can’t watch anything unless it is played out in front of a green screen that projects artificial vistas or you only watch epics that are shot on location where the spectacle frequently over rides the script, then this isn’t for you. BBC productions of the time were heavy on acting and lite on budget. But, just as on stage, a great performer is all you need; the sets be damned. Sir Derek Jacobi is flawless as the titular character, Sian Philips is terrifying and unforgettable as Livia, the incomparable John Hurt makes Caligula believable, Patricia Quinn is perfect as Livilla and the fantastic Margaret Tyzack steals everyone’s thunder as Claudius mother. Along side the BBC’s “Elizabeth R” with Glenda Jackson, this mini series is a master class in acting and proof that sometimes less is more. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/06/25 Full Review Daniel J Among the top 5 series ever made. Amazing acting (!!!), compelling story, and really interesting camera work. Also, the content and related period is super engaging. Some of the effects and production elements may be a bit dated, but they are also charming. A must see! This is on the second tier of my 3/5/7 GOAT series pyramid (second tier, first of the second row and #4 overall). Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/26/24 Full Review Tamara K The best miniseries ever made. I watched it when it originally aired and just discovered I can watch it again on YouTube. Yippee! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/13/24 Full Review Richard B Cardboard Romans Shout I watched the highly praised I Claudius again (1976 and sometime in the 1990s) and was struck by two things - how cheap and awful the production was, all cardboard, and how static it looked - and how the Shakespearian actors barked and shouted at the TV cameras. Fortunately, the Robert Graves source novels (read them both, twice) are a firm foundation for the scripts - which are compelling. It is more influential than excellent. There are three outstanding performances - Jacobi (Claudius), Philips (Livia) and Hurt (Caligula). Despite the occasional outbursts of overacting, these three supply credible characters that dominate the drama. But the rest of the cast is awful - Blessed (Augustus), the ugly fool who played Tiberius, the nympho Messalina and most of the remaining cast - who make faces, shout and deliver declaimed lines like they are on stage. The staginess of the production drags it down. The budget did not allow for outside shots, let alone well built exteriors. It is so cheap you can see the sets move on occasion. It was enjoyable to watch again, but for me, its shortcomings were all on display. The critics who gave it 100% RT ratings are wilfully blind to its shortcomings. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

I, Claudius — Miniseries

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