Miniseries – I, Claudius

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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 orange t I was first shown 'I, Claudius' by a friend at university, on what happend to actually be the 30th aniversary of it ever being aired. 20th September 2006. From that day onward, on which I watched the ENTIRE thing in a single day, I have rewatched it 6-7 more times. It remains to me, the second best show ever made (behind Band of Brothers), and that is a tesitiment to it's charm and strength, as it has basically no budget and the production value compared to shows of this day an age is pitiful. Regardless of this, the cast, the writing, the uneasiness and poison that runs throughout the show cannot be missed by anyone. The book(s) have since become some of my favourite novels and I recommend this show to almost everyone who I become close with. 10/10 TV, almost the best of all time. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/19/23 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 Paul B Fantastic adaptation of Robert Graves novels. Superb performances all around from a stellar cast, notably the great Derek Jacobi. I watched it when it first came out, and again this year. Marvellous. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews

I, Claudius — Miniseries

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