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I, Claudius (radio adaptation)

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I, Claudius
Iclaudiusradioseries.jpg
Cover of the audiobook
 
Genre
radio drama
Running time
6 x 60 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language(s)
English
Home station
BBC Radio 4
Starring
Tom Goodman-Hill,
Derek Jacobi,
Harriet Walter,
Tim McInnerny,
Samuel Barnett
Writer(s)
Robin Brooks, after the novels by Robert Graves
Director(s)
Jonquil Panting
Air dates
28 November 2010 to 2 January 2011
No. of series
1
No. of episodes
6
Opening theme
David Pickvance
Ending theme
David Pickvance
I, Claudius is a six-part 2010 radio adaptation of the novels I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves. Broadcast as part of the Classic Serial strand on BBC Radio 4, it was adapted by Robin Brooks and directed by Jonquil Panting, with music composed by David Pickvance. Claudius was played by Tom Goodman-Hill and the series' cast is also notable for including Derek Jacobi, who played Claudius in the 1976 BBC TV adaptation of the same works. The series was released as a BBC Audiobook on 6 January 2011.[1] It won the 2012 Audie Award in the "Audio Dramatization" category.[2][3]
Cast[edit]
Tom Goodman-Hill as Claudius
Derek Jacobi as Augustus
Harriet Walter as Livia
Tim McInnerny as Tiberius
Alison Pettitt as Julia
Sam Dale as Athenodorus/Sejanus/Tacitus
Sean Baker as Thrasyllus/Pomponius/Cremutius/Asiaticus
Christine Kavanagh as Antonia
Samuel Barnett as Caligula
Henry Devas as Postumus/Callistus
Trevor Peacock as Pollio
Hattie Morahan as Agrippina the Elder
Zubin Varla as Herod Agrippa
Jude Akuwudike as Cato/Cassius Chaerea/Plautius/Burrhus
Tony Bell as Macro/Frontinus
Sally Orrock as Calpurnia
Claire Harry as Agrippinilla (Agrippina the Younger)
Harvey Allpress as Young Claudius
Jessica Raine as Messalina
Robin Soans as Narcissus
Ryan Watson as Britannicus
Adeel Akhtar as Euodus
Iain Batchelor as Soldier
Episodes[edit]
1.Augustus (broadcast 28 November 2010)
2.Tiberius (broadcast 5 December 2010)
3.Sejanus (broadcast 12 December 2010)
4.Caligula (broadcast 19 December 2010)
5.Claudius (broadcast 26 December 2010)
6.Messalina (broadcast 2 January 2011)
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "I Claudius " I Claudius at BBC Shop
2.Jump up ^ I Claudius, AudioGo, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4084-2755-2
3.Jump up ^ "2012 Audie Awards, Audio Dramatization category". Retrieved June 7, 2012.


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 
Adaptations
I, Claudius (1976, TV series) ·
 I, Claudius (1937 film) ·
 I, Claudius (2010, radio adaptation)
 
 
TV series
Episodes  ("A Touch of Murder")
 
 

  


Categories: 2010 radio programme debuts
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British radio dramas
Period radio series
Radio programmes set in ancient Rome
I, Claudius


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I, Claudius (radio adaptation)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

I, Claudius
Iclaudiusradioseries.jpg
Cover of the audiobook
 
Genre
radio drama
Running time
6 x 60 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language(s)
English
Home station
BBC Radio 4
Starring
Tom Goodman-Hill,
Derek Jacobi,
Harriet Walter,
Tim McInnerny,
Samuel Barnett
Writer(s)
Robin Brooks, after the novels by Robert Graves
Director(s)
Jonquil Panting
Air dates
28 November 2010 to 2 January 2011
No. of series
1
No. of episodes
6
Opening theme
David Pickvance
Ending theme
David Pickvance
I, Claudius is a six-part 2010 radio adaptation of the novels I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves. Broadcast as part of the Classic Serial strand on BBC Radio 4, it was adapted by Robin Brooks and directed by Jonquil Panting, with music composed by David Pickvance. Claudius was played by Tom Goodman-Hill and the series' cast is also notable for including Derek Jacobi, who played Claudius in the 1976 BBC TV adaptation of the same works. The series was released as a BBC Audiobook on 6 January 2011.[1] It won the 2012 Audie Award in the "Audio Dramatization" category.[2][3]
Cast[edit]
Tom Goodman-Hill as Claudius
Derek Jacobi as Augustus
Harriet Walter as Livia
Tim McInnerny as Tiberius
Alison Pettitt as Julia
Sam Dale as Athenodorus/Sejanus/Tacitus
Sean Baker as Thrasyllus/Pomponius/Cremutius/Asiaticus
Christine Kavanagh as Antonia
Samuel Barnett as Caligula
Henry Devas as Postumus/Callistus
Trevor Peacock as Pollio
Hattie Morahan as Agrippina the Elder
Zubin Varla as Herod Agrippa
Jude Akuwudike as Cato/Cassius Chaerea/Plautius/Burrhus
Tony Bell as Macro/Frontinus
Sally Orrock as Calpurnia
Claire Harry as Agrippinilla (Agrippina the Younger)
Harvey Allpress as Young Claudius
Jessica Raine as Messalina
Robin Soans as Narcissus
Ryan Watson as Britannicus
Adeel Akhtar as Euodus
Iain Batchelor as Soldier
Episodes[edit]
1.Augustus (broadcast 28 November 2010)
2.Tiberius (broadcast 5 December 2010)
3.Sejanus (broadcast 12 December 2010)
4.Caligula (broadcast 19 December 2010)
5.Claudius (broadcast 26 December 2010)
6.Messalina (broadcast 2 January 2011)
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "I Claudius " I Claudius at BBC Shop
2.Jump up ^ I Claudius, AudioGo, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4084-2755-2
3.Jump up ^ "2012 Audie Awards, Audio Dramatization category". Retrieved June 7, 2012.


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 
Adaptations
I, Claudius (1976, TV series) ·
 I, Claudius (1937 film) ·
 I, Claudius (2010, radio adaptation)
 
 
TV series
Episodes  ("A Touch of Murder")
 
 

  


Categories: 2010 radio programme debuts
Radio programmes based on novels
British radio dramas
Period radio series
Radio programmes set in ancient Rome
I, Claudius


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I, Claudius (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search



 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2010)

I, Claudius

Directed by
Josef von Sternberg
Produced by
Alexander Korda
Written by
Robert Graves
 (adapting own novel)
Starring
Charles Laughton
Flora Robson
Emlyn Williams
Merle Oberon

Production
 company

London Films
 

Release dates
 1937 (intended)
Country
UK
Language
English
I, Claudius is an unfinished 1937 film of the book I, Claudius. The abandoned project was being produced by Alexander Korda, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Charles Laughton (as Claudius), Emlyn Williams (as Caligula), Flora Robson (as Livia), and Merle Oberon (as Messalina), but it was dogged by ill circumstances, culminating in a car accident involving Oberon, which caused filming to be ended before completion. A further attempt to rescue the footage by incorporating it into The Denham Studio Mystery, a proposed sequel to The Arsenal Stadium Mystery also fell through.
Laughton based his interpretation of Claudius on King Edward VIII and his abdication speech. Other speaking parts included Claudius's servant Narcissus, Claudius's doctor, Senators Sentius and Asiaticus, and soldiers Cassius and Lupus.
The BBC used the existing footage in a 70-minute documentary The Epic That Never Was (1965), hosted by Dirk Bogarde and featuring the opening of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The documentary is included in the DVD box set of the BBC series I, Claudius, and includes about 25 minutes of original footage from the uncompleted film.
Also in the cast were Allan Aynesworth (as Senator Asiaticus) and John Clements (as Valente). Von Sternberg recalled Ralph Richardson having been cast, but Richardson did not agree.
Bibliography[edit]
John Baxter, "14. The Fall of Claudius", The Cinema of Josef von Sternberg (London: Tantivy Press, 1971), pages 136-149
Philip Horne, He was a Premier League Film Director in The Daily Telegraph 5 August 2005 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3645546/He-was-a-premier-league-director.html discusses The Denham Studio Mystery)
Jon Solomon, The Ancient World in the Cinema: Revised and Expanded Edition (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001), pages 78–79 ISBN 0-300-08337-8
Steve Tucker, "Cursed but a Triumph!", South Wales Echo, December 16, 2005
Josef von Sternberg, Fun in a Chinese Laundry, New York: Macmillan, 1965) pages 172-189
External links[edit]
Keser, Robert (March 2005). "The Epic That Never Was". Senses of Cinema. Archived from the original on 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
Hall, Phil (2006-06-21). "Outta Gas – Film Threat's Top 10 Unfinished Films of All Time". Film Threat. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
"DiCaprio Mooted for I, Claudius Movie", The Guardian (6 September 2007)
I, Claudius at the Internet Movie Database


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Categories: English-language films
Unfinished films
Films based on British novels
1930s drama films
1930s historical films
British films
British historical films
I, Claudius
Films directed by Josef von Sternberg
Films set in ancient Rome
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Claudius_(film)







 



I, Claudius (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search



 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2010)

I, Claudius

Directed by
Josef von Sternberg
Produced by
Alexander Korda
Written by
Robert Graves
 (adapting own novel)
Starring
Charles Laughton
Flora Robson
Emlyn Williams
Merle Oberon

Production
 company

London Films
 

Release dates
 1937 (intended)
Country
UK
Language
English
I, Claudius is an unfinished 1937 film of the book I, Claudius. The abandoned project was being produced by Alexander Korda, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Charles Laughton (as Claudius), Emlyn Williams (as Caligula), Flora Robson (as Livia), and Merle Oberon (as Messalina), but it was dogged by ill circumstances, culminating in a car accident involving Oberon, which caused filming to be ended before completion. A further attempt to rescue the footage by incorporating it into The Denham Studio Mystery, a proposed sequel to The Arsenal Stadium Mystery also fell through.
Laughton based his interpretation of Claudius on King Edward VIII and his abdication speech. Other speaking parts included Claudius's servant Narcissus, Claudius's doctor, Senators Sentius and Asiaticus, and soldiers Cassius and Lupus.
The BBC used the existing footage in a 70-minute documentary The Epic That Never Was (1965), hosted by Dirk Bogarde and featuring the opening of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The documentary is included in the DVD box set of the BBC series I, Claudius, and includes about 25 minutes of original footage from the uncompleted film.
Also in the cast were Allan Aynesworth (as Senator Asiaticus) and John Clements (as Valente). Von Sternberg recalled Ralph Richardson having been cast, but Richardson did not agree.
Bibliography[edit]
John Baxter, "14. The Fall of Claudius", The Cinema of Josef von Sternberg (London: Tantivy Press, 1971), pages 136-149
Philip Horne, He was a Premier League Film Director in The Daily Telegraph 5 August 2005 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3645546/He-was-a-premier-league-director.html discusses The Denham Studio Mystery)
Jon Solomon, The Ancient World in the Cinema: Revised and Expanded Edition (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001), pages 78–79 ISBN 0-300-08337-8
Steve Tucker, "Cursed but a Triumph!", South Wales Echo, December 16, 2005
Josef von Sternberg, Fun in a Chinese Laundry, New York: Macmillan, 1965) pages 172-189
External links[edit]
Keser, Robert (March 2005). "The Epic That Never Was". Senses of Cinema. Archived from the original on 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
Hall, Phil (2006-06-21). "Outta Gas – Film Threat's Top 10 Unfinished Films of All Time". Film Threat. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
"DiCaprio Mooted for I, Claudius Movie", The Guardian (6 September 2007)
I, Claudius at the Internet Movie Database


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Films directed by Josef von Sternberg

 











 





















 


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The films of Alexander Korda

 






 


























 


 


















 


 















 


 




 






 










































 


 




















 


 






































 


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 






 





 



Stub icon This 1930s drama film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.




  


Categories: English-language films
Unfinished films
Films based on British novels
1930s drama films
1930s historical films
British films
British historical films
I, Claudius
Films directed by Josef von Sternberg
Films set in ancient Rome
Films set in the Roman Empire
Films set in the 1st century
Biographical films about Roman emperors
British drama films
Films produced by Alexander Korda
1930s drama film stubs






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I, Claudius

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Jump to: navigation, search

This article is about the novel. For other uses, see I, Claudius (disambiguation).
I, Claudius
I Cladius 1st edition book cover.jpg
First edition cover
 
Author
Robert Graves
Cover artist
John Aldridge (1st ed.)[1]
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Genre
Historical novel
Publisher
Arthur Barker (1st ed.)

Publication date
 1934
Media type
Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages
468 pp (paperback ed.)
ISBN
978-0679724773
OCLC
19811474

Dewey Decimal
 823/.912 20
LC Class
PR6013.R35 I2 1989
Followed by
Claudius the God
I, Claudius (1934) is a novel by English writer Robert Graves, written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Accordingly, it includes history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC to Caligula's assassination in 41 AD.
The 'autobiography' of Claudius continues (from Claudius' accession after Caligula's death, to his own death in 54) in Claudius the God (1935). The sequel also includes a section written as a biography of Herod Agrippa, contemporary of Claudius and future King of the Jews. The two books were adapted by the BBC into an award-winning television serial, I, Claudius.
In 1998 the Modern Library ranked I, Claudius fourteenth on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. In 2005, the novel was chosen by TIME magazine as one of the one hundred best English-language novels from 1923 to present.[2]


Contents  [hide]
1 The novels 1.1 Content
1.2 I, Claudius
1.3 Claudius the God
2 Literary significance and criticism
3 Adaptations 3.1 Film and television
3.2 Radio
3.3 Theatre
3.4 Audio
4 Later references
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

The novels[edit]
Content[edit]
Claudius was the fourth Emperor of Rome (r. 41–54 AD). Historically, Claudius' family kept him out of public life until his sudden coronation at the age of forty nine. This was due to his being perceived as being a dolt due to his stammering, limp and other nervous tics. This made others see him as mentally deficient and also therefore not a threat to his ambitious relatives. Even as his symptoms begin to wane in his teenage years, he runs into trouble for his work as a budding historian. His work on a history of the civil wars was too truthful and too critical of the reigning emperor Augustus, and his mother and grandmother quickly put a stop to it. This episode reinforced their initial suspicions that Claudius was not fit for public office. This is how he was defined by scholars for most of history, and Graves uses these peculiarities to develop a sympathetic character whose survival in a murderous dynasty depends upon his family's incorrect assumption that he is a harmless idiot.
Graves's interpretation of the story owes much to the histories of Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, Plutarch, and (especially) Suetonius (Lives of the Twelve Caesars). Graves translated Suetonius before writing the novels. Graves claimed that after he read Suetonius, Claudius came to him in a dream one night and demanded that his real story be told. The life of Claudius provided Graves with a way to write about the first four Emperors of Rome (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius) from an intimate point of view.
In addition, the real Claudius was a trained historian and is known to have written an autobiography (now lost) in eight books that covered the same time period. I, Claudius is a first-person narrative of Roman history from the reigns of Augustus to Caligula; Claudius the God is written as a later addition documenting Claudius' own reign.
Graves provides a theme for the story by having the fictionalised Claudius describe a visit to Cumae, where he receives a prophecy in verse from the Sibyl, and an additional prophecy contained in a book of "Sibylline Curiosities". The latter concerns the fates of the "hairy ones" (i.e. The Caesars – from the Latin word "caesar", meaning "a fine head of hair") who are to rule Rome. The penultimate verse concerns his own reign, and Claudius assumes that he can tell the identity of the last emperor described. From the outset, then, Graves establishes a fatalistic tone that plays out at the end of Claudius the God, Claudius predicts his own assassination and succession by Nero.
At Cumae, the Sibyl tells Claudius that he will "speak clear." Claudius believes this means that his secret memoirs will be one day found, and that he, having therein written the truth, will speak clearly, while his contemporaries, who had to distort their histories to appease the ruling family, will seem like stammerers. Since he wishes to record his life for posterity, Claudius chooses to write in Greek, since he believes that it will remain "the chief literary language of the world." This enables Graves to offer explanations of Latin wordplay or etymologies that would be unnecessary for native Latin speakers.
I, Claudius[edit]
Claudius establishes himself as the author of this history of his family, and insists on writing the truth, which includes a heavy critique of the now deified Augustus and especially Livia.
During the prosperous reign of Augustus, he is plagued by personal losses as his favored heirs, Marcellus, Marcus Agrippa, Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar, die at varying points. Claudius reveals that these untimely deaths are all the machinations of Augustus' cold wife Livia, who seeks to make her son Tiberius succeed Augustus.
As these intrigues occur, the sickly Tiberius Claudius is born and quickly shunned and mocked by his family. Only his brother Germanicus and his cousin Postumus treat him with any kindness. He eventually is given a great tutor Athenodorus, who fosters a love of history and republican government in Claudius. During this early age Claudius is advised by his idol Asinius Pollio to play the fool to survive.
Later, Postumus is framed for raping Livilla and beating his niece Aemilia and banished to an island, but Postumus relays the truth to Claudius. Claudius relays the truth to Germanicus, who convinces Augustus of Postumus' innocence. Relenting, Augustus removes Postumus for a double named Clemens and secretly writes a will restoring Postumus as his heir. But Livia manages to discover this and poisons Augustus.
Following the death of Augustus, Tiberius is declared Emperor, but the legions of Germany refuse to accept Tiberius and instead declare Germanicus as his Emperor. Germanicus, shocked and confused, refuses, instead he sends his wife and youngest son Caligula away and asks Claudius for an enormous sum of money to pay the soldiers. Claudius agrees and pretends that they are gambling debts. With the money and the return of Caligula, Germanicus ends the mutiny and has several successful campaigns in Germany.
In the midst of this, Claudius is informed that Postumus is alive, and secretly forming a resistance group to take back his rightful place in Rome. But Claudius' letters to Germanicus about Postumus are intercepted by Livia. Postumus is later captured and executed by Tiberius. Livia, recognizing that Claudius is a threat, sends him to Carthage to avoid contact with Germanicus.
Growing to fear Germanicus more and more, Tiberius sends a hostile governor, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, to spy on Germanicus. Germanicus soon becomes plagued by witchcraft, before dying of poison. It is later revealed that Germanicus' own son Caligula was the instigator of the witchcraft.
As Tiberius becomes more hated, he increasingly relies on his Praetorian Captain Sejanus who is able to make Tiberius fear Germanicus' wife Agrippina and his own son Castor. Sejanus secretly plots with Livilla to usurp the monarchy by poisoning Castor and beginning to remove any ally of Agrippina and her sons. Agrippina only survives due to the protection of Livia, who holds vital information of Augustus' true opinion of Tiberius.
Livia then has a surprising dinner, to which Claudius and Caligula are invited. She predicts that Caligula will become Emperor (not Caligula's older brothers) and that Claudius will succeed him. Livia begs Claudius to swear to make her a goddess (she believes it will grant her a blissful afterlife), which he agrees to. Claudius later is invited to Livia on her deathbed and reveals that Caligula betrayed his promise. Claudius swears that Livia will become the Queen of Heaven, which moves Livia before dying to declare he is no fool.
Tiberius, now free of Livia, loses all compunction and executes hundreds, including banishing Agrippina and her son Nero, while Agrippina's son Drusus is starved to death in Rome. Sejanus is now given full command of the city and is the de facto ruler of Rome. But Tiberius is alerted to Sejanus' treachery by a letter from Antonia. Tiberius now allies himself with Caligula, whom he calls a poisonous snake, and transfers control to the more wicked Naevius Sutorius Macro. Sejanus is killed along with his children. Claudius survives despite being married to Sejanus' sister, and quickly divorces his wife. Livilla is locked in a room by her mother Antonia and starved to death, Antonia punishes herself for having raised Livilla by listening to her daughter die.
Now old and feeble, Tiberius is smothered to death by Macro, after earlier having appeared to have died. Caligula is declared Emperor and at first appears to be enlightened and kind. To his surprise, Claudius is recalled to Rome from his peaceful life writing history in Capua, living with his prostitute companion Calpurnia. Claudius quickly becomes the butt of many taunts and practical jokes by the Imperial Court. Caligula soon loses his mind, after recovering from a severe illness, and declares himself a god. His behavior becomes more and more irrational as he bankrupts the country and kills thousands.
The madness having reached a tempest is finally quelled by Cassius Chaerea (frequently appearing throughout the book) who kills Caligula, along with his wife and daughter. Claudius horrified, hides behind a curtain and is discovered by a disgruntled Praetorian Guard. The Guards needing an Emperor to be employed bemusedly declare Claudius Emperor. Claudius pleads that he does not want to be an Emperor and wants the Republic restored but the Guards ignore him. Claudius sadly accepts for the sake of his wife and unborn child, and on a whim thinks that as Emperor he will finally have people read his books.
Claudius the God[edit]
The story begins with an apology by Claudius for ending his first history on a dramatic point, and continues with a brief history of his friend Herod Agrippa. Herod Agrippa was a schoolmate of Claudius and was liked by Claudius' mother Antonia. Herod always finds himself in debts and danger in the East and in Rome. He eventually gains the favor of Caligula and is made King of Bashan. Herod is in Rome when the assassination of Caligula happens and quickly is able to convince Claudius to accept being Emperor to avoid Civil War.
Claudius reluctantly executes Cassius Chaerea and several of the assassins and begins tirelessly working for the sake of Rome. He applies himself to the law courts, and demonstrates his intelligence in being able to locate one of Augustus' lost Eagles. Claudius also begins work on building a harbor in Ostia to help preserve the Romans' food supply. Claudius is also able to quell two major mutinies against him and has a successful conquest of Britain.
During this time Herod Agrippa conspires to take over the East as he regards himself as the Messiah. When he announces himself as such he breaks the first commandment by declaring himself as a god. Herod quickly dies a painful death, just as his grandfather had died, but he dies imploring Claudius to forgive him and not to trust anyone.
Throughout Claudius' reign he is being unwittingly manipulated by his adulterous and wicked wife Messalina who kills many of her enemies as well as being involved in bribery. She eventually conspires to usurp the monarchy with her lover Gaius Silius. Claudius is distraught and crushed by such news and is given an "Olympian Mixture" in order to manage through the ordeal. Claudius arrests Silius and the leaders of the coup. Messalina is executed without Claudius's consent, and Claudius has no reaction during his "Olympian" state, and even bemusedly jokes about being worshipped as a god in Britain.
However, upon being relieved of the "Olympian Mixture" Claudius is crushed. Now deploring his actions Claudius decides that the only way the Republic can be restored is by having a true mad monarch rather than the reign of a benevolent one. Comparing himself to the fable of the frogs who desired a King, Claudius privately refers to himself as "Old King Log" and plays a weak and easily manipulated fool. He then incestuously marries his niece Agrippinilla whom he openly despises. In feeble old age Claudius now excessively enjoys gladiatorial games and frequently is intoxicated and makes himself oblivious to Agrippinilla's schemes to gain power and make her son Nero Emperor. Claudius, foreseeing that Nero shall be a terrible ruler, plans on having his noble son Britannicus removed to live with the Northern Britons and later to return as Rome's savior. But Britannicus refuses to do such, and admits that while he loves the Republic, the Republic is dead and wants to challenge Nero the right to rule Rome as an Emperor. Crushed, Claudius agrees, knowing that he is sending his son to his death. Claudius resignedly accepts that his death is soon with numerous signs suggesting such.
Literary significance and criticism[edit]
The I, Claudius novels, as they are called collectively, became massively popular when first published in 1934 and gained literary recognition with the award of the 1934 James Tait Black Prize for fiction. They are probably Graves's best known work aside from his myth essay The White Goddess, his English translation of The Golden Ass and his own autobiography Goodbye to All That. Graves later claimed that they were written only from financial need on a strict deadline. Nonetheless, they are today regarded as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction.
Adaptations[edit]
Film and television[edit]
In 1937, abortive attempts were made to adapt the first book into a film by the film director Josef von Sternberg. The producer was Alexander Korda, who was then married to Merle Oberon, who was cast as Claudius' wife Messalina. Emlyn Williams was cast as Caligula, Charles Laughton was cast as Claudius, and Flora Robson was cast as Livia. Filming was abandoned after Oberon was injured in a serious motor car accident.
In 1976, BBC Television adapted the book and its sequel into the popular TV serial, also entitled I, Claudius. The production, which starred Derek Jacobi, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed and John Hurt, won four BAFTAs in 1977 and three Emmys in 1978.
In 2008, it was reported that Relativity Media had obtained the rights to produce a new film adaptation of I, Claudius. Jim Sheridan was named as director.[3]
In 2011, rights then passed to HBO and BBC2 to film a miniseries adaptation. Jane Tranter and Anne Thomopoulos, who previously worked on HBO/BBC2's miniseries Rome have been named as producers.
Radio[edit]
Main article: I, Claudius (radio adaptation)
In November and December 2010, as part of the Classic Serial strand, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a series of six-hour-long episodes of a dramatisation of both novels, adapted by Robin Brooks and directed by Jonquil Panting. Performers were Derek Jacobi, Tom Goodman Hill and full cast. It won the 2012 Audie Award in the "Audio Dramatization" category.[4][5]
Theatre[edit]
The novel has also been adapted for theatre. The 1972 production I, Claudius was written by John Mortimer and starred David Warner.[6]
Audio[edit]
Several audio recordings of the novel have been produced.
Derek Jacobi performed two separate readings of the novel, both as abridged versions, one for Dove Audio (1986) and one for CSA Word (2007).
Nelson Runger performed unabridged readings of both I, Claudius and Claudius the God for Recorded Books, copyright 1987.
In 1988, Jonathan Oliver performed an unabridged reading for ISIS Audio Books.
Frederick Davidson performed an unabridged reading for Blackstone Audiobooks in 1994.
Later references[edit]
A. E. van Vogt wrote a novel, Empire of the Atom, which is a wholesale translation of Graves's novel into science fiction.
In the last page of The Areas of My Expertise, John Hodgman includes a table comparing his "future works" with I, Claudius.


 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2015)
The self-referential title has influenced the names of other works of fiction and autobiographies:
I, Claud..., autobiography of Claud Cockburn
I, Claudia, Canadian independent film
I, Claudia, the first of a series of novels by Marilyn Todd, featuring her heroine Claudia Seferius
I & Claudius: Travels with My Cat, accounts of travel by Clare de Vries and her Burmese cat Claudius
I, Clownius, an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
I, Cthulhu, a short story by Neil Gaiman
I, Frankenstein, a 2014 film by Stuart Beattie
I, Jedi, Star Wars Expanded Universe novel by Michael Stackpole
I, Libertine, 1956 novel by Theodore Sturgeon
I, Lucifer, a novel by Glen Duncan
I, Mengsk, novel by Graham McNeill in the world of StarCraft, about the three generations of the Mengsk family.
I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan, the 2011 'autobiography' of fictional English TV and radio presenter Alan Partridge
I, Phoolan Devi, autobiography of Indian female bandit Phoolan Devi
I, Robot, 1939 Adam Link story by Eando Binder (unrelated to the Isaac Asimov story collection)
I, Robot, 1950 science fiction story collection by Isaac Asimov.
I, Strahd, a horror-fantasy novel by P. N. Elrod set in Ravenloft
I, Tintin, documentary film about the author of the fictional adventurer
I, Tyrant, a sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons based on the beholder creatures; aside from the reference to I, Claudius, the name is also a play on the creatures' nickname of "Eye Tyrant."
Io, Caligola, Italian title of the re-cut infamous motion picture Caligula when re-released in Italy in 1984 (the translated title is "I, Caligula")
Me, Claudius, a play presented by Sesame Street's Cookie Monster on Monsterpiece Theatre (Cookie Monster frequently confuses personal pronouns)
See also[edit]

Portal icon Novels portal
Count Belisarius
Tacitean studies
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Modern first editions – a set on Flickr
2.Jump up ^ "All Time 100 Novels". Time. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
3.Jump up ^ Kit, Borys (12 September 2008). "Director Jim Sheridan eyes I, Claudius". Reuters. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
4.Jump up ^ I Claudius, AudioGo, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4084-2755-2
5.Jump up ^ "2012 Audie Awards, Audio Dramatization category". Retrieved 7 June 2012.
6.Jump up ^ "The View from London". TIME. 18 September 1972. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
External links[edit]
GradeSaver study guide on I, Claudius with summary and analysis
I, Claudius Project (concentrates on the BBC production)
Encyclopedia of Television
British Film Institute Screen Online (TV series)
I, Claudius at BBC Programmes
I, Claudius at the Internet Movie Database
Web oficial de 'La Casa de Robert Graves' en Deià, Mallorca. De la Fundación Robert Graves.
BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial: I, Claudius – Episode One
I, Claudius pdf.


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I, Claudius

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This article is about the novel. For other uses, see I, Claudius (disambiguation).
I, Claudius
I Cladius 1st edition book cover.jpg
First edition cover
 
Author
Robert Graves
Cover artist
John Aldridge (1st ed.)[1]
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Genre
Historical novel
Publisher
Arthur Barker (1st ed.)

Publication date
 1934
Media type
Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages
468 pp (paperback ed.)
ISBN
978-0679724773
OCLC
19811474

Dewey Decimal
 823/.912 20
LC Class
PR6013.R35 I2 1989
Followed by
Claudius the God
I, Claudius (1934) is a novel by English writer Robert Graves, written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Accordingly, it includes history of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty and Roman Empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC to Caligula's assassination in 41 AD.
The 'autobiography' of Claudius continues (from Claudius' accession after Caligula's death, to his own death in 54) in Claudius the God (1935). The sequel also includes a section written as a biography of Herod Agrippa, contemporary of Claudius and future King of the Jews. The two books were adapted by the BBC into an award-winning television serial, I, Claudius.
In 1998 the Modern Library ranked I, Claudius fourteenth on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. In 2005, the novel was chosen by TIME magazine as one of the one hundred best English-language novels from 1923 to present.[2]


Contents  [hide]
1 The novels 1.1 Content
1.2 I, Claudius
1.3 Claudius the God
2 Literary significance and criticism
3 Adaptations 3.1 Film and television
3.2 Radio
3.3 Theatre
3.4 Audio
4 Later references
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

The novels[edit]
Content[edit]
Claudius was the fourth Emperor of Rome (r. 41–54 AD). Historically, Claudius' family kept him out of public life until his sudden coronation at the age of forty nine. This was due to his being perceived as being a dolt due to his stammering, limp and other nervous tics. This made others see him as mentally deficient and also therefore not a threat to his ambitious relatives. Even as his symptoms begin to wane in his teenage years, he runs into trouble for his work as a budding historian. His work on a history of the civil wars was too truthful and too critical of the reigning emperor Augustus, and his mother and grandmother quickly put a stop to it. This episode reinforced their initial suspicions that Claudius was not fit for public office. This is how he was defined by scholars for most of history, and Graves uses these peculiarities to develop a sympathetic character whose survival in a murderous dynasty depends upon his family's incorrect assumption that he is a harmless idiot.
Graves's interpretation of the story owes much to the histories of Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, Plutarch, and (especially) Suetonius (Lives of the Twelve Caesars). Graves translated Suetonius before writing the novels. Graves claimed that after he read Suetonius, Claudius came to him in a dream one night and demanded that his real story be told. The life of Claudius provided Graves with a way to write about the first four Emperors of Rome (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius) from an intimate point of view.
In addition, the real Claudius was a trained historian and is known to have written an autobiography (now lost) in eight books that covered the same time period. I, Claudius is a first-person narrative of Roman history from the reigns of Augustus to Caligula; Claudius the God is written as a later addition documenting Claudius' own reign.
Graves provides a theme for the story by having the fictionalised Claudius describe a visit to Cumae, where he receives a prophecy in verse from the Sibyl, and an additional prophecy contained in a book of "Sibylline Curiosities". The latter concerns the fates of the "hairy ones" (i.e. The Caesars – from the Latin word "caesar", meaning "a fine head of hair") who are to rule Rome. The penultimate verse concerns his own reign, and Claudius assumes that he can tell the identity of the last emperor described. From the outset, then, Graves establishes a fatalistic tone that plays out at the end of Claudius the God, Claudius predicts his own assassination and succession by Nero.
At Cumae, the Sibyl tells Claudius that he will "speak clear." Claudius believes this means that his secret memoirs will be one day found, and that he, having therein written the truth, will speak clearly, while his contemporaries, who had to distort their histories to appease the ruling family, will seem like stammerers. Since he wishes to record his life for posterity, Claudius chooses to write in Greek, since he believes that it will remain "the chief literary language of the world." This enables Graves to offer explanations of Latin wordplay or etymologies that would be unnecessary for native Latin speakers.
I, Claudius[edit]
Claudius establishes himself as the author of this history of his family, and insists on writing the truth, which includes a heavy critique of the now deified Augustus and especially Livia.
During the prosperous reign of Augustus, he is plagued by personal losses as his favored heirs, Marcellus, Marcus Agrippa, Gaius Caesar and Lucius Caesar, die at varying points. Claudius reveals that these untimely deaths are all the machinations of Augustus' cold wife Livia, who seeks to make her son Tiberius succeed Augustus.
As these intrigues occur, the sickly Tiberius Claudius is born and quickly shunned and mocked by his family. Only his brother Germanicus and his cousin Postumus treat him with any kindness. He eventually is given a great tutor Athenodorus, who fosters a love of history and republican government in Claudius. During this early age Claudius is advised by his idol Asinius Pollio to play the fool to survive.
Later, Postumus is framed for raping Livilla and beating his niece Aemilia and banished to an island, but Postumus relays the truth to Claudius. Claudius relays the truth to Germanicus, who convinces Augustus of Postumus' innocence. Relenting, Augustus removes Postumus for a double named Clemens and secretly writes a will restoring Postumus as his heir. But Livia manages to discover this and poisons Augustus.
Following the death of Augustus, Tiberius is declared Emperor, but the legions of Germany refuse to accept Tiberius and instead declare Germanicus as his Emperor. Germanicus, shocked and confused, refuses, instead he sends his wife and youngest son Caligula away and asks Claudius for an enormous sum of money to pay the soldiers. Claudius agrees and pretends that they are gambling debts. With the money and the return of Caligula, Germanicus ends the mutiny and has several successful campaigns in Germany.
In the midst of this, Claudius is informed that Postumus is alive, and secretly forming a resistance group to take back his rightful place in Rome. But Claudius' letters to Germanicus about Postumus are intercepted by Livia. Postumus is later captured and executed by Tiberius. Livia, recognizing that Claudius is a threat, sends him to Carthage to avoid contact with Germanicus.
Growing to fear Germanicus more and more, Tiberius sends a hostile governor, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, to spy on Germanicus. Germanicus soon becomes plagued by witchcraft, before dying of poison. It is later revealed that Germanicus' own son Caligula was the instigator of the witchcraft.
As Tiberius becomes more hated, he increasingly relies on his Praetorian Captain Sejanus who is able to make Tiberius fear Germanicus' wife Agrippina and his own son Castor. Sejanus secretly plots with Livilla to usurp the monarchy by poisoning Castor and beginning to remove any ally of Agrippina and her sons. Agrippina only survives due to the protection of Livia, who holds vital information of Augustus' true opinion of Tiberius.
Livia then has a surprising dinner, to which Claudius and Caligula are invited. She predicts that Caligula will become Emperor (not Caligula's older brothers) and that Claudius will succeed him. Livia begs Claudius to swear to make her a goddess (she believes it will grant her a blissful afterlife), which he agrees to. Claudius later is invited to Livia on her deathbed and reveals that Caligula betrayed his promise. Claudius swears that Livia will become the Queen of Heaven, which moves Livia before dying to declare he is no fool.
Tiberius, now free of Livia, loses all compunction and executes hundreds, including banishing Agrippina and her son Nero, while Agrippina's son Drusus is starved to death in Rome. Sejanus is now given full command of the city and is the de facto ruler of Rome. But Tiberius is alerted to Sejanus' treachery by a letter from Antonia. Tiberius now allies himself with Caligula, whom he calls a poisonous snake, and transfers control to the more wicked Naevius Sutorius Macro. Sejanus is killed along with his children. Claudius survives despite being married to Sejanus' sister, and quickly divorces his wife. Livilla is locked in a room by her mother Antonia and starved to death, Antonia punishes herself for having raised Livilla by listening to her daughter die.
Now old and feeble, Tiberius is smothered to death by Macro, after earlier having appeared to have died. Caligula is declared Emperor and at first appears to be enlightened and kind. To his surprise, Claudius is recalled to Rome from his peaceful life writing history in Capua, living with his prostitute companion Calpurnia. Claudius quickly becomes the butt of many taunts and practical jokes by the Imperial Court. Caligula soon loses his mind, after recovering from a severe illness, and declares himself a god. His behavior becomes more and more irrational as he bankrupts the country and kills thousands.
The madness having reached a tempest is finally quelled by Cassius Chaerea (frequently appearing throughout the book) who kills Caligula, along with his wife and daughter. Claudius horrified, hides behind a curtain and is discovered by a disgruntled Praetorian Guard. The Guards needing an Emperor to be employed bemusedly declare Claudius Emperor. Claudius pleads that he does not want to be an Emperor and wants the Republic restored but the Guards ignore him. Claudius sadly accepts for the sake of his wife and unborn child, and on a whim thinks that as Emperor he will finally have people read his books.
Claudius the God[edit]
The story begins with an apology by Claudius for ending his first history on a dramatic point, and continues with a brief history of his friend Herod Agrippa. Herod Agrippa was a schoolmate of Claudius and was liked by Claudius' mother Antonia. Herod always finds himself in debts and danger in the East and in Rome. He eventually gains the favor of Caligula and is made King of Bashan. Herod is in Rome when the assassination of Caligula happens and quickly is able to convince Claudius to accept being Emperor to avoid Civil War.
Claudius reluctantly executes Cassius Chaerea and several of the assassins and begins tirelessly working for the sake of Rome. He applies himself to the law courts, and demonstrates his intelligence in being able to locate one of Augustus' lost Eagles. Claudius also begins work on building a harbor in Ostia to help preserve the Romans' food supply. Claudius is also able to quell two major mutinies against him and has a successful conquest of Britain.
During this time Herod Agrippa conspires to take over the East as he regards himself as the Messiah. When he announces himself as such he breaks the first commandment by declaring himself as a god. Herod quickly dies a painful death, just as his grandfather had died, but he dies imploring Claudius to forgive him and not to trust anyone.
Throughout Claudius' reign he is being unwittingly manipulated by his adulterous and wicked wife Messalina who kills many of her enemies as well as being involved in bribery. She eventually conspires to usurp the monarchy with her lover Gaius Silius. Claudius is distraught and crushed by such news and is given an "Olympian Mixture" in order to manage through the ordeal. Claudius arrests Silius and the leaders of the coup. Messalina is executed without Claudius's consent, and Claudius has no reaction during his "Olympian" state, and even bemusedly jokes about being worshipped as a god in Britain.
However, upon being relieved of the "Olympian Mixture" Claudius is crushed. Now deploring his actions Claudius decides that the only way the Republic can be restored is by having a true mad monarch rather than the reign of a benevolent one. Comparing himself to the fable of the frogs who desired a King, Claudius privately refers to himself as "Old King Log" and plays a weak and easily manipulated fool. He then incestuously marries his niece Agrippinilla whom he openly despises. In feeble old age Claudius now excessively enjoys gladiatorial games and frequently is intoxicated and makes himself oblivious to Agrippinilla's schemes to gain power and make her son Nero Emperor. Claudius, foreseeing that Nero shall be a terrible ruler, plans on having his noble son Britannicus removed to live with the Northern Britons and later to return as Rome's savior. But Britannicus refuses to do such, and admits that while he loves the Republic, the Republic is dead and wants to challenge Nero the right to rule Rome as an Emperor. Crushed, Claudius agrees, knowing that he is sending his son to his death. Claudius resignedly accepts that his death is soon with numerous signs suggesting such.
Literary significance and criticism[edit]
The I, Claudius novels, as they are called collectively, became massively popular when first published in 1934 and gained literary recognition with the award of the 1934 James Tait Black Prize for fiction. They are probably Graves's best known work aside from his myth essay The White Goddess, his English translation of The Golden Ass and his own autobiography Goodbye to All That. Graves later claimed that they were written only from financial need on a strict deadline. Nonetheless, they are today regarded as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction.
Adaptations[edit]
Film and television[edit]
In 1937, abortive attempts were made to adapt the first book into a film by the film director Josef von Sternberg. The producer was Alexander Korda, who was then married to Merle Oberon, who was cast as Claudius' wife Messalina. Emlyn Williams was cast as Caligula, Charles Laughton was cast as Claudius, and Flora Robson was cast as Livia. Filming was abandoned after Oberon was injured in a serious motor car accident.
In 1976, BBC Television adapted the book and its sequel into the popular TV serial, also entitled I, Claudius. The production, which starred Derek Jacobi, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed and John Hurt, won four BAFTAs in 1977 and three Emmys in 1978.
In 2008, it was reported that Relativity Media had obtained the rights to produce a new film adaptation of I, Claudius. Jim Sheridan was named as director.[3]
In 2011, rights then passed to HBO and BBC2 to film a miniseries adaptation. Jane Tranter and Anne Thomopoulos, who previously worked on HBO/BBC2's miniseries Rome have been named as producers.
Radio[edit]
Main article: I, Claudius (radio adaptation)
In November and December 2010, as part of the Classic Serial strand, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a series of six-hour-long episodes of a dramatisation of both novels, adapted by Robin Brooks and directed by Jonquil Panting. Performers were Derek Jacobi, Tom Goodman Hill and full cast. It won the 2012 Audie Award in the "Audio Dramatization" category.[4][5]
Theatre[edit]
The novel has also been adapted for theatre. The 1972 production I, Claudius was written by John Mortimer and starred David Warner.[6]
Audio[edit]
Several audio recordings of the novel have been produced.
Derek Jacobi performed two separate readings of the novel, both as abridged versions, one for Dove Audio (1986) and one for CSA Word (2007).
Nelson Runger performed unabridged readings of both I, Claudius and Claudius the God for Recorded Books, copyright 1987.
In 1988, Jonathan Oliver performed an unabridged reading for ISIS Audio Books.
Frederick Davidson performed an unabridged reading for Blackstone Audiobooks in 1994.
Later references[edit]
A. E. van Vogt wrote a novel, Empire of the Atom, which is a wholesale translation of Graves's novel into science fiction.
In the last page of The Areas of My Expertise, John Hodgman includes a table comparing his "future works" with I, Claudius.


 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2015)
The self-referential title has influenced the names of other works of fiction and autobiographies:
I, Claud..., autobiography of Claud Cockburn
I, Claudia, Canadian independent film
I, Claudia, the first of a series of novels by Marilyn Todd, featuring her heroine Claudia Seferius
I & Claudius: Travels with My Cat, accounts of travel by Clare de Vries and her Burmese cat Claudius
I, Clownius, an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
I, Cthulhu, a short story by Neil Gaiman
I, Frankenstein, a 2014 film by Stuart Beattie
I, Jedi, Star Wars Expanded Universe novel by Michael Stackpole
I, Libertine, 1956 novel by Theodore Sturgeon
I, Lucifer, a novel by Glen Duncan
I, Mengsk, novel by Graham McNeill in the world of StarCraft, about the three generations of the Mengsk family.
I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan, the 2011 'autobiography' of fictional English TV and radio presenter Alan Partridge
I, Phoolan Devi, autobiography of Indian female bandit Phoolan Devi
I, Robot, 1939 Adam Link story by Eando Binder (unrelated to the Isaac Asimov story collection)
I, Robot, 1950 science fiction story collection by Isaac Asimov.
I, Strahd, a horror-fantasy novel by P. N. Elrod set in Ravenloft
I, Tintin, documentary film about the author of the fictional adventurer
I, Tyrant, a sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons based on the beholder creatures; aside from the reference to I, Claudius, the name is also a play on the creatures' nickname of "Eye Tyrant."
Io, Caligola, Italian title of the re-cut infamous motion picture Caligula when re-released in Italy in 1984 (the translated title is "I, Caligula")
Me, Claudius, a play presented by Sesame Street's Cookie Monster on Monsterpiece Theatre (Cookie Monster frequently confuses personal pronouns)
See also[edit]

Portal icon Novels portal
Count Belisarius
Tacitean studies
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Modern first editions – a set on Flickr
2.Jump up ^ "All Time 100 Novels". Time. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
3.Jump up ^ Kit, Borys (12 September 2008). "Director Jim Sheridan eyes I, Claudius". Reuters. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
4.Jump up ^ I Claudius, AudioGo, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4084-2755-2
5.Jump up ^ "2012 Audie Awards, Audio Dramatization category". Retrieved 7 June 2012.
6.Jump up ^ "The View from London". TIME. 18 September 1972. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
External links[edit]
GradeSaver study guide on I, Claudius with summary and analysis
I, Claudius Project (concentrates on the BBC production)
Encyclopedia of Television
British Film Institute Screen Online (TV series)
I, Claudius at BBC Programmes
I, Claudius at the Internet Movie Database
Web oficial de 'La Casa de Robert Graves' en Deià, Mallorca. De la Fundación Robert Graves.
BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial: I, Claudius – Episode One
I, Claudius pdf.


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves

 











 







 





















 





 


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 






 






  


Categories: 1934 novels
Augustus in popular culture
Books about Nero
British novels
British historical novels
British novels adapted into films
I, Claudius
Novel series
Novels by Robert Graves
Novels set in Ancient Rome
Secret histories







Navigation menu



Create account
Not logged in
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Contributions
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List of I, Claudius episodes

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Jump to: navigation, search



 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2013)
This is a list of I, Claudius episodes, a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves' I, Claudius and Claudius the God. Written by Jack Pulman, it was one of the corporation's most successful drama serials of all time. It also provided popular initial exposure for several actors who would eventually become well known, such as Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart, John Rhys-Davies and John Hurt.
Note that the first night broadcast consisted of showing two episodes resulting in a count of 12 nights for 13 hours of airtime.
Episodes[edit]
The first episode (titled "A Touch of Murder") was split into two when it aired on the PBS anthology series Masterpiece Theatre. "Family Affairs" is the title that was given to that second episode.

No.
Title Original airdate
1a
"A Touch of Murder" 20 September 1976
Rome, AD 54. Knowing that he will soon be assassinated, the Roman Emperor Claudius begins a secret history of his family, planning for it to emerge long after he is dead. He begins his tale seventy years earlier, in 24 BC, as the newly-cemented Emperor Augustus begins to favour his son-in-law Marcellus over his old friend and ally Agrippa. After Agrippa is insulted by Marcellus at a banquet, he leaves Rome in protest. Augutus' wife Livia wants her son Tiberius to become Augustus' heir, so she secretly poisons Marcellus, who eventually dies. Augustus has Agrippa return to Rome, and to seal their renewed friendship, he gives his daughter Julia, Marcellus' widow, to Agrippa to be his wife, infuriating Livia, who wanted Julia to marry Tiberius to cement his status as Augustus' heir.
1b
"Family Affairs" 20 September 1976
Rome, 9-8 BC. Nine years have passed. Agrippa is dead and Tiberius has been forced to marry Julia, divorcing his wife Vipsania Agrippina. Still deeply in love, he continues to meet Vipsania secretly, enraging Augustus, but Livia defends him by claiming that he had informed her of the meetings. Tiberius is briefly comforted by the presence of his brother Drusus, who quarrels with Livia before leaving once again on campaign. Drusus soon writes to Tiberius, asking for his brother's help in convincing Augustus to retire and return Rome to a Republic, but the letter is intercepted and read by both Livia and Augustus. Augustus dismisses the letter as youthful impetuousness, but Livia is clearly worried. Drusus falls from his horse and crushes his leg, and his condition worsens under the oversight of Livia's personal physician. He dies in the presence of his wife, Antonia, and their recently born son Claudius. A year later, a drunken Julia enrages Tiberius with taunts about Vipsania, and he strikes her across the face, resulting in his banishment from Rome. Augustus looks forward to sharing his power with his grandsons Lucius and Gaius when they come of age.
2
"Waiting in the Wings" 27 September 1976
Rome, AD 3–5. Gaius has died and Tiberius has been banished to Rhodes for his mistreatment of Julia, who has used his absence to have a series of hedonistic affairs and orgies. One day in the garden, the young Claudius catches a wolf cub dropped from an eagle's claws, leading a seer to predict that he will protect Rome in an hour of need. Livia's scheming continues: knowing of the mutual attraction between Claudius's sister Livilla and Julia's son Postumus Agrippa, she arranges their betrothal to other people; she enlists Lucius' friend Plautius as a spy against Julia, and tricks Lucius into revealing Julia's infidelities. A grief-stricken Augustus banishes her from Rome. The death of Lucius in a boating accident (implied to be caused by Plautius on Livia's orders) ends Tiberius' exile and he returns to Rome to be named, along with Julia's surviving son Postumus, as co-heir to Augustus' throne.
3
"What Shall We Do About Claudius?" 4 October 1976
Rome, AD 9. Three Roman legions have been massacred in Germania at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Tiberius and Germanicus are dispatched to exact revenge. While Claudius is in the library researching his family's history he is advised by the historian Pollio to play up his infirmities to enhance his place in his family as a harmless fool, and thus no threat to anyone. Augustus has determined that Postumus will succeed him as Emperor, but Livia overhears this. She tells Livilla she knows of her affair with Postumus and that during the Republic there was civil war and that a single ruler is needed to bring peace, so the succession can't be disputed. With Livilla's help, Postumus is framed for rape. Postumus tells Augustus Livia has been killing those who could prevent Tiberius succeeding but is not believed. Before he is banished, Postumus tells Claudius his (correct) suspicions of all the people whom Livia has killed and reiterates the advice that Claudius should continue to play the fool. The episode ends with Claudius' marriage to Plautia Urgulanilla, who is so much taller than him that he becomes the butt of his family's uproarious, mocking laughter at their wedding.
4
"Poison Is Queen" 11 October 1976
Rome, AD 13–14. Germanicus has defeated the Germans and returns to Rome in triumph. Claudius tells him of Postumus' suspicions and Germanicus passes this information on to Augustus. On a trip to Corsica, Augustus stops to see Postumus and, now aware of Postumus' innocence, promises to pardon him. Augustus privately thanks Claudius for his role in opening his eyes, and informs him that he has already changed his will to favor Postumus. Livia, ever suspicious, tricks a Vestal Virgin into letting her inspect the revised will. Soon afterward Augustus falls ill. He recovers when he begins to eat only food that he has grown himself and picked by hand, but his recovery is short-lived, and after his death it becomes clear that Livia has poisoned Augustus' figs while they still ripen on the vine. A Praetorian officer, Sejanus, is dispatched to kill Postumus and Tiberius prepares to take over as Emperor, being left two-thirds of Augustus' property while Livia takes the remaining third.
5
"Some Justice" 18 October 1976
Rome, AD 19–20. Tiberius, with Sejanus' help, is ruling with an iron fist. Only Germanicus is preventing total tyranny, but when he dies in Syria under mysterious circumstances, it is widely rumored that Tiberius is behind it. Germanicus' wife Agrippina accuses Piso, the governor of Syria, and his wife Plancina of murder and treason. At Claudius' suggestion, they are tried in the Senate, so as to avoid any backroom subversion of the courts by Tiberius' agents. Martina, the poisoner, is held in a secret location before the trial by Herod Agrippa and Claudius, but she is found by Livia's agents. She reveals to Livia that Germanicus' own son, Caligula, aided her in bringing about his death by convincing him that he had been cursed. Piso blackmails Livia and Tiberius with evidence that they approved of Germanicus' murder. Livia retaliates by threatening Plancina with Martina's testimony, but the incident is enough to cause a permanent rift in her relationship with Tiberius. Plancina attempts to convince Piso to commit suicide, knowing that she will be spared by such an outcome. When Piso has second thoughts, Plancina stabs him, bringing the trial to an end, and Agrippina and her friends have to be satisfied that at least "some justice" was done. Caligula, after being punished by Antonia for being found naked with his sister Drusilla, sets fire to the family home in retaliation, burning it to the ground.
6
"Queen of Heaven" 25 October 1976
Rome, AD 23/29. Claudius is invited to a dinner where the hostess, Lollia, unexpectedly relates how she was forced to prostitute herself to Tiberius, and then stabs herself. Tiberius now only lives for his perversions, in which Caligula is only too happy to join. Sejanus effectively rules the empire, overseeing continual treason trials of notable citizens and seizing their property for the crown. He is having an affair with Livilla, who becomes so enamored of him that she poisons her husband, Tiberius' son Castor to be able to marry Sejanus. Sejanus manipulates Claudius into marrying his adopted sister Aelia, after telling him his wife is pregnant by another man. Unexpectedly, Claudius receives an invitation to dine with his now-elderly grandmother Livia, who has not spoken to him in years. Anticipating her coming death, Livia reveals to Claudius that an unpublished Sibylline prophecy claims that both he and Caligula will one day become Emperor, and makes each of them promise to make her a goddess so she can escape torment for her many misdeeds. Claudius agrees on the condition that she reveal to him the full scope of her crimes, which she does. On her deathbed she receives a visit from Caligula, who rescinds his promise and reveals that he plans to become the greatest god the world has ever known. Claudius, however, renews his promise to her, and Livia dies peacefully.
7
"Reign of Terror" 1 November 1976
Rome, AD 30–31. Tiberius has retired to Capri. Sejanus consolidates his hold on power in Rome by engineering the banishment of Agrippina and her eldest son Nero and having her other son Drusus arrested and starved to death. Sejanus has divorced his wife and approaches Tiberius about marrying Livilla. Tiberius refuses as the marriage would mean Sejanus would be elevated in rank but suggests that he could marry Livilla's daughter Helen. An outraged Livilla attempts to poison Helen. Antonia discovers letters from her daughter to Sejanus, implicating them both in several deaths and urging Sejanus to murder Tiberius. Claudius smuggles the evidence to Tiberius. At Caligula's suggestion, Tiberius orders Macro, an officer of the Guard, to carry out the execution of Sejanus, his followers, and his family. Claudius barely escapes by divorcing his wife. Meanwhile Antonia locks Livilla in her room and says she will stay there until she dies.
8
"Zeus, by Jove!" 8 November 1976
Rome, AD 37–38. Tiberius dies (actually smothered to death by Macro with Caligula's connivance), leaving Caligula and Gemellus as his joint heirs. Claudius' life-long friend Herod has returned to Rome in time for Caligula's ascension. Caligula chooses Claudius to be his co-Consul, over Claudius' objections. Caligula displays signs of mental instability and falls into a coma; upon awakening he declares that he has become Zeus. Claudius humors him, hoping that Caligula will reveal his divinity to the Senate and be deposed, restoring the Republic; instead, the Senate accepts Caligula's claims of divinity. Caligula becomes increasingly violent: a Senator who told Macro during Caligula's coma he would give his life if Caligula lived is forced by Caligula to commit suicide; Caligula also has Gemellus killed and declares his sister Drusilla his wife and fellow goddess Hera. Disgusted with the depths of depravity that her family and Rome have sunk to, Antonia commits suicide, leaving Claudius distraught . Fearing that his child will become greater than he, Caligula tries to recreate the birth of Athena: as Zeus reportedly did with Metis, Caligula cuts his unborn child from his sister's belly and eats it.
A shot of Caligula cutting the fetus from Drusilla's womb was considered too shocking and was therefore re-edited several times, even on the day of its premiere by order of Bill Slater, then head of Serials Department. After initial broadcast and a rerun two days later, the shot of the fetus was removed so that the episode now ends with Claudius looking in shock and horror but the audience is not shown what he sees. The deleted shot was only shown twice in 1976 and is now lost.[1]
9
"Hail Who?" 15 November 1976
Rome, AD 40–41. Claudius is living with the ex-prostitute Calpurnia in meagre circumstances. Caligula has turned the palace into a brothel where he sells the wives of high-ranking Senate members to the highest bidder during sexual orgies and forces Claudius to take money at the door. As a joke, he arranges for Claudius to marry the much younger, extremely beautiful Messalina. Totally insane, Caligula makes his horse Incitatus a senator, and takes his legions on a campaign to Germany to put down an alleged rebellion and then to the English Channel where he attempts to do battle with Neptune, bringing back seashells as booty. Returning to Rome, he attempts to execute the entire Senate for not awarding him a Triumph for his 'victory,' but his wife Caesonia and Claudius convince him not to. Cassius Chaerea, a leading Praetorian officer whom the Emperor continuously mocks, forms a plan with several others to assassinate Caligula. They strike during the games held to celebrate Augustus, luring him away from his German Guards and killing him. Cassius proceeds to murder Caligula's wife Caesonia, and their infant daughter Julia Drusilla, attempting to wipe out the Imperial family once and for all. While the suddenly-leaderless Praetorian Guard are looting the palace, they come upon Claudius, hiding behind a curtain, and proclaim him Emperor over his own protestations.
10
"Fool's Luck" 22 November 1976
Rome, AD 41–43.The leaders of the Praetorian Guard and Herod convince Claudius that he should take up the Imperial crown, since the alternative would mean the death of his family. Claudius in turn convinces the Senate to proclaim him Emperor. In his first act, he condemns Cassius for the murder of Caesonia, but pardons the other conspirators. Livia is finally deified and made a goddess. After successfully bearing Claudius children, Messalina convinces him to share the burdens of power with her. As Herod will soon be leaving to take control of the lands in the East that Claudius has granted him, Messalina suggests that Appius Silanus, a Senator, be brought in to assist her husband. Later her mother Domitia and Silanus marry. Before Herod leaves he warns Claudius that, as Emperor, Claudius must trust no one, not his advisors, not his wife, not even Herod himself. Messalina attempts to seduce Silanus and tells him that Claudius approves, being just as corrupt as the Emperors who preceded him. Silanus then attempts to kill Claudius in the hopes of ending the line of depraved rulers. Messalina, with her mother's help, convinces Claudius of her own innocence and Silanus is put to death.
11
"A God in Colchester" 29 November 1976
Rome, AD 47–48. Claudius is leading his troops in an invasion of Britain. Messalina's sexual excesses lead her to challenge the well-known prostitute Scilla to a contest to see who can take the most men in an evening; she wins easily. Claudius returns in triumph, but is devastated to learn that Herod has organized a rebellion in the eastern provinces against his rule. Herod believes that he is the Jewish Messiah, but he dies before completing his plans. Messalina takes Gaius Silius as her lover, and they divorce their respective spouses and marry, thinking that Rome will rally around them and proclaim them rulers. Forced to act, Claudius' servants Pallas and Narcissus enlist Calpurnia to tell the Emperor the truth. In the end he believes them and the conspirators are arrested and killed; a drunken Claudius even carelessly signs Messalina's execution order. As Claudius mourns the fact that all whom he cared for are gone, he learns that the Britons have dedicated a temple to him in Colchester making him a god.
12
"Old King Log" 6 December 1976
Rome, AD 54. Claudius' benevolent rule of Rome leads the populace to accepting an emperor, but he decides that Rome must come to hate its ruling family, overthrow it, and restore the Republic. To do this, he marries his niece Agrippinilla and adopts her son Nero, making him co-heir with his son Britannicus. Because of a prophecy, Claudius knows that Nero will become the next ruler of Rome, but he still tries to protect Britannicus by planning to send him to Britain so that he may take over later when Nero dies; unfortunately, Britannicus does not believe in the republic and demands that he be allowed to compete with Nero. Claudius, knowing the ultimate future, must leave his son to his fate. Ready for his end, Claudius voluntarily eats a poisoned mushroom from his wife's fork and dies. Looking for Claudius' will, Agrippinilla and Nero come upon his autobiography and burn it. Lying on his bier, Claudius and the Sibyl, knowing that Britannicus, Agripinilla and Nero will ultimately die violently, have a good laugh over the fact that he buried another copy of his book to be found later. Claudius is told that though the Republic won't be restored Nero will be last of the Claudians and the Emperors that follow mostly won't be as bad.
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ IMDB: Alternate versions
External links[edit]
British Film Institute Film & TV Database entry for I, Claudius


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Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 
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I, Claudius (1976, TV series) ·
 I, Claudius (1937 film) ·
 I, Claudius (2010, radio adaptation)
 
 
TV series
Episodes  ("A Touch of Murder")
 
 

  


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Lists of drama television series episodes
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This page was last modified on 9 June 2015, at 05:58.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I,_Claudius_episodes






 



List of I, Claudius episodes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search



 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2013)
This is a list of I, Claudius episodes, a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves' I, Claudius and Claudius the God. Written by Jack Pulman, it was one of the corporation's most successful drama serials of all time. It also provided popular initial exposure for several actors who would eventually become well known, such as Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart, John Rhys-Davies and John Hurt.
Note that the first night broadcast consisted of showing two episodes resulting in a count of 12 nights for 13 hours of airtime.
Episodes[edit]
The first episode (titled "A Touch of Murder") was split into two when it aired on the PBS anthology series Masterpiece Theatre. "Family Affairs" is the title that was given to that second episode.

No.
Title Original airdate
1a
"A Touch of Murder" 20 September 1976
Rome, AD 54. Knowing that he will soon be assassinated, the Roman Emperor Claudius begins a secret history of his family, planning for it to emerge long after he is dead. He begins his tale seventy years earlier, in 24 BC, as the newly-cemented Emperor Augustus begins to favour his son-in-law Marcellus over his old friend and ally Agrippa. After Agrippa is insulted by Marcellus at a banquet, he leaves Rome in protest. Augutus' wife Livia wants her son Tiberius to become Augustus' heir, so she secretly poisons Marcellus, who eventually dies. Augustus has Agrippa return to Rome, and to seal their renewed friendship, he gives his daughter Julia, Marcellus' widow, to Agrippa to be his wife, infuriating Livia, who wanted Julia to marry Tiberius to cement his status as Augustus' heir.
1b
"Family Affairs" 20 September 1976
Rome, 9-8 BC. Nine years have passed. Agrippa is dead and Tiberius has been forced to marry Julia, divorcing his wife Vipsania Agrippina. Still deeply in love, he continues to meet Vipsania secretly, enraging Augustus, but Livia defends him by claiming that he had informed her of the meetings. Tiberius is briefly comforted by the presence of his brother Drusus, who quarrels with Livia before leaving once again on campaign. Drusus soon writes to Tiberius, asking for his brother's help in convincing Augustus to retire and return Rome to a Republic, but the letter is intercepted and read by both Livia and Augustus. Augustus dismisses the letter as youthful impetuousness, but Livia is clearly worried. Drusus falls from his horse and crushes his leg, and his condition worsens under the oversight of Livia's personal physician. He dies in the presence of his wife, Antonia, and their recently born son Claudius. A year later, a drunken Julia enrages Tiberius with taunts about Vipsania, and he strikes her across the face, resulting in his banishment from Rome. Augustus looks forward to sharing his power with his grandsons Lucius and Gaius when they come of age.
2
"Waiting in the Wings" 27 September 1976
Rome, AD 3–5. Gaius has died and Tiberius has been banished to Rhodes for his mistreatment of Julia, who has used his absence to have a series of hedonistic affairs and orgies. One day in the garden, the young Claudius catches a wolf cub dropped from an eagle's claws, leading a seer to predict that he will protect Rome in an hour of need. Livia's scheming continues: knowing of the mutual attraction between Claudius's sister Livilla and Julia's son Postumus Agrippa, she arranges their betrothal to other people; she enlists Lucius' friend Plautius as a spy against Julia, and tricks Lucius into revealing Julia's infidelities. A grief-stricken Augustus banishes her from Rome. The death of Lucius in a boating accident (implied to be caused by Plautius on Livia's orders) ends Tiberius' exile and he returns to Rome to be named, along with Julia's surviving son Postumus, as co-heir to Augustus' throne.
3
"What Shall We Do About Claudius?" 4 October 1976
Rome, AD 9. Three Roman legions have been massacred in Germania at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Tiberius and Germanicus are dispatched to exact revenge. While Claudius is in the library researching his family's history he is advised by the historian Pollio to play up his infirmities to enhance his place in his family as a harmless fool, and thus no threat to anyone. Augustus has determined that Postumus will succeed him as Emperor, but Livia overhears this. She tells Livilla she knows of her affair with Postumus and that during the Republic there was civil war and that a single ruler is needed to bring peace, so the succession can't be disputed. With Livilla's help, Postumus is framed for rape. Postumus tells Augustus Livia has been killing those who could prevent Tiberius succeeding but is not believed. Before he is banished, Postumus tells Claudius his (correct) suspicions of all the people whom Livia has killed and reiterates the advice that Claudius should continue to play the fool. The episode ends with Claudius' marriage to Plautia Urgulanilla, who is so much taller than him that he becomes the butt of his family's uproarious, mocking laughter at their wedding.
4
"Poison Is Queen" 11 October 1976
Rome, AD 13–14. Germanicus has defeated the Germans and returns to Rome in triumph. Claudius tells him of Postumus' suspicions and Germanicus passes this information on to Augustus. On a trip to Corsica, Augustus stops to see Postumus and, now aware of Postumus' innocence, promises to pardon him. Augustus privately thanks Claudius for his role in opening his eyes, and informs him that he has already changed his will to favor Postumus. Livia, ever suspicious, tricks a Vestal Virgin into letting her inspect the revised will. Soon afterward Augustus falls ill. He recovers when he begins to eat only food that he has grown himself and picked by hand, but his recovery is short-lived, and after his death it becomes clear that Livia has poisoned Augustus' figs while they still ripen on the vine. A Praetorian officer, Sejanus, is dispatched to kill Postumus and Tiberius prepares to take over as Emperor, being left two-thirds of Augustus' property while Livia takes the remaining third.
5
"Some Justice" 18 October 1976
Rome, AD 19–20. Tiberius, with Sejanus' help, is ruling with an iron fist. Only Germanicus is preventing total tyranny, but when he dies in Syria under mysterious circumstances, it is widely rumored that Tiberius is behind it. Germanicus' wife Agrippina accuses Piso, the governor of Syria, and his wife Plancina of murder and treason. At Claudius' suggestion, they are tried in the Senate, so as to avoid any backroom subversion of the courts by Tiberius' agents. Martina, the poisoner, is held in a secret location before the trial by Herod Agrippa and Claudius, but she is found by Livia's agents. She reveals to Livia that Germanicus' own son, Caligula, aided her in bringing about his death by convincing him that he had been cursed. Piso blackmails Livia and Tiberius with evidence that they approved of Germanicus' murder. Livia retaliates by threatening Plancina with Martina's testimony, but the incident is enough to cause a permanent rift in her relationship with Tiberius. Plancina attempts to convince Piso to commit suicide, knowing that she will be spared by such an outcome. When Piso has second thoughts, Plancina stabs him, bringing the trial to an end, and Agrippina and her friends have to be satisfied that at least "some justice" was done. Caligula, after being punished by Antonia for being found naked with his sister Drusilla, sets fire to the family home in retaliation, burning it to the ground.
6
"Queen of Heaven" 25 October 1976
Rome, AD 23/29. Claudius is invited to a dinner where the hostess, Lollia, unexpectedly relates how she was forced to prostitute herself to Tiberius, and then stabs herself. Tiberius now only lives for his perversions, in which Caligula is only too happy to join. Sejanus effectively rules the empire, overseeing continual treason trials of notable citizens and seizing their property for the crown. He is having an affair with Livilla, who becomes so enamored of him that she poisons her husband, Tiberius' son Castor to be able to marry Sejanus. Sejanus manipulates Claudius into marrying his adopted sister Aelia, after telling him his wife is pregnant by another man. Unexpectedly, Claudius receives an invitation to dine with his now-elderly grandmother Livia, who has not spoken to him in years. Anticipating her coming death, Livia reveals to Claudius that an unpublished Sibylline prophecy claims that both he and Caligula will one day become Emperor, and makes each of them promise to make her a goddess so she can escape torment for her many misdeeds. Claudius agrees on the condition that she reveal to him the full scope of her crimes, which she does. On her deathbed she receives a visit from Caligula, who rescinds his promise and reveals that he plans to become the greatest god the world has ever known. Claudius, however, renews his promise to her, and Livia dies peacefully.
7
"Reign of Terror" 1 November 1976
Rome, AD 30–31. Tiberius has retired to Capri. Sejanus consolidates his hold on power in Rome by engineering the banishment of Agrippina and her eldest son Nero and having her other son Drusus arrested and starved to death. Sejanus has divorced his wife and approaches Tiberius about marrying Livilla. Tiberius refuses as the marriage would mean Sejanus would be elevated in rank but suggests that he could marry Livilla's daughter Helen. An outraged Livilla attempts to poison Helen. Antonia discovers letters from her daughter to Sejanus, implicating them both in several deaths and urging Sejanus to murder Tiberius. Claudius smuggles the evidence to Tiberius. At Caligula's suggestion, Tiberius orders Macro, an officer of the Guard, to carry out the execution of Sejanus, his followers, and his family. Claudius barely escapes by divorcing his wife. Meanwhile Antonia locks Livilla in her room and says she will stay there until she dies.
8
"Zeus, by Jove!" 8 November 1976
Rome, AD 37–38. Tiberius dies (actually smothered to death by Macro with Caligula's connivance), leaving Caligula and Gemellus as his joint heirs. Claudius' life-long friend Herod has returned to Rome in time for Caligula's ascension. Caligula chooses Claudius to be his co-Consul, over Claudius' objections. Caligula displays signs of mental instability and falls into a coma; upon awakening he declares that he has become Zeus. Claudius humors him, hoping that Caligula will reveal his divinity to the Senate and be deposed, restoring the Republic; instead, the Senate accepts Caligula's claims of divinity. Caligula becomes increasingly violent: a Senator who told Macro during Caligula's coma he would give his life if Caligula lived is forced by Caligula to commit suicide; Caligula also has Gemellus killed and declares his sister Drusilla his wife and fellow goddess Hera. Disgusted with the depths of depravity that her family and Rome have sunk to, Antonia commits suicide, leaving Claudius distraught . Fearing that his child will become greater than he, Caligula tries to recreate the birth of Athena: as Zeus reportedly did with Metis, Caligula cuts his unborn child from his sister's belly and eats it.
A shot of Caligula cutting the fetus from Drusilla's womb was considered too shocking and was therefore re-edited several times, even on the day of its premiere by order of Bill Slater, then head of Serials Department. After initial broadcast and a rerun two days later, the shot of the fetus was removed so that the episode now ends with Claudius looking in shock and horror but the audience is not shown what he sees. The deleted shot was only shown twice in 1976 and is now lost.[1]
9
"Hail Who?" 15 November 1976
Rome, AD 40–41. Claudius is living with the ex-prostitute Calpurnia in meagre circumstances. Caligula has turned the palace into a brothel where he sells the wives of high-ranking Senate members to the highest bidder during sexual orgies and forces Claudius to take money at the door. As a joke, he arranges for Claudius to marry the much younger, extremely beautiful Messalina. Totally insane, Caligula makes his horse Incitatus a senator, and takes his legions on a campaign to Germany to put down an alleged rebellion and then to the English Channel where he attempts to do battle with Neptune, bringing back seashells as booty. Returning to Rome, he attempts to execute the entire Senate for not awarding him a Triumph for his 'victory,' but his wife Caesonia and Claudius convince him not to. Cassius Chaerea, a leading Praetorian officer whom the Emperor continuously mocks, forms a plan with several others to assassinate Caligula. They strike during the games held to celebrate Augustus, luring him away from his German Guards and killing him. Cassius proceeds to murder Caligula's wife Caesonia, and their infant daughter Julia Drusilla, attempting to wipe out the Imperial family once and for all. While the suddenly-leaderless Praetorian Guard are looting the palace, they come upon Claudius, hiding behind a curtain, and proclaim him Emperor over his own protestations.
10
"Fool's Luck" 22 November 1976
Rome, AD 41–43.The leaders of the Praetorian Guard and Herod convince Claudius that he should take up the Imperial crown, since the alternative would mean the death of his family. Claudius in turn convinces the Senate to proclaim him Emperor. In his first act, he condemns Cassius for the murder of Caesonia, but pardons the other conspirators. Livia is finally deified and made a goddess. After successfully bearing Claudius children, Messalina convinces him to share the burdens of power with her. As Herod will soon be leaving to take control of the lands in the East that Claudius has granted him, Messalina suggests that Appius Silanus, a Senator, be brought in to assist her husband. Later her mother Domitia and Silanus marry. Before Herod leaves he warns Claudius that, as Emperor, Claudius must trust no one, not his advisors, not his wife, not even Herod himself. Messalina attempts to seduce Silanus and tells him that Claudius approves, being just as corrupt as the Emperors who preceded him. Silanus then attempts to kill Claudius in the hopes of ending the line of depraved rulers. Messalina, with her mother's help, convinces Claudius of her own innocence and Silanus is put to death.
11
"A God in Colchester" 29 November 1976
Rome, AD 47–48. Claudius is leading his troops in an invasion of Britain. Messalina's sexual excesses lead her to challenge the well-known prostitute Scilla to a contest to see who can take the most men in an evening; she wins easily. Claudius returns in triumph, but is devastated to learn that Herod has organized a rebellion in the eastern provinces against his rule. Herod believes that he is the Jewish Messiah, but he dies before completing his plans. Messalina takes Gaius Silius as her lover, and they divorce their respective spouses and marry, thinking that Rome will rally around them and proclaim them rulers. Forced to act, Claudius' servants Pallas and Narcissus enlist Calpurnia to tell the Emperor the truth. In the end he believes them and the conspirators are arrested and killed; a drunken Claudius even carelessly signs Messalina's execution order. As Claudius mourns the fact that all whom he cared for are gone, he learns that the Britons have dedicated a temple to him in Colchester making him a god.
12
"Old King Log" 6 December 1976
Rome, AD 54. Claudius' benevolent rule of Rome leads the populace to accepting an emperor, but he decides that Rome must come to hate its ruling family, overthrow it, and restore the Republic. To do this, he marries his niece Agrippinilla and adopts her son Nero, making him co-heir with his son Britannicus. Because of a prophecy, Claudius knows that Nero will become the next ruler of Rome, but he still tries to protect Britannicus by planning to send him to Britain so that he may take over later when Nero dies; unfortunately, Britannicus does not believe in the republic and demands that he be allowed to compete with Nero. Claudius, knowing the ultimate future, must leave his son to his fate. Ready for his end, Claudius voluntarily eats a poisoned mushroom from his wife's fork and dies. Looking for Claudius' will, Agrippinilla and Nero come upon his autobiography and burn it. Lying on his bier, Claudius and the Sibyl, knowing that Britannicus, Agripinilla and Nero will ultimately die violently, have a good laugh over the fact that he buried another copy of his book to be found later. Claudius is told that though the Republic won't be restored Nero will be last of the Claudians and the Emperors that follow mostly won't be as bad.
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ IMDB: Alternate versions
External links[edit]
British Film Institute Film & TV Database entry for I, Claudius


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 
Adaptations
I, Claudius (1976, TV series) ·
 I, Claudius (1937 film) ·
 I, Claudius (2010, radio adaptation)
 
 
TV series
Episodes  ("A Touch of Murder")
 
 

  


Categories: Lists of British television series episodes
Lists of drama television series episodes
I, Claudius





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I, Claudius (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search


I, Claudius
I Claudius titles.jpg
Created by
Robert Graves
Based on
I, Claudius and
Claudius the God
 by Robert Graves
Written by
Jack Pulman
Directed by
Herbert Wise
Starring
Derek Jacobi
Siân Phillips
Brian Blessed
George Baker
John Hurt
 
Country of origin
United Kingdom
No. of episodes
12 (list of episodes)
Production

Producer(s)
Martin Lisemore
Running time
50+ minutes per episode
Production company(s)
BBC/London Films
Release

Original channel
BBC2
Original release
20 September 1976 – 6 December 1976
I, Claudius is a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves's I, Claudius and Claudius the God. Written by Jack Pulman,[1] it starred Derek Jacobi as Claudius, with Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, George Baker, Margaret Tyzack, John Hurt, Patricia Quinn, Ian Ogilvy, Kevin McNally, Patrick Stewart, and John Rhys-Davies. The serial sent Jacobi, Stewart, and Hurt's careers into the limelight, and it proved one of the corporation's most successful drama serials of all time.
Among many other productions and adaptations, Graves's Claudius novels have also been adapted for BBC Radio 4 broadcast (2010) and for the theatre (1972).


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Production
3 Music
4 Awards and reception 4.1 United Kingdom
4.2 United States
5 Cast
6 Legacy
7 VHS/DVD
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

Plot[edit]
Main article: List of I, Claudius episodes
I, Claudius follows the history of Rome, narrated by the elderly Claudius, from the death of Marcellus in the first episode to Claudius' own death in the last.
The series opens with Augustus, the emperor of Rome, attempting to find an heir, and his wife, Livia, plotting to elevate her own son Tiberius to this position. The plotting and double-crossing continue for many decades, through the conspiracy of Sejanus and the rule of the lunatic emperor Caligula, culminating in the seemingly accidental rise to power by Claudius. Claudius' enlightened reign is marred by the betrayals of his adulterous wife Messalina and his boyhood friend Herod Agrippa. Eventually, Claudius comes to accept the inevitability of his own assassination and the ascension of his mad stepson, Nero.
Production[edit]
The series was produced by Joan Sullivan and Martin Lisemore, and directed by Herbert Wise in the studios at BBC Television Centre. Production was delayed because of complex negotiations between the BBC and the copyright holders of Alexander Korda's aborted 1937 film version. This did, however, give the scriptwriter Jack Pulman more time to fine-tune his script.
Filming was studio based, for artistic rather than budgetary reasons.[2] I, Claudius was made at a relatively low cost of £60,000 for an hour of broadcast material, in a series that had a total running time of 650 minutes.[3] Considering pound sterling inflation, the entire show would have cost £3,960,000 in 2013.
As discussed in the 2002 documentary I, Claudius: A Television Epic, the scene in episode 8, "Zeus, by Jove!" where Caligula cuts the fetus from Drusilla's womb was considered too shocking and was therefore re-edited several times, even on the day of its premiere by order of Bill Slater, then head of Serials Department. After initial broadcast and a rerun two days later, the shot of the fetus was removed so that the episode now ends with Claudius looking in shock and horror but the audience does not see what he sees. The deleted shot was only shown twice in 1976 and is now lost since the BBC no longer has a copy of it.[4]
The 2002 documentary, which features extensive interviews with all the principal cast members, revealed many previously unknown facts about the casting and development of the series:
Derek Jacobi was well down the list of those considered to play Claudius - among those considered for or offered the part before him were American film star Charlton Heston and British actor-comedian Ronnie Barker. Jacobi explained that he only secured the role after another prominent (unnamed) British actor who had taken the part proved to be unsuitable, and had to be replaced at short notice.
Brian Blessed originally auditioned for the role of Tiberius, but was eventually persuaded to play Augustus instead. He recounted some of director Herbert Wise's key pieces of advice on how to play Augustus - Wise told Blessed that he should "... be as you are - full of flannel ...", and that he should always play Augustus as an ordinary person, because the reactions of those around him would make him the Emperor.
John Hurt revealed that he declined the role of Caligula when it was first offered to him. Because of the time-span of the production, the fact that Derek Jacobi would be the only actor to appear in every episode, and the subsequent commitments of the other actors, it was decided that rather than the customary "wrap party" at the end of the series, there would be a special pre-production party instead, to give the entire cast and crew the chance to meet. Hurt explained that series director Herbert Wise deliberately invited him to attend the party, hoping he would reconsider, and that he was so impressed on meeting the cast and crew that he immediately reversed his decision and took the part.
Music[edit]
Wilfred Josephs wrote the title music. David Wulstan and the Clerkes of Oxenford ensemble provided the (diegetic) music for most episodes.
Awards and reception[edit]
United Kingdom[edit]
During its original airing in 1976, the BBC estimated that I, Claudius had an average audience of 2,500,000 viewers per episode, based on rating surveys.[5]
Among other awards, the series won three BAFTAs in 1977 (Derek Jacobi, Best Actor (TV); Siân Phillips, Best Actress (TV); Tim Harvey, Best Design (TV)).
Director Herbert Wise won Outstanding Contribution Award at BAFTAs in 1978.
In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, I, Claudius was placed 12th.
United States[edit]
The series was subsequently broadcast in the United States as part of PBS's Masterpiece Theatre series, where it received critical acclaim. Tim Harvey won a 1978 Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction. The producers and director received nominations for Emmys.
In 2007 it was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME".[6]
Cast[edit]


Actor
Character
Derek Jacobi Claudius
Siân Phillips Livia Drusilla
George Baker Tiberius
John Hurt Caligula
Brian Blessed Augustus
Patrick Stewart Lucius Aelius Sejanus
Margaret Tyzack Antonia Minor
Patricia Quinn Livilla
John Paul Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Sheila White Messalina
Christopher Biggins Nero
Ian Ogilvy Nero Claudius Drusus
David Robb Germanicus
John Castle Agrippa Postumus
Fiona Walker Agrippina the Elder
Frances White Julia the Elder
James Faulkner Herod Agrippa
Kevin McNally Castor
John Rhys-Davies Naevius Sutorius Macro
Christopher Guard Marcus Claudius Marcellus
Stratford Johns Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso
Bernard Hepton Marcus Antonius Pallas
John Cater Tiberius Claudius Narcissus
Barbara Young Agrippinilla
Beth Morris Julia Drusilla
Ashley Knight Young Claudius
 
Actor
Character
Simon MacCorkindale Lucius Caesar
Sheila Ruskin Vipsania Agrippina
Angela Morant Octavia the Younger
Graham Seed Britannicus
Jo Rowbottom Calpurnia
Lyndon Brook Appius Junius Silanus
Sam Dastor Cassius Chaerea
Kevin Stoney Thrasyllus of Mendes
Freda Dowie Milonia Caesonia & Sibyl
Irene Hamilton Munatia Plancina
Darien Angadi Aulus Plautius
Peter Bowles Caratacus
Norman Eshley Marcus Vinicius
John Bennett Xenophon
Patsy Byrne Martina
Douglas Melbourne Tiberius Gemellus
Karin Foley Helen
Earl Rhodes Gaius Caesar
Richard Hunter Drusus Caesar
Russell Lewis Young Lucius
Robert Morgan Young Caligula
Cheryl Johnson Claudia Octavia
Isabel Dean Lollia Paulina
Liane Aukin Aelia Paetina
Moira Redmond Domitia Lepida the Younger
Bernard Hill Gratus
Norman Rossington Sergeant of the Guard
 
Legacy[edit]
I, Claudius was preceded by the 1968 ITV historical drama The Caesars which covered very similar ground, but differed in its less sensationalist approach to the main characters and their motivations. The BBC's subsequent historical dramas The Borgias (1981) and The Cleopatras (1983) were produced in a similar vein, although they did not match the critical and commercial success of I, Claudius.
VHS/DVD[edit]

 

 Cover of the US release of the first I, Claudius DVD. There has since been a remastered edition with a different cover.
Most VHS and DVD versions of the TV series include the BBC documentary The Epic That Never Was (1965), about the uncompleted Korda film version of the first book, featuring interviews with key production staff and actors as well as most of the surviving footage. The 2002 UK DVD edition also contains a documentary on the series, I, Claudius – a Television Epic, as well as some alternate and deleted scenes. The DVD release was updated on 2 December 2008 with superior audio and video to the 2000 US DVD version, but it was met with hostile reviews from some customers. This version, for example, had some parts either cut or censored from the original version, and no subtitles or closed captioning.[7][8] A 35th anniversary edition was released on 27 March 2012. It includes the 12 episodes (uncut except for "Zeus, by Jove!", which in 1976 originally contained a shot of the fetus that Caligula cut from Drusilla's womb, cut from all later repeats and now lost[4]) on four discs, SDH subtitles, and one disc of bonus features.[9]
See also[edit]
Claudius
Julio-Claudian dynasty
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ In Pulman's script for Claudius's speech to the Senate in the final episode, Claudius prophesies that "the man who dwells by the pool shall open graves, and the dead shall live again". This is a reference to the scriptwriter, Jack Pulman, and a pun on the book's author, Robert Graves.
2.Jump up ^ Happy Birthday BBC 2, BBC 2 16 April 2014
3.Jump up ^ Last, Richard (17 March 1977). "I, Claudius and the Jinx". The Statesman.
4.^ Jump up to: a b "I, Claudius (TV Mini-Series 1976)". IMDb.
5.Jump up ^ British Broadcasting Corporation (1977). BBC Handbook 1977: Incorporating the Annual Report and Accounts 1975-76. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. p. 47.
6.Jump up ^ Poniewozik, James (September 6, 2007). "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME". Time (Time.com). Retrieved April 8, 2013.   See I, Claudius.
7.Jump up ^ "Amazon.com: I, Claudius: Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, George Baker, Ian Ogilvy, Frances White, Margaret Tyzack, John Paul, Christopher Guard, Angela Morant, Sheila Ruskin, Herbert Wise, Dave Hillier, Martin Lisemore, Jack Pulman, Robert Graves: Movies & TV". amazon.com.
8.Jump up ^ "[DVD Reviews] HTF DVD REVIEW: I, Claudius The Epic That Never Was - DVD, Blu-ray & Digital HD Reviews - Home Theater Forum". Home Theater Forum.
9.Jump up ^ "Amazon.com: I, Claudius (35th Anniversary Edition): Sian Phillips, Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart, John Hurt: Movies & TV". amazon.com.
External links[edit]
 Wikiquote has quotations related to: I, Claudius (TV series)
I, Claudius at the Internet Movie Database
I, Claudius Project (concentrates on the BBC production)
Encyclopedia of Television
British Film Institute Screen Online (TV series)


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 
Adaptations
I, Claudius (1976, TV series) ·
 I, Claudius (1937 film) ·
 I, Claudius (2010, radio adaptation)
 
 
TV series
Episodes  ("A Touch of Murder")
 
 

  


Categories: 1976 British television programme debuts
1976 British television programme endings
1970s British television series
Depictions of Nero on television
Films set in the 1st century
British television miniseries
BBC television dramas
I, Claudius
Secret histories
Television dramas set in ancient Rome
Television programs based on novels


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This page was last modified on 2 September 2015, at 18:27.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Claudius_(TV_series)






 



I, Claudius (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search


I, Claudius
I Claudius titles.jpg
Created by
Robert Graves
Based on
I, Claudius and
Claudius the God
 by Robert Graves
Written by
Jack Pulman
Directed by
Herbert Wise
Starring
Derek Jacobi
Siân Phillips
Brian Blessed
George Baker
John Hurt
 
Country of origin
United Kingdom
No. of episodes
12 (list of episodes)
Production

Producer(s)
Martin Lisemore
Running time
50+ minutes per episode
Production company(s)
BBC/London Films
Release

Original channel
BBC2
Original release
20 September 1976 – 6 December 1976
I, Claudius is a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves's I, Claudius and Claudius the God. Written by Jack Pulman,[1] it starred Derek Jacobi as Claudius, with Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, George Baker, Margaret Tyzack, John Hurt, Patricia Quinn, Ian Ogilvy, Kevin McNally, Patrick Stewart, and John Rhys-Davies. The serial sent Jacobi, Stewart, and Hurt's careers into the limelight, and it proved one of the corporation's most successful drama serials of all time.
Among many other productions and adaptations, Graves's Claudius novels have also been adapted for BBC Radio 4 broadcast (2010) and for the theatre (1972).


Contents  [hide]
1 Plot
2 Production
3 Music
4 Awards and reception 4.1 United Kingdom
4.2 United States
5 Cast
6 Legacy
7 VHS/DVD
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

Plot[edit]
Main article: List of I, Claudius episodes
I, Claudius follows the history of Rome, narrated by the elderly Claudius, from the death of Marcellus in the first episode to Claudius' own death in the last.
The series opens with Augustus, the emperor of Rome, attempting to find an heir, and his wife, Livia, plotting to elevate her own son Tiberius to this position. The plotting and double-crossing continue for many decades, through the conspiracy of Sejanus and the rule of the lunatic emperor Caligula, culminating in the seemingly accidental rise to power by Claudius. Claudius' enlightened reign is marred by the betrayals of his adulterous wife Messalina and his boyhood friend Herod Agrippa. Eventually, Claudius comes to accept the inevitability of his own assassination and the ascension of his mad stepson, Nero.
Production[edit]
The series was produced by Joan Sullivan and Martin Lisemore, and directed by Herbert Wise in the studios at BBC Television Centre. Production was delayed because of complex negotiations between the BBC and the copyright holders of Alexander Korda's aborted 1937 film version. This did, however, give the scriptwriter Jack Pulman more time to fine-tune his script.
Filming was studio based, for artistic rather than budgetary reasons.[2] I, Claudius was made at a relatively low cost of £60,000 for an hour of broadcast material, in a series that had a total running time of 650 minutes.[3] Considering pound sterling inflation, the entire show would have cost £3,960,000 in 2013.
As discussed in the 2002 documentary I, Claudius: A Television Epic, the scene in episode 8, "Zeus, by Jove!" where Caligula cuts the fetus from Drusilla's womb was considered too shocking and was therefore re-edited several times, even on the day of its premiere by order of Bill Slater, then head of Serials Department. After initial broadcast and a rerun two days later, the shot of the fetus was removed so that the episode now ends with Claudius looking in shock and horror but the audience does not see what he sees. The deleted shot was only shown twice in 1976 and is now lost since the BBC no longer has a copy of it.[4]
The 2002 documentary, which features extensive interviews with all the principal cast members, revealed many previously unknown facts about the casting and development of the series:
Derek Jacobi was well down the list of those considered to play Claudius - among those considered for or offered the part before him were American film star Charlton Heston and British actor-comedian Ronnie Barker. Jacobi explained that he only secured the role after another prominent (unnamed) British actor who had taken the part proved to be unsuitable, and had to be replaced at short notice.
Brian Blessed originally auditioned for the role of Tiberius, but was eventually persuaded to play Augustus instead. He recounted some of director Herbert Wise's key pieces of advice on how to play Augustus - Wise told Blessed that he should "... be as you are - full of flannel ...", and that he should always play Augustus as an ordinary person, because the reactions of those around him would make him the Emperor.
John Hurt revealed that he declined the role of Caligula when it was first offered to him. Because of the time-span of the production, the fact that Derek Jacobi would be the only actor to appear in every episode, and the subsequent commitments of the other actors, it was decided that rather than the customary "wrap party" at the end of the series, there would be a special pre-production party instead, to give the entire cast and crew the chance to meet. Hurt explained that series director Herbert Wise deliberately invited him to attend the party, hoping he would reconsider, and that he was so impressed on meeting the cast and crew that he immediately reversed his decision and took the part.
Music[edit]
Wilfred Josephs wrote the title music. David Wulstan and the Clerkes of Oxenford ensemble provided the (diegetic) music for most episodes.
Awards and reception[edit]
United Kingdom[edit]
During its original airing in 1976, the BBC estimated that I, Claudius had an average audience of 2,500,000 viewers per episode, based on rating surveys.[5]
Among other awards, the series won three BAFTAs in 1977 (Derek Jacobi, Best Actor (TV); Siân Phillips, Best Actress (TV); Tim Harvey, Best Design (TV)).
Director Herbert Wise won Outstanding Contribution Award at BAFTAs in 1978.
In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, I, Claudius was placed 12th.
United States[edit]
The series was subsequently broadcast in the United States as part of PBS's Masterpiece Theatre series, where it received critical acclaim. Tim Harvey won a 1978 Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction. The producers and director received nominations for Emmys.
In 2007 it was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME".[6]
Cast[edit]


Actor
Character
Derek Jacobi Claudius
Siân Phillips Livia Drusilla
George Baker Tiberius
John Hurt Caligula
Brian Blessed Augustus
Patrick Stewart Lucius Aelius Sejanus
Margaret Tyzack Antonia Minor
Patricia Quinn Livilla
John Paul Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Sheila White Messalina
Christopher Biggins Nero
Ian Ogilvy Nero Claudius Drusus
David Robb Germanicus
John Castle Agrippa Postumus
Fiona Walker Agrippina the Elder
Frances White Julia the Elder
James Faulkner Herod Agrippa
Kevin McNally Castor
John Rhys-Davies Naevius Sutorius Macro
Christopher Guard Marcus Claudius Marcellus
Stratford Johns Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso
Bernard Hepton Marcus Antonius Pallas
John Cater Tiberius Claudius Narcissus
Barbara Young Agrippinilla
Beth Morris Julia Drusilla
Ashley Knight Young Claudius
 
Actor
Character
Simon MacCorkindale Lucius Caesar
Sheila Ruskin Vipsania Agrippina
Angela Morant Octavia the Younger
Graham Seed Britannicus
Jo Rowbottom Calpurnia
Lyndon Brook Appius Junius Silanus
Sam Dastor Cassius Chaerea
Kevin Stoney Thrasyllus of Mendes
Freda Dowie Milonia Caesonia & Sibyl
Irene Hamilton Munatia Plancina
Darien Angadi Aulus Plautius
Peter Bowles Caratacus
Norman Eshley Marcus Vinicius
John Bennett Xenophon
Patsy Byrne Martina
Douglas Melbourne Tiberius Gemellus
Karin Foley Helen
Earl Rhodes Gaius Caesar
Richard Hunter Drusus Caesar
Russell Lewis Young Lucius
Robert Morgan Young Caligula
Cheryl Johnson Claudia Octavia
Isabel Dean Lollia Paulina
Liane Aukin Aelia Paetina
Moira Redmond Domitia Lepida the Younger
Bernard Hill Gratus
Norman Rossington Sergeant of the Guard
 
Legacy[edit]
I, Claudius was preceded by the 1968 ITV historical drama The Caesars which covered very similar ground, but differed in its less sensationalist approach to the main characters and their motivations. The BBC's subsequent historical dramas The Borgias (1981) and The Cleopatras (1983) were produced in a similar vein, although they did not match the critical and commercial success of I, Claudius.
VHS/DVD[edit]

 

 Cover of the US release of the first I, Claudius DVD. There has since been a remastered edition with a different cover.
Most VHS and DVD versions of the TV series include the BBC documentary The Epic That Never Was (1965), about the uncompleted Korda film version of the first book, featuring interviews with key production staff and actors as well as most of the surviving footage. The 2002 UK DVD edition also contains a documentary on the series, I, Claudius – a Television Epic, as well as some alternate and deleted scenes. The DVD release was updated on 2 December 2008 with superior audio and video to the 2000 US DVD version, but it was met with hostile reviews from some customers. This version, for example, had some parts either cut or censored from the original version, and no subtitles or closed captioning.[7][8] A 35th anniversary edition was released on 27 March 2012. It includes the 12 episodes (uncut except for "Zeus, by Jove!", which in 1976 originally contained a shot of the fetus that Caligula cut from Drusilla's womb, cut from all later repeats and now lost[4]) on four discs, SDH subtitles, and one disc of bonus features.[9]
See also[edit]
Claudius
Julio-Claudian dynasty
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ In Pulman's script for Claudius's speech to the Senate in the final episode, Claudius prophesies that "the man who dwells by the pool shall open graves, and the dead shall live again". This is a reference to the scriptwriter, Jack Pulman, and a pun on the book's author, Robert Graves.
2.Jump up ^ Happy Birthday BBC 2, BBC 2 16 April 2014
3.Jump up ^ Last, Richard (17 March 1977). "I, Claudius and the Jinx". The Statesman.
4.^ Jump up to: a b "I, Claudius (TV Mini-Series 1976)". IMDb.
5.Jump up ^ British Broadcasting Corporation (1977). BBC Handbook 1977: Incorporating the Annual Report and Accounts 1975-76. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. p. 47.
6.Jump up ^ Poniewozik, James (September 6, 2007). "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME". Time (Time.com). Retrieved April 8, 2013.   See I, Claudius.
7.Jump up ^ "Amazon.com: I, Claudius: Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed, George Baker, Ian Ogilvy, Frances White, Margaret Tyzack, John Paul, Christopher Guard, Angela Morant, Sheila Ruskin, Herbert Wise, Dave Hillier, Martin Lisemore, Jack Pulman, Robert Graves: Movies & TV". amazon.com.
8.Jump up ^ "[DVD Reviews] HTF DVD REVIEW: I, Claudius The Epic That Never Was - DVD, Blu-ray & Digital HD Reviews - Home Theater Forum". Home Theater Forum.
9.Jump up ^ "Amazon.com: I, Claudius (35th Anniversary Edition): Sian Phillips, Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart, John Hurt: Movies & TV". amazon.com.
External links[edit]
 Wikiquote has quotations related to: I, Claudius (TV series)
I, Claudius at the Internet Movie Database
I, Claudius Project (concentrates on the BBC production)
Encyclopedia of Television
British Film Institute Screen Online (TV series)


[hide]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Robert Graves's I, Claudius (1934)

 
Adaptations
I, Claudius (1976, TV series) ·
 I, Claudius (1937 film) ·
 I, Claudius (2010, radio adaptation)
 
 
TV series
Episodes  ("A Touch of Murder")
 
 

  


Categories: 1976 British television programme debuts
1976 British television programme endings
1970s British television series
Depictions of Nero on television
Films set in the 1st century
British television miniseries
BBC television dramas
I, Claudius
Secret histories
Television dramas set in ancient Rome
Television programs based on novels


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This page was last modified on 2 September 2015, at 18:27.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Claudius_(TV_series)