DVD : I, Claudius
Price: $103.48 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: JACOBI,DEREK
EAN: 0014381918724
Format: Box set, Color, Full Screen
Label: Image Entertainment
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Picture Format: Pan & Scan
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Release Date: August 15, 2000
Running Time: 740 minutes
Sales Rank: 15600
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: November 06, 1977
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Editorial Review:
Description:
Roman history comes alive in this magnificent 13-part series. "I, Claudius" (1976, 668 min.) ranks among the most acclaimed productions in BBC history. Tracing the lives of the last of the Roman emperors, it's an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have marked him a fool--yet whom prophesies have foretold will one day rule Rome. This collector's edition set includes a unique documentary feature, "The Epic That Never Was" (1965, 71 min.), a remarkable behind-the-scenes look at Alexander Korda's ill-fated 1937 screen adaptation of "I, Claudius." Starring Merle Oberon and Charles Laughton, the chronicle of this uncompleted masterpieces is an unforgettable coda to one of the greatest stories ever told.
Amazon.com essential video:
This superbly acted, mordantly funny romp through 70 years or so of Roman history is one of the best-loved miniseries ever made, and deservedly so. Derek Jacobi plays Roman Emperor Claudius, who reflects in old age on his life and his remarkable family, giving us a history lesson that's unlike anything you learned in school.
The story begins in 24 B.C. during the reign of Augustus Caesar, Rome's first emperor, and ends in A.D. 54 with Nero on the throne. In between, I, Claudius details the scheming, murder, madness, and lust that passed for politics in the early years of the Pax Romana. The biggest worm in the Roman apple is Augustus's wife, Livia (the superb Siân Phillips), whose single-minded pursuit of power shapes the destiny of the Empire. With a carefully planted rumor here and a poisoned fig there, she gradually maneuvers her son, Tiberius, toward the throne, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and treachery that starts Rome on its helter-skelter slide into bloody chaos. Phillips somehow makes us understand this extraordinarily wicked woman. As she ages and her carefully wrought webs begin to unravel, it becomes clear that Livia has been as thoroughly poisoned by her own ambition as her victims were by her carefully prepared meals.
Further acting honors go to George Baker as Tiberius, who resists but eventually succumbs to the destiny forced upon him by his mother, and to John Hurt as a hilarious and absolutely terrifying Caligula. In one breathtakingly tense scene, the mad Emperor performs a dance in drag, then asks Claudius to critique it, perfectly capturing the horror of a world where one wrong word means death, or worse. Jacobi is the perfect Claudius, hiding his intelligence behind a crippling stammer and shuffling around the edges of events--until he finds himself pulled to the very center. His wry comments give shape to the tangled story of his family and help the audience make sense of a dauntingly complex cast of characters.
I, Claudius might seem a little studio-bound to viewers brought up on more recent big-budget costume dramas, but the topnotch cast and the incident-filled plot are more than enough to hold the attention through almost 11 hours of gripping, deliciously wicked Roman follies. This boxed set also includes a documentary entitled "The Epic That Never Was," about Alexander Korda's failed attempt to film I, Claudius in 1937. The film, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Charles Laughton as Claudius and Merle Oberon as Messalina, was abandoned unfinished, and it remains one of Hollywood's great lost movies. --Simon Leake
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
So which version will you pursue:648 minutes or the 564?
Hint: There is more than one national Amazon; and despite the postage you may actually save a small amount of money with something older, longer, and with better visuals. And regions are no longer a legal issue with some of the later players.
You knew all that already, but...
Rating: -
I own the original set of this DVD and don't plan to replace it. However, this is one of the best TV miniseries ever and if you haven't seen it, then obviously you should buy the new version. I am a hugh fan of Derek Jacobi and this is one of his finest performances. (He was also Cadfael on PBS). Sian Phillips, John Hurt, George Baker all give terrific performances. The story is funny, scary, and extremely interesting. Makes you glad you didn't live in those days - 'cause you didn't live long.
Watch it and enjoy!
Rating:  -
Just a few comments on the reviews of I, Claudius with Derek Jacobi and company. I sympathize with the number of reviewers who have commented on the lack of sophistication and depth in treating this period of the Roman Empire. It is important to remember, however, that this book and TV production reflect a view of history from the top- that is, as seen from those at the pinnacle or near the pinnacle of power and so neglects so much of what we now find fascinating about the Roman Empire. It also neglects its tremendous variety in all facets of life.
After listening to it, a naive viewer might come away with the idea that the Roman Empire fell because of Livia and that Claudius was simple-minded idiot. The studies of the period (especially by B. Levick) show a very different sort of emperor and reign. A broader perspective is needed to really enjoy the series. It is a shame the sound and picture quality on the DVD is not up to par. But it is a fun series to watch and one could have worse introductions to high politics in the age of Augustus!
Rating:  -
Given the popularity and critical acclaim of this series, I was disappointed to find this slice of ancient Roman "history" stripped of complexity or ambiguity-- or even any sense of historical accuracy. Instead, we get a Roman Freddy Krueger in the form of Augustus' wife, Livia, who is apparently responsible for engineering nearly every important episode in Roman history by either murdering or manipulating her way through the Roman empire, which, according to this series, must have been full of the most naively idiotic leaders in the history of the planet. Sorry to go against the critical grain, but I must vote to skip this one.
Rating: -
This excellent series from the BBC via PBS is a winner offered at a reasonable price. I saw the entire thirteen episode Masterpiece Theater series when it first aired. I had been looking for it first in VHS format and then DVD for several years but had never before found a copy at a price I felt was reasonable/affordable. I thnk, however, that you need to be somewhat of a history buff to sit through all thirteen episodes and really appreciate the series.
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