Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3837 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-09-30
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 5
• Formats: PAL, Subtitled
• Original language: English, German
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 648 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A truly epic saga of dynastic conflict at the heart of Imperial Rome, I Claudius was the landmark BBC drama series of the 1970s. Originally transmitted as 13 50-minute episodes, it is now available as two double video packs. After chronicling the foundations of the British Empire in Elizabeth R (1971), the BBC chose to dramatise the human face of ancient Rome as interpreted by Robert Graves in his two enormously complex novels, I Claudius and Claudius The God. Derek Jacobi gives one of the greatest television performances ever as Claudius, the appalled chronicler of the decadence, corruption, intrigue and carnage which comes with absolute power of his ruling family. Augustus (Brian Blessed) is Emperor and Sian Phillips, Livia, his scheming, ambitious wife, Claudius' aunt. By virtue of his stammer and uncontrollable twitches, Claudius passes for a fool, thus escaping the poisonous machinations of Livia, all the while recording the comings and goings of the Imperial household. Inevitably lacking the visual scale of cinematic features Ben-Hur (1959) and Spartacus (1960), and today looking more studio-bound than ever, I Claudius remains a television masterpiece of intelligently written and rivetingly intense character drama. The saga ends with I Claudius - Part 2. --Gary S. Dalkin

Amazon.co.uk Review
A truly epic saga of dynastic conflict at the heart of Imperial Rome, I Claudius was the landmark BBC drama series of the 1970s. Originally transmitted as 13 50-minute episodes, the series dramatises the human face of ancient Rome as interpreted by Robert Graves in his two enormously complex novels, I, Claudius and Claudius The God. Derek Jacobi gives one of the greatest television performances ever as Claudius, the appalled chronicler of the decadence, corruption, intrigue and carnage which comes with the absolute power of his ruling family. Augustus (Brian Blessed) is Emperor and Livia (Sian Phillips) his scheming, ambitious wife, Claudius's aunt. By virtue of his stammer and uncontrollable twitches, Claudius passes for a fool, thus escaping the poisonous machinations of Livia, all the while recording the comings and goings of the Imperial household.

Events become increasingly frenzied as Caligula (John Hurt playing the tyrant with psychotic fury) bloodily slaughters his way to power, making a senator of his favourite horse along the way. Claudius eventually becomes Emperor himself, and Jacobi is simply magnificent in the intensely moving finale, which is not to overlook the rest of a fine cast, including: George Baker; Ian Ogilvy; Christopher Guard; Stratford Johns; John Rhys-Davies; Bernard Hepton and Patrick Stewart as the murderous Praetorian Guard Captain Sejanus. Inevitably lacking the visual scale of cinematic features such as Ben-Hur, and today looking more studio-bound than ever, I, Claudius remains a television masterpiece of intelligently written and rivetingly intense character drama. --Gary S Dalkin

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Interviews with the cast: Derek Jacobi, George Baker, Patrick Stewart, Christopher Biggins, Brian Blessed, John Hurt, and director Herbert Wise
Picture: 4:3
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0

Customer Reviews

brian blessed please!!
I had the original videos for years. Read the books by Robert Graves until the covers fell off. Five stars apart from BB What a ham. He lets his generation down and should never have been included in the cast. The rest of the cast are jewels of their age not so BB Glad to see he is no longer heard of.Up Pompei would have loved him

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The most understated death scene ever?
Utterly brilliant with a superb cast and dialogue, brilliant acting and direction, for any Roman empire enthusiasts this is a must. In this series we're spoilt for scenes that have staggeringly good acting, however the one that is (for me) most memorable is the death scene of Augustus whilst Livia is heard talking in the background. I run out of superlatives to describe the brilliance of Brian Blessed's acting ... utterly superb.

An Important Benchmark in Television Drama - Superb
This is a wonderful series covering the scandal and intrigue of Rome's first family from the reign of Augustus through to Nero, as told through the eyes and pen of Claudius. Claudius appears to be a stuttering, lame half-wit, but these apparent weaknesses disguise a keen intellect and an historian's eye for detail. The casting is inspired and the performances are first-class, particularly Derek Jacobi as Claudius, John Hurt as Caligula, and Brian Blessed as Augustus. The series is based on two books by Robert Graves: "I, Claudius" and "Claudius the God" - the script is powerful, intelligent and entertaining. This really is spellbinding television and was years ahead of its day when first aired. This series set the standard for all period pieces that followed and it remains the benchmark for quality television drama today. It turned many virtually unknown actors into stars. Highly recommended.