"It had all the ingredients: sex, violence, rock'n roll and fun" (Derek Jacobi)...and the last ingredient is perhaps the one that makes it most unique, we could add.
This is a documentary that nicely incorporates the interviews with many cast and crew members of this significant, unforgettable BBC classic achievement. It is a short but helpful glimpse of the wings of the serial. I CLAUDIUS A TELEVISION EPIC had more of it, sure. Nevertheless, if you are going to see a documentary of suitable length, this one gives you the essence: Derek Jacobi, Margaret Tyzack, Sian Phillips, George Baker, John Hurt, Brian Blessed and the director himself Herbert Wise refer to memorable experience they were having while making the 13 episode serial. The satisfactory fact is that most of them seem to underline the contribution of Jack Pulman who mainly adapted the literary source to television's needs. Let me quote Derek Jacobi again who nicely observes: "Jack's great genius was to bring all those situations and those characters to life in a way that they sounded contemporary." Yes, in the serial, the 1st century Rome comes back to life.
Highly recommended especially after you have seen all the episodes and realized a true touch of artists' contribution to a classic achievement.
This is a documentary that nicely incorporates the interviews with many cast and crew members of this significant, unforgettable BBC classic achievement. It is a short but helpful glimpse of the wings of the serial. I CLAUDIUS A TELEVISION EPIC had more of it, sure. Nevertheless, if you are going to see a documentary of suitable length, this one gives you the essence: Derek Jacobi, Margaret Tyzack, Sian Phillips, George Baker, John Hurt, Brian Blessed and the director himself Herbert Wise refer to memorable experience they were having while making the 13 episode serial. The satisfactory fact is that most of them seem to underline the contribution of Jack Pulman who mainly adapted the literary source to television's needs. Let me quote Derek Jacobi again who nicely observes: "Jack's great genius was to bring all those situations and those characters to life in a way that they sounded contemporary." Yes, in the serial, the 1st century Rome comes back to life.
Highly recommended especially after you have seen all the episodes and realized a true touch of artists' contribution to a classic achievement.