I, Claudius (1976) User Reviews

Brilliantly Fearsome

[gftbiloxi · 10/10 · 1 May 2005]

Based on Robert Graves' famous novel, I, CLAUDIUS is the ultimate soap opera, vicious, cruel, manipulative--and this famous English miniseries grabs the attention and holds fast throughout the entire length of its complex tale of ancient intrigue.

The great strengths of I, CLAUDIUS are in the driving pace, sharp wit, and ferocity of Jack Pulman's script and the host of brilliant performers who play it out. Chief among these are Sian Phillips as the calculating, murderous, and unspeakably cold Livia, wife of Augustus; although Derek Jacobi gives a justly famous performance in the title role, it is Phillips who dominates and drives the story with this, the most brilliant performance of her career. But this is not to disparage the overall cast, which is remarkably fine and includes such noted artists as Brian Blessed, John Hurt, Patricia Quinn, Patrick Stewart, and a host of others.

Like the serpent that appears in the open credits, the story twists and winds--and covers several generations of the ruling family as Rome slips from the republic to royal rule, largely due to the manipulations of Livia, who has few if any scruples in her determination to rule first through her husband and then through her son. Although the look of the film is somewhat dated, it in no way impairs the power of the piece, and I, CLAUDIUS remains one of the handful of miniseries that actually improves upon repeated viewings. Strongly, strongly recommended.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

A few vital details

[SMkShlds · 10/10 · 8 August 2006]

I won't add to the many superlatives ascribed to this wonderful series, well-deserved though they are. But I would like to point out a few vital details that help explain just why it is so wonderful.

(1) Much has been said about Siân Phillips' intense projection of evil, but just how does she do it? If you watch carefully, you'll see she never blinks in her close-up takes, some of which are very long. This gives her a snakelike appearance, which enhances her voice and cold beauty in imparting such an air of menace to everything she says.

(2) Much has also been said about the lack of expensive sets, location shots, or special effects. But the point is that this series is successful because of these apparent deficiencies and not despite them. So much modern cinema and TV is swamped by expensive irrelevances to the detriment of the basics -- writing, acting, and timing. 'I Claudius' shows just how important these things are, and how unimportant those expensive special effects can be.

(3) I had the good fortune to read both books before the series was made, and then to watch it with a critical eye. It was satisfying to see such an expert adaptation, but especially so to see how the central point of the story has not been lost: the inability of any ruler, however powerful, to control what happens at the end of the long chain of command that inevitably forms. I found this a message of lifelong importance in both politics and management, and it is rare indeed that such a remarkable piece of drama and entertainment is also so fundamentally educational.

And you thought ancient history was dull.

[ZDiogenes · 10/10 · 4 August 2003]

In writing his epic novels `I, Claudius' and `Claudius the God', from which this series is adapted, Robert Graves reinvented the genre of historical fiction. And he could hardly have chosen a more fascinating subject than the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Even a tame retelling, based strictly on verified historical fact, would have made an interesting tale. But by embracing the lurid, sensationalistic hyperbole heaped upon the founders of the Roman Empire by later writers (Suetonius and Tacitus in particular), Graves concocted the ultimate in dysfunctional families, weaving a tale of scandal and debauchery capable of shocking even the most jaded of modern audiences. The more eminent classicists, naturally, sneered, as eminent classicists tend to do toward anything that threatens to make the ancient world more accessible to `hoi polloi'. One is forced to admit that, as history, Graves' juicy narrative is bunk. But o ye gods, what enjoyable bunk it is!

The drama gives an insider's view of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, the first emperors of Rome. Over the course of his long reign, Augustus has managed to bring peace to his nation after nearly a century of off-and-on civil wars. But he remains a man divided, hoping for the eventual return of the old Republican government, but knowing that the best hope for a lasting peace is the continued concentration of power in a single person. Augustus therefore sets himself to the task of grooming a successor, one who shares his dream and will continue laying the foundations for the restoration of the Republic. His wife, however, Livia Drusilla, is determined to thwart his plans, and embarks on a slow, murderous scheme to place her own son (whom she fancies she can control) on the throne. The tale is told through the eyes of Claudius, step-grandson to Augustus, who suffered from the crippling effects of a childhood illness and was thus despised and ignored by much of his own family. Regarded as an idiot and of no threat to anyone, he alone remains standing while the poison flows and the daggers flash. To the surprise of all (none the least himself) this drooling, stuttering, limping old fool turns out not to be such a fool after all, and in one of history's great ironies, wins the prize everyone but he is after: absolute power.

Again, the historical facts alone make this an interesting tale. But it is the tantalizing glimpse into the inner workings of the world's first `First Family' that makes `I, Claudius' so much fun. Bill Clinton's philandering and the endless public spectacle that is the British Royals just seem so incredibly dull and tame compared with the bad behavior of Augustus' clan. Matricide, patricide, fratricide, regicide, suicide, incest, rape, pedophilia.and that's on a slow day. Poisonings, stabbings, betrayals, double-crosses, triple-crosses, madness. And one gentle soul sitting in the corner watching it all. Robert Graves' story brings out the tremendous irony of a nation finally at peace with itself, but ruled by a family embroiled in its very own civil war. It's the sort of sordid tale one finds only in the most disreputable of tabloids, but then rendered in gorgeous prose and delivered by the finest actors. To the uninitiated, it might best be described as a guilty pleasure cleverly masquerading as a stuffy British period drama.

I don't think anyone could have hoped for a more faithful transition from book to film than what the BBC achieved. Working with a 12+ hour running time, screenwriter Jack Pulman was not forced to content himself with a `Cliff's Notes' version of the story. Events progress in a naturally expansive manner, and characters grow and mature (or fail to do so) believably over time. In recreating the novels for the stage (after all, let's face it - this is predominantly a televised stage play) Pulman was constrained only by a modest budget and the limitations of the television studio. Action is confined to indoor sets, and the more spectacular aspects of daily life in ancient Rome (attending the Circus Maximus, for example) are left to the viewer's imagination, hinted at by the sounds of roaring crowds but never actually seen. For those audience members not put off by such, or by the drab color and lighting usually reserved for daytime soap operas, the entire production is a treat from beginning to end.

The acting is superb at every turn. Derek Jacobi lends tremendous dignity to his portrayal of Claudius, whose physical handicaps might have come off as insulting or hammy from a lesser actor. He is utterly believable as the `wise' fool, the only person in the entire family NOT scheming for power, and therefore the only one worthy of it. As Livia, Siân Phillips is a study in controlled, cunning evil. The role is reminiscent of Eleanor of Aquitaine in `The Lion in Winter', except that even Katherine Hepburn's Oscar-wining performance in that film is utterly outdone here (ironically, Siân Phillips also played the role of Queen Eleanor, in the BBC's adaptation of `Ivanhoe'). John Hurt's gleefully decadent turn as Caligula is fascinating to watch. Hurt's eyes, throughout his portrayal, remain chillingly cold and lifeless even as he smiles and laughs - except of course, for his expression of shock upon realizing that his sister Drusilla is, in fact, mortal. The most impressive moment in the entire production, however, came from Brian Blessed (Augustus), whose slow, quiet, passing away remains the most convincing screen death I have ever witnessed.

There are simply not enough superlatives in the English language to express my opinion of the towering triumph that is `I, Claudius'. And seeing the 9.5 user rating here on the IMDB, apparently I'm not alone.

A staggering achievement

[mahen1 · 20 March 2005]

After reading the reviews on IMDb, I bought the DVD set. I have watched the series countless times since and still continue to marvel at the quality of this work.

For anyone unfamiliar with the early Roman principate, the Julio-Claudian dynasty was in power for a period of about 80 years from Augustus to the death of Nero in 68 AD. This TV series covers the period from about 20 BC to 54 AD - the death of emperor Claudius.

The story is semi-autobiographical, written by Claudius towards the end of his reign and covering the history of his family from Augustus down to the young Nero, his successor.

Murder is the dominating theme, as Augustus' wife Livia artfully dispatches one imperial contender after another so that her son Tiberius can be emperor. It is not simply vanity that drives her machinations, but she is convinced that only Tiberius can keep the principate intact. Should any other candidate take over from Augustus, Rome would descend into civil war and anarchy. It is mostly Livia's actions that drives the story forward.

The acting is top notch. Much has been made about Derek Jacobi's performance, as the lame, stammering, clumsy Claudius. His family does not think much of him, but it is obvious to the viewer that he is a lot smarter and observant then he looks, as he absorbs all the goings on around him to chronicle them later in his book. Jacobi's performance deserves to go into legend, but the quality of the other performances does not allow him to run away with the film. Brian Blessed as the benevolent Augustus, Sian Philipps as Livia are fantastic. George Baker as Tiberius is very good in a particularly difficult role while John Hurt has the most interesting role to play - that of the madman emperor Caligula. The vast supporting cast are all excellent, particularly Patrick Stewart as Sejanus - Tiberius' tough, ruthless and scheming head of the Praetorian Guard.

Considering this is a BBC series with limited budget the production values are great. Direction is first class. Herbert Wise handles the vast story and the army of superb actors with great assurance.

For a drama series the story is quite accurate with history. Just two minor gripes. First the part of Tiberius as written portrays him as very much under the thumb of his mother, with a weak will and indecisive nature. Certain historical facts have contributed to this impression, such as him divorcing the wife he loved to marry Augustus' daughter. But the real life Tiberius was also very efficient and competent, keeping the empire stable during his 23 year reign and leaving the treasury rich. In this series his virtues are not highlighted enough.

Secondly the performance of John Hurt as Caligula. Herbert Wise himself expressed his astonishment at the greatness of Hurt's performance and Hurt certainly gives it a real go. But personally I was disappointed in the way Caligula was portrayed by Hurt. In his interpretation Caligula is a one dimensional madman with cruelty as his dominating urge. No one could disagree given the historical facts, but perhaps due to the freedom allowed in this role Caligula could have been portrayed with more depth, rather than a screaming shouting spoilt young man who believes himself a god. The real Caligula did believed himself to be a god, but perhaps as a result of the absolute power he held in his hands rather than some sort of mental disease. In the way Hurt has chosen to play the role he plays it well. But a more sophisticated interpretation would have rendered Caligula even more believable, and more frightening.

This series has everything, even length - it runs to over 600 minutes. The quality is unwavering throughout. A real treasure to own. It is extremely rare for a work of this quality to be to be realised over such a length, all the more pleasurable for the viewer.

Several writers here have commented that I, Claudius is the greatest ever TV series, the series by which all other TV work should be judged. I cannot agree more.

That Wild And Crazy Caesar Family

[bkoganbing · 10/10 · 2 April 2008]

One of the best British imports on Masterpiece Theater in the USA, the series was a real bicentennial gift from the United Kingdom.

Over a dozen chapters, the series held the interest throughout, there's not a moment that it flagged. So many wonderful performances by the players. Derek Jacobi got his career role in this series as the club footed stuttering Claudius who survives by just making sure everyone thinks him a fool and not worth bothering about. In the meantime he secretly records his family's inner history.

The really evil one here is Livia played by Sian Phillips. I'm pretty sure that such prime time bitch goddesses as Joan Collins on Dynasty and Jane Wyman in Falcon Crest modeled their characters on Livia because these women were Girl Scouts compared to Livia. Livia was the wife of Augustus Caesar played by Brian Blessed and Phillips also got a career role.

I'd be hard pressed to decide who was the best Caligula ever. John Hurt in this series is up against some pretty stiff competition in Malcolm McDowell in the title role of the film Caligula or Jay Robinson in The Robe and Demetrius And The Gladiators. Insanity gallops in the Caesar family as in The Brewsters and in the case of Caligula it breaks the three minute mile.

George Baker is very good as the pleasure seeking Tiberius whose succession to the throne Sian Phillips is working overtime to achieve. Patrick Stewart with a full head of hair plays the opportunistic Sejanus who reaches for power, taking advantage of the increasing hedonistic tendencies of Tiberius in his later years. Sejanus would have been his career role had he not become Jean-Luc Picard.

Margaret Tyzack who was Queen Anne in The First Churchills gets another fine role as Antonina, mother of Claudius. Her other son Germanicus falls victim to Caesar court politics and her daughter takes up with Sejanus. Her children disappoint her throughout and she like the others fail to see that Claudius is not the fool he appears to be.

Probably Sheila White's Messalina is far closer to the truth than Susan Hayward's worldly woman in Demetrius and the Gladiators. White plays her like the Catherine Howard of her day, like the legendary nymphomaniac wife of Henry VIII who was one of the two who Henry executed. You've got to love that coitus contest between Messalina and the head of the guild of prostitutes. Guess who wins.

Robert Graves lived long enough to see his historical fictionalization come to life and I'm sure he must have approved. Graves did some considerable research into ancient texts for I, Claudius. His interpretation is as valid as any others we'll find of those wild and crazy ancient days of the Caesars.

Under rated actors doing Oscar caliber performances

[pvanmeurs · 10/10 · 23 December 2004]

Absolutely glorious series. All the actors in this series are in or have been in American films but they have always been underrated and are some of the best actors alive. There are more dames and knights than you can believe. Derek Jacobi is breathtaking in his performance. Sian Phillips is subtly evil. John Hurt as Caligula shines with madness. The sets are unbelievable considering the small budget they had. The most shocking thing is that everything in one sense or another is true. These people really did die these ways. It will take you completely out of your everyday life and deposit you in the world of the Romans.

How can I even begin to comment on this series....

[darkdayforanime · 10/10 · 27 July 2004]

....When so many people have done a better job than I ever could?

When I rented this on video, a few years ago, my mother (who has passed away since) commented on how she would watch this back in the 70's, absolutely fascinated by it. I'd rented it because I'd seen it during its replay in the 80's, and was equally fascinated. It was rare to see a historical drama with so much lurid character detail.

What fascinates me today is the sheer number of character actors who appear in it.... Most of which were little known then but have since gone on to become better-known. Everyone from Brian Blessed, John Hurt, Sian Phillips, George Baker, Patrick Stewart and John Rhys-Davies to lesser-known actors like Kevin Stoney, Bernard Hill, Christopher Guard, Fiona Walker, Stratford Johns, Sam Dastor, Guy Siner, Darien Angadi, James Bree, George Pravda, Simon MacCorkindale, Sheila Ruskin, Bruce Purchase and Denis Carey. And they were _all_ good, no matter how small their roles were. Where the Brits find actors of this caliber, I'll never know.

The Holy Fool

[JamesHitchcock · 10/10 · 8 June 2022]

To celebrate my 2,200th review for IMDb, I turn to another of my favourite television series. "I, Claudius" and its sequel "Claudius the God" were historical novels by Robert Graves, written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius. An attempt was made to film it in 1937 with Charles Laughton in the leading role, but the production was abandoned when Laughton's co-star Merle Oberon was injured in a road accident. This BBC television series from 1976 was the first filmed adaptation of the books.

The series follows the history of the early Roman Empire for a period of 78 years from 24 BC to the death of Claudius in AD 54. The only character who appears in every episode is Claudius himself, and in the early ones he only appears in a flash-forward, narrating events which happened before his birth in 10 BC. Classical historians will doubtless be able to spot many inaccuracies, but there would be little point in going through and listing all these as goofs, because the series largely follows the plot devised by Graves, who often departed from the historical record for the sake of literary effect.

The most important changes are those made to the characters of Livia, the second wife of Augustus and Claudius's grandmother, and of Claudius himself. Livia, who dominates the first half of the series, is depicted as an evil schemer determined to ensure that Tiberius, her son by a previous marriage, should succeed his stepfather Augustus as Emperor of Rome. To achieve this end, Livia either murders or blackens the character of anyone she sees as standing in her way. Although rumours did spread to the effect that the historical Livia was suspected of involvement in killing or slandering some of these people, most modern historians dismiss these as malicious fabrications. (Roman historians often worked to a very partisan agenda, which makes it difficult to assess the truth of some of their more lurid allegations).

Graves's other big innovation is to portray Claudius, along with several of his relatives, as an opponent of the Imperial system and a supporter of the restoration of the Republic. Graves appears to have invented these republican leanings in order to provide Livia with a motive for killing certain members of her own close family, such as her son Drusus and her grandson Germanicus. (As Germanicus had been adopted by Tiberius as his heir, he would have had little motive for seeking the return of the Republic, nor would Livia have had any motive for seeking his death). When Claudius's nephew the Emperor Caligula is murdered by his own bodyguard, Claudius has to be persuaded to accept the throne much against his will.

The main strength of the series is the quality of the acting, especially from Derek Jacobi as Claudius, whom he plays as a sort of holy fool. By this I do not mean that Claudius lacks intelligence, but that he is politically naïve, something shown by his belief in the Republic. (The late Roman Republic had not been a golden age of freedom but a period when the state was racked by near-perpetual civil wars as various would-be strongmen competed for power. Despite the corruption and cruelty of some of the early Emperors, they were tolerated precisely because the system preserved civil peace, with wars confined to the distant frontiers of the Empire). It is, however, precisely this naivety which saves Claudius's life because his more ambitious relatives see him as a fool who presents no threat to their ambitions, an impression strengthened by the fact that he talks with a stammer and walks with a limp, the result of an accident at birth.

Yet, despite his good fortune in surviving when many of his friends and family have perished, Jacobi's Claudius is also a tragic figure, particularly in the later episodes when he is betrayed by the one great love of his life, his beautiful young third wife Messalina, who is not only sexually unfaithful but also plots his overthrow with one of her lovers. Following Messalina's betrayal, Claudius sinks into a passive and superstitious fatalism, allowing his depraved great-nephew Nero to succeed him in the deluded belief that Nero's depravity will lead to the collapse of the Imperial system and the restoration of his beloved Republic.

There are too many other fine performances to single them all out, although I should mention Siân Phillips as Livia, Brian Blessed as Augustus and George Baker as Tiberius. Phillips's Livia is almost literally poisonous, poison being her favourite method of eliminating her enemies, and yet manages to be coldly rational as well, convincing herself that her machinations are necessary for the good of the state and that all possible rivals to Tiberius must be removed to avoid the threat of civil war. Augustus, as played by Blessed, is a great bear of a man, at times affable and jovial yet with an alarmingly short temper. His great tragedy is that he fails to realise how easily Livia is able to manipulate him and turn him against members of his own family. Although Tiberius is not a good man, Baker makes us realise that, in his way, he is also a victim of Livia's scheming, which has forced him to take up the position of Emperor, which he never really wanted and for which he feels himself temperamentally unsuited. Having assumed power, however, he is unable to relinquish it, and is driven to desperate measures to retain it.

I first saw this series when I was a teenage schoolboy studying Latin for O-Level, and was enthralled by it. I quickly followed up by reading the novels, and can thank Robert Graves and Jack Pulman, who adapted the books for television, for my enduring fascination with Roman history. 10/10.

Gorgeous! BBC UTMOST MASTERPIECE!!!

[marcin_kukuczka · 10/10 · 26 June 2004]

The serial I, CLAUDIUS is one of the best epics on the Roman Empire one can ever encounter. Although it is based on the novel by Robert Graves, the director, Herbert Wise, together with the producer Jack Pulman and other crew proved a respectful independence of portraying particular characters from ancient times. This film stands out among other historical movies at multiple levels.

First of all, I, CLAUDIUS is one of the rare examples of films showing the real core of the Roman Empire. The action takes place ONLY within the walls of the imperial palace. Everything that happens appears to be perceived by the members of the ruling dynasty. REAL WINGS OF IMPERIAL ROME! Conspiracies, poisoning, hatred, bloody desire for power... these are the topics of the film - ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL TO HISTORY!

Besides, the empire is showed VERY realistically. It is not the glory of victories, it is not the power and triumphs of its leaders, IT IS THE REAL ROTTEN DECADENCE OF ITS REALITY! "Trust no one" as Herod says once to Claudius, his dearest friend. "The battle of Aktium did not look like that" says Augustus to a poet who attempts to glorify the deeds of the warriors. In fact, only Claudius manages to survive, but not to the end. Even he is poisoned by his fourth wife...

The film is realistic, but it is important to state that it does not exaggerate anything. There is nudity but with respect to film art. It is not the focus. Cruelty is also not the focus as being the goal in itself. The evil is only "embedded" in the action. It is not Guccione's CALIGULA which destroys any classics of the movie art by disgusting pornography and horrific cruelty. I, CLAUDIUS is, first of all, a film art.

Finally, it is significant to mention the cast. There are few films, really few, which have such excellent stars. All people perform WONDERFULLY. You watch it and you forget that these are actors and actresses. You think they are real Romans of that time and totally set your mind on the action! It is a very rare experience and that is another reason why I absolutely appreciate this movie!!! Derek Jacobi, Sian Phillips, Brian Blessed and many many others make the film a real pleasure to watch. Especially Sian Phillips as cruel Livia, Augustus' wife, gives her finest performance here. MASTERPIECE!!!

I would recommend everyone to see this mini-series. It is a wonderful experience. The history lesson that this film offers is better than studying history in high school for four years. I, CLAUDIUS is the splendor of CLEOPATRA combined with the violence of SPARTACUS, GLADIATOR and the decadence of CALIGULA. Everything is there with an utmost harmony. SPLENDID!

If you are interested in a more in-depth analysis of the serial, I invite you to read my comments on all thirteen episodes of I CLAUDIUS from "A Touch of Murder" to "Old King Log"

If you could only see one more piece of TV in your life - watch this

[xadobe · 10/10 · 2 July 2022]

I first saw this BBC series in the 1970s - it was stunningly good.

In the following 40+ years I have seen NOTHING to compare with this, while the average TV output has just become more sensationalised/lurid, trivial and lower quality. Even giants like The Sopranos are merely 'good' by comparison.

If you have not seen this, treat yourself to a feast of superb acting, riveting history, brilliant screenplay and direction.... but most of all, a compelling story of the great and (not so) good in Rome 2000 years ago.

Fantastic production about the early Roman Emperors

[[e-mail] · 10/10 · 5 April 2006]

I first read the novels "I, Claudius" and "Claudius the God" when I was a sophomore in college. I instantly fell in love with them and it sparked my interest in Roman history. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to watch this mini series based on the books shortly thereafter. Eventually, I decided to buy it, and it still remains one of my favorite DVD box sets.

In the mini series there are some minor anachronisms and some events are out of sequence, but it still captures the political intrigue of the imperial family in ancient Rome. I'm not going to go into the story more than this because it gets very complicated and it is very long.

What really made this series stick out was the cast. Sir Derek Jacobi leads the cast as Claudius. Most of the story is told through his eyes as he writes a history of his experiences with the imperial family and some incidents that happened prior to Claudius' birth. Some other cast members include Brian Blessed as Augustus, Sian Phillips as Livia (Augustus' wife, and Claudius' grandmother), George Baker as Tiberius, John Hurt as Caligula, and Patrick Stewart as Sejanus to name a few. Fans of British cinema will be able to pick out even more familiar faces (I can't really go into all of the cast because there are so many excellent actors and actresses in this).

What really makes the story work is the interplay between the characters and the almost constant intrigue that goes on around the Roman political scene. The best part of it is that what happens is for the most part true or at least based on the writings of historians of the time. I recommend this highly to anyone who is interested in learning about Roman history and wants to get their feet wet.

On a somewhat amusing side note, Patrick Stewart (with hair) makes out with Magenta from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

" The History of Rome? about that, I have done something "

[thinker1691 · 10/10 · 29 September 2008]

When this film (entire series) is viewed by any student of history or for that matter, anyone " wishing to see Rome, . . .as it truly was " will hardly be surpassed for enjoyment. The story told here is that of the first five emperors of Ancient Rome. Brian Blessed plays Augustus and is very accepted as the benevolent dictator. Siân Phillips plays Livia, his scheming wife. George Baker is Tiberius, who waited too long to become emperor and was despised during his tenure. John Hurt plays Caligula who garnered more praise for his role than nearly everyone else. Christopher Biggins plays the fiddle playing Nero. James Faulkner is Herod Agrippa, the jovial friend from the East. His was a particularly sympathetic soul and friend of Claudius. But it is Derek Jacobi as Claudius who tells the tale of his family and does such a fantastic job, that this series has created such a high plateau, he may never surpass it. An excellent series which should also establish for itself the crown of Classic. *****

A landmark in television, though

[paul2001sw-1 · 7/10 · 2 May 2021]

'I, Claudius' is one of the most famous televison dramas of all time, a twelve part epic from 1976 based on Robert Graves's novels about the early days of the Roman emprire, and with a cast list comprising pretty much the entirity of the great and the good of British television acting. I was a bit young to watch it when first broadcast; how does it hold up 44 years later? Firstly, with politics laced with plenty of sex and violence, there are certain resemblences to 'House of Cards' or 'Game of Thrones', but without the lavish location shots (and computed assisted graphics) it inevitably has a stagey air at times. It's worth noting that television drama was itself a relatively young artform at the time it was made, but 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' and 'Boys from the Blackstuff' were only just around the corner, and in comparison it definitely feels dated. Perhaps the greatest limitation is the central conceit; that Claudius, accidental emperor, quietly watched and recorded the madnesses of his familiy. But beyond his own survival, Claudius (as presented here) has relatively little skin in the game; as the viewers, we may watch his kindred plot and scheme, but seeing events through Claudius's eyes, we have insufficient skin in the game. The Roman empire may make great history, but judged purely as drama, the story didn't quite work for me. One reason it mioght be so fondly remembered in its sheer ambition ambition; it's modern, long-form structure was very rare in an era where viewers got just one chance a week to catch each episode. I do give it credit for its intelligence, its absence of heroes, and its refusal to make every character beautiful; qualities too often missing in modern productions.

Not THAT wonderful

[drslop · 3/10 · 14 May 2007]

If you want to understand something of the exercise of absolute power in the early Roman Empire, this is not for you.

I still cannot understand the delirious praise heaped on this version of "I Claudius" which is overwhelmingly superficial, inaccurate and a kind of infantile, tabloid version of the far better novels by Robert Graves (who had a sense of humour though you wouldn't guess it from this comic book version) and which he recognised as fiction even if some of readers could not.

This confusion seems to have increased.

The real Augustus, to take just one example, was physically slight, intellectually subtle and personally formidable so casting Brian Blessed (of all people - was it some kind of grotesque joke? - he looks like a butcher on his day off) in that role in "I Claudius" was grotesquely wrong. (Roland Culver in the old B&W "The Caesars" was an infinitely better choice.)

George Baker simply cannot hack it as the dark, malignant and interesting Tiberius and John Hurt is truly appalling as a totally loony Caligula - perhaps the worst performance of his otherwise substantial career.

This is by no means "real" history and shows almost no understanding of tyranny, empire and the realities of exercising power in any period.

Watch "The Caesars" instead - if you can get hold of a copy.

The standard by which all TV should be judged

[AlabamaWorley1971 · 22 May 2001]

The best miniseries ever made! Smart and sexy, with characters that live and breathe. Just some of the most marvelous characters include Brian Blessed as the benevolent Augustus, George Baker as the wounded Tiberius, and Siân Phillips as Livia. Includes one of John Hurt's finest performances, and I'd go into Derek Jacobi as Claudius, but they say I have to keep it below 1,000 words. The Canadian channel Bravo runs it occasionally, or try renting it from Blockbuster, but I recommend shelling out for the entire collection on video!

one for my lifetime

[Bou · 10/10 · 19 July 2000]

I remember quite well one Christmas vacation, coming back to my hometown from school, visiting much-missed friends at a party . . . and being shushed quite vigorously when I walked into the place. They were watching episode #4 of "I, Claudius," which was completely unknown to me at that time. At first I was quite miffed--the homecoming friend ignored for a TV show? But I grudgingly watched, and within 15 minutes I was kicking myself for having missed episodes 1 through 3. This is simply one of the best film experiences I've ever had. Years after watching it the first time round, I was delighted to have my hands on that "new" technology, the VCR, so that I could watch "I, Claudius" whenever I liked. In the meantime, I'd run out and purchased the Graves books, not to mention Suetonius' "Lives of the Caesars." Someone else here has written that this series has everything, and indeed it does. It has a fine sense of accuracy, and it manages to combine sweep and scope with the individual and intimate. This is everything historical drama should be, and I have found that the friends I've introduced to it feel the same. I have to say that my one regret is that it made me admire Derek Jacobi so much . . . I fell ill the one night that I had a chance to see him in person, in "Becket"! What an astounding actor!

Absolutely Brilliant

[nitinnain · 10/10 · 20 June 2022]

Sometimes watching older series/movies, even the very highly rated ones isn't that fun, but this one is truly timeless. The acting is amazing. The story and script is amazing. The direction is amazing. Packs so much punch in just 13 episodes. I watched it the second time right after my first viewing to get the details I had missed.

I, Claudius. A remarkable demonstration of substance over style.

[mattangewatkins · 10/10 · 7 March 2005]

One of the finest pieces of historical drama I have ever seen, if only the BBC could still produce such quality television.

The story covers around 70 years of epoch making history, from the perspective of one of imperial Rome's most unusual and unlikely Emperors, Claudius. For most of his life he is regarded with contempt by most members of his family, due to his seriously debilitating stutter and ungainly limp, attributes most unwelcome in the elite family of Imperial Rome. Derek Jacobi is simply outstanding in his portrayal of Claudius, as you watch him grow from boy to youth, man to Emperor. He seems by the end of the series to become part of your own family, and you find yourself comparing the historical figure to todays political leaders. However, my personal favourite has to be Caligula, played with breathtaking vigour by John Hurt. This man has the ability to both terrify and entertain in a single scene. His timing and delivery leave you crying with laughter, even if the subject matter is murderously horrific. You even find yourself liking the tyrant.

All in all, this output of 1970's British broadcasting can only be described as a masterpiece.

note: it's been rumoured that I, Claudius was the inspiration for HBO's latest multi million pound production "Rome", again made in conjunction with the BBC. Almost certainly another classic in the making.

Among the finest TV has had to offer...

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 18 October 2016]

This British mini-series, shown her in the States on "Masterpiece Theatre" is among the finest programs made for television--up there with mini-series greats such as "Roots" and "The Winds of War". This is all due to terrific acting, a very engaging script and the time to properly tell the story of the first four Roman emperors.

When the series begins, Augustus (Brian Blessed) has been emperor for many years. His reign is successful but soon lots of cracks begin to appear in the fabric of his family...and the worst of them is one he's not aware of, his wife Livia (Sean Phillips). And, through the reigns of his successors (Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius), Livia is there to pull strings...orchestrating murders and somehow surviving when most of the rest of the family long ago assumed room temperatures.

The show is great...no question about it. So great that it's worth buying on DVD...and I am a bit of a cheapskate and usually would just recommend looking for stuff on Netflix or YouTube!

Excellent Show, Incredible Acting

[jmholt87 · 10/10 · 3 August 2005]

I have always been a great lover of history and the Historical fictions that Robert Graves weaved in his Claudius novels is not only some of the best novels I have ever read, it is some of the best history of have ever read, even if large portions of it are at least partially fabricated or stretched history. Graves has a very easy style of writing and his books are very readable anyway but he knows what to add and where to make the already enthralling history even more interesting to the readers.

This miniseries is one of the best translations of a book into film or television that I have ever seen. There is very little major that is changed or removed from the story. The story is excellent and the acting is absolutely incredible. Derek Jacobi conveys Graves's Claudius perfectly in all his innocence, wisdom, foolishness, and nobility. He effects the stutter perfectly and twitches and limps incredibly convincingly. With very little makeup he looks fairly convincingly as a teenager in the brief scenes where Claudius is meant to be in his late teens. Brian Blessed is excellent as the families original patriarch, and the first master of the Roman Empire and possibly the greatest political mind of all time. He conveys the historical Augusus very well who was both amicable and good natured but also very imposing and powerful. Sian Phillips is excellent as the ultimate uncompromising matriarch whose mind alone was nearly equal to Augustus, but much more harsh and uncompromising. George Baker is excellent as the dark and brooding Tiberius who is slowly pushed into the evils which he committed later in life. John Hurt is Amazing as the psychotic Caligula. The rest of the large cast is excellent with such mentions as Patrick Stewart as the power hungry Sejanus, Patricia Quinn as Claudius's vile sister Livilla, Margaret Tyzack as Claudius's mother, and John Rys-Davies as the sadistic and violent Macro.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who has any love for history or just great television.

Simply brilliant!

[garyg-15 · 10/10 · 11 March 2008]

After being introduced to this series shortly after it came out I've taped this and shown the entire series to two women, who also loved it.

Of course this was a natural for me after studying Latin for five years (but classical Latin literature pretty much ends with Virgil and the early Augustan age)

I'm not one who normally notices good acting, only bad acting, but Jacobi (and, really, the entire cast) was brilliant.

Sian Phillips is a portrait of pure evil

A gripping tale that will engage you to the end. The worst that can be said of this is that it is a classy soap opera.

Read the books!

Superlative mini-series

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 15 July 2011]

I'll try to add to the other reviews that sum up I Claudius so brilliantly, but my feeling is that what needs to be said about it has been said. Superlative is the best way to sum up how phenomenal I Claudius is, it is one of those rarities where everything works and there is nothing whatsoever about it.

The settings, photography and costumes are superb and very authentic, the mini-series is directed absolutely beautifully and the story is compelling. And I almost to say that I feel I Claudius is one of the best written mini-series out there, both in dialogue and characterisation, or that Derek Jacobi, John Hurt and Sian Phillips give some of their very best work here.

Overall, superlative. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Truly one of the Greatest TV events ever!

[Gunn · 10/10 · 5 December 2008]

I can't agree more with all those who rated this 10 stars. I'd add an extra one for Classic. The subject matter is so engrossing and well directed and paced. The cast is superb from Derek Jacobi as the lead down to smaller supporting roles by Patrick Stewart, James Faulkner, John Rhys-Davies, Sheila White, Kevin McNally and so many others. Brian Blessed is perfection as Augustus, Sian Phillips beautifully evil as Livia, George Baker so sympathetic as Tiberius and John Hurt awesome as Caligula. This is truly a great Roman epic and without a single battle scene with a cast of thousands. I have watched the entire series at least 4 times and that may total a whole day or more of my life, but well worth it. I recommend it to friends but few have the time to bother watching it. They don't know what a treat they're missing!

Don't believe the hype.

[spaeschke · 6/10 · 26 August 2006]

I, Claudius is a thoroughly entertaining exploration of the Julio-Claudian dynasties, but don't believe those who'll tell you that it's the best television series ever, it simply isn't.

I, Claudius is essentially a series of stage plays that tends to dwell on lasciviousness to the detriment of actual history. One of the principal characters, Augustus, has been so poorly cast and so poorly written that it's damned near comedic. By all means, enjoy the show, because it is a very good series and always stays engaging. Just don't believe that this is the definitive portrayal of Roman history, because it certainly isn't.

Good fun, but seriously sensationalist.

[crayonzero · 5/10 · 23 January 2006]

Is this really as good as its massive rating here? I don't believe so.

The problem is it resembles a tabloid newspaper version of history, a sort of Rome through the eyes of the Daily Mirror or the Sun ( British newspapers of the sex, scandal and Television sort for any confused readers).

As I watched it, it struck me as more like a straight faced version of the Blackadder series than historical drama, minus the laughter track. The characters here are all either psychopaths, idiots, perverts or monsters, and when a character is none of these, they are soon dead.

The acting is good however and i enjoyed watching it, its the faulty characterisations that let it down. Augustus (Octavian) Caesar simply bears no resemblance, physically or characteristically, to the man who totally dominated the roman world through his cunning and political skills and seems more of a brash jolly old shopkeeper, (not to take away from brian blessed who plays the part hes been given well). His wife Livia is like some witch from a fairy story, there is no real support from either contemporary historians or even the later ones with access to the official documents of her having been involved in any of the deaths seen in the show beyond rumor. I could go on but you get the idea...

That said, it is an entertaining program and well acted, but due to the limited money behind it, fans of the far more splendid looking "ROME" by hbo/bbc may be disappointed. If your just now becoming interested about Roman History, do not get this, wait until you've read some more(have a look at this great site :http://www.roman-empire.net/) THEN watch it or you may be put off Rome altogether such is the venom of this work towards all things imperial Roman.

Cheers, Crayon