Product Details

• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 6
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: March 24, 1998
• Run Time: 300 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767007751
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,999 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From Julius to Justinian, Constantine to Hardian, Nero to Augustus, this is a captivating portrait of the most celebrated rulers in human history--the Emperors of Ancient Rome.

Documentary, approx. mins.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overviews of six of the Roman Emperors, August 4, 2000

By 

J. Collins (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hail Caesar Boxed Set [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Each tape is an episode of A&E's "Biography" Series made in conjunction with the BBC. Julius, Augustus, Nero, Hadrian, Constantine and Justinian are profiled. An impressive list of scholars is combined with CGI and location shots to give a thorough description of their lives and times. That being said, I have some minor quibbles with the choice of Emperor-I suspect Hadrian was included to appeal to a British audience, Hadrian's Wall and all-Domitian or Diocletian could have been included in this group instead. Also, in the first episode one of the experts goes a little too far in disparaging the Roman world at this time ca 45BC. Yes, the Romans were ruthless in battle , yes they carted off the defeated into slavery, yes they suppressed revolts without mercy. No more or less than any other empire/kingdom in existence at that time. Also no mention was made that slaves did at least have the CHANCE to escape bondage and become freedmen. In fact, so many did over time that they became their own social class. This certainly does not excuse or condone a society structured around slave labor, but the entire story should be put forward, especially in a popular history such as this. Overall, this is an outstanding series, and as other reviewers have said needs to be in every enthusiast's and school library. Highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-prepared historical documentary, January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hail Caesar Boxed Set [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Don't be misled by the review that Amazon.com insists on attaching to this video. This is NOT the low-budget cult film described in that review; this is a fascinating 6-tape documentary from the History Channel. The politics and personalities are so well described that it almost seems contemporary.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than advertised!, February 3, 2000

By 

Caius Fabius "caiusfabius" (Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hail Caesar Boxed Set [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a very nice collection, for a historian, a history teacher or just if you like looking at statues, paintings, maps, palaces, and learning history in a wonderfully produced audio-visual format! This should be in every high school library!