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Special Features
BONUS Extended original versions of episodes 1 (52 min.) and 2 (52 min.); "I, Claudius": A Television Epic, a behind-the-scenes look at the series (74 min.); The Epic That Never Was, a documentary recounting the failed 1937 film adaptation (71 min.); Derek Jacobi interview (12 min.); favorite scenes of the cast and director (36 min.); and an 8-page booklet with an article about the series’ historical accuracy amd a Julio-Claudian family tree
SDH subtitles
Contains violence, nudity, and sexual content
Due to the age of these programs and the improved resolution that DVD provides, you may notice occasional flaws in the image and audio on this DVD presentation that were beyond our ability to correct from the original materials.
Editorial Reviews
"A true masterpiece" —San Francisco Chronicle "Fiendishly sophisticated" —The New York Times "Handsomely produced, grandly acted, and…thoroughly involving" —The Washington Post "Irresistible, witty" —Los Angeles Times
Rated one of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time" by Time magazine, this epic BBC series spans the history of the Roman Empire from Augustus through Claudius, a stuttering scholar who learns early to play the fool and stay alive. Based on the novels by Robert Graves, it stars Derek Jacobi (The King’s Speech, Cadfael) in a career-defining role. Siân Phillips (The Age of Innocence) is “exquisitely wicked” (Los Angeles Times) as the lethal Livia, wife to Augustus (Brian Blessed, Hamlet), while John Hurt (The Elephant Man) is "decadence personified" (USA Today) as the depraved Caligula, whose reign of terror paves the way for Claudius’s ascension.
Winner of an Emmy® and numerous other awards, this riveting tale of ambition, debauchery, and intrigue remains one of the most popular and acclaimed dramas in Masterpiece Theatre history. Patrick Stewart (X-Men), George Baker (The Ruth Rendell Mysteries), Margaret Tyzack (Cousin Bette), and James Faulkner (The Bank Job) also star.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
129 of 131 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Cut scenes return, alternate openings provided, SUBTITLES available, and picture is as fine as can be provided from the 1976 epic. A booklet provides accuracy data & a genealogical tree that is a remarkable value for keeping the characters straight through the 78 year time period. The 35th Anniversary Edition is the set to own, by JOVE.
100s of reviews inform you of the content: An insatiable quest for power among Roman Emperor generations makes the story compelling. It's full of dastardly evolution. The Claudian Dynasty BBC spectacle filled with incest, base perversion and murder perpetrated within the royal family but presented with the historical humor of the 1930s Robert Graves novels. Augusta thru Nero, a plague of Roman Emperors, is a story supposedly told through the buried family story written by Claudius, exposing truth and sinister acts within the outlandish and intrigue filled generations. The film version includes the Graves' toga-talking slang, made a TV epic through the masterful writing of Jack Pulman. Through Roman period sexual twists (nudity, violence, and content warnings are correct throughout) viewers find humor in bizarre conduct, and jocular dialogue.
Aligning with stellar writing was casting. Derek Jacobi shines as perfect here as he did as Cadfael. Augustus (Brian Blessed) & wife, Beautiful, evil Livia by Sian Phillips (Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy), & her son Tiberius (George Baker -Ruth Rendell Mysteries). Add Claudius' mom, Antonia by Margaret Tyzack (Cousin Bette, Forsyte Saga). Caligula by John Hurt, Sejanus by Patrick Stewart (Star Trek), Nero by Christopher Biggins (Poldark), Narcissus (John Cater -Duchess of Duke Street), Ian Ogilvy (Upstairs, Downstairs) are a few more recognized. There is more.
SUBTITLED Episodes total 668 minutes, plus 104 more if you view the alternate episodes.
Episode 1: A TOUCH OF MURDER-Rome 24-9 BC (BCE). Original PBS alternates are 1: A Touch of Murder & 2: Family Affairs.
2: WAITING IN THE WINGS 3-5 AD (CE)
3: WHAT SHALL WE DO ABOUT CLAUDIUS? 9 AD
4: POISON IS QUEEN 13-14 AD
5: SOME JUSTICE 19-20 AD
6: QUEEN OF HEAVEN 23-29 AD
7: REIGN OF TERROR 30-31 AD
8: ZEUS, BY JOVE! 37-38 AD
9: HAIL WHO? 40-41 AD
10: FOOL'S LUCK 41-43 AD
11: A GOD IN COLCHESTER 47-48 AD
12 OLD KING LOG 54 AD
ALL BONUS has SDH SUBTITLES:
The booklet and 2 alternate episodes mentioned.
"I, Claudius": A Television Epic -2002, 74 min behind the scenes
"The Epic That Never Was" -1965, 71 min documentary of a failed B/W 1937 film adaptation staring Charles Laughton.
12 min Jacobi film interview from 2010
36 min Cast/Dir favorite scenes
The only fault I found was the close ups show the latex masks used for make-up technique typical of the 1970s period. But remember, quite advanced in 1976.
An epic that will never be out of style. And cut or reduced scenes are restored.
Even for previous owners, this may be worth a new purchase.
100s of reviews inform you of the content: An insatiable quest for power among Roman Emperor generations makes the story compelling. It's full of dastardly evolution. The Claudian Dynasty BBC spectacle filled with incest, base perversion and murder perpetrated within the royal family but presented with the historical humor of the 1930s Robert Graves novels. Augusta thru Nero, a plague of Roman Emperors, is a story supposedly told through the buried family story written by Claudius, exposing truth and sinister acts within the outlandish and intrigue filled generations. The film version includes the Graves' toga-talking slang, made a TV epic through the masterful writing of Jack Pulman. Through Roman period sexual twists (nudity, violence, and content warnings are correct throughout) viewers find humor in bizarre conduct, and jocular dialogue.
Aligning with stellar writing was casting. Derek Jacobi shines as perfect here as he did as Cadfael. Augustus (Brian Blessed) & wife, Beautiful, evil Livia by Sian Phillips (Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy), & her son Tiberius (George Baker -Ruth Rendell Mysteries). Add Claudius' mom, Antonia by Margaret Tyzack (Cousin Bette, Forsyte Saga). Caligula by John Hurt, Sejanus by Patrick Stewart (Star Trek), Nero by Christopher Biggins (Poldark), Narcissus (John Cater -Duchess of Duke Street), Ian Ogilvy (Upstairs, Downstairs) are a few more recognized. There is more.
SUBTITLED Episodes total 668 minutes, plus 104 more if you view the alternate episodes.
Episode 1: A TOUCH OF MURDER-Rome 24-9 BC (BCE). Original PBS alternates are 1: A Touch of Murder & 2: Family Affairs.
2: WAITING IN THE WINGS 3-5 AD (CE)
3: WHAT SHALL WE DO ABOUT CLAUDIUS? 9 AD
4: POISON IS QUEEN 13-14 AD
5: SOME JUSTICE 19-20 AD
6: QUEEN OF HEAVEN 23-29 AD
7: REIGN OF TERROR 30-31 AD
8: ZEUS, BY JOVE! 37-38 AD
9: HAIL WHO? 40-41 AD
10: FOOL'S LUCK 41-43 AD
11: A GOD IN COLCHESTER 47-48 AD
12 OLD KING LOG 54 AD
ALL BONUS has SDH SUBTITLES:
The booklet and 2 alternate episodes mentioned.
"I, Claudius": A Television Epic -2002, 74 min behind the scenes
"The Epic That Never Was" -1965, 71 min documentary of a failed B/W 1937 film adaptation staring Charles Laughton.
12 min Jacobi film interview from 2010
36 min Cast/Dir favorite scenes
The only fault I found was the close ups show the latex masks used for make-up technique typical of the 1970s period. But remember, quite advanced in 1976.
An epic that will never be out of style. And cut or reduced scenes are restored.
Even for previous owners, this may be worth a new purchase.
81 of 84 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
None of the Users who gave this set a score of "1" have ever seen it. The Acorn has been remastered.
February 5, 2012
Format:DVD
Both picture and sound quality are much improved over the previous Image sets. The content is as complete as is possible to get, minus the absence of the Alistair Cooke Intro's which were part of the Masterpiece Theatre presentations, but not the BBC. Subtitles are included, but the sound is so clear and natural that unless you are hearing impaired I doubt you will require them. Unlike the Users who feel inclined to write about something they've never seen, I have in fact seen an advanced review copy.
I wish there was some way to have Amazon disallow comments from people who have no acquaintance with the product they write about, but such is the way of things - for now.
I wish there was some way to have Amazon disallow comments from people who have no acquaintance with the product they write about, but such is the way of things - for now.
49 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By Barbara Siek
Format:DVD
WAIT! All of these reviews, plus negative comments, go back to 2005, 2000, and refer to earlier, cut versions, or the 2-disc, squeezed one!
They do NOT refer to the new Acorn Media, reg.1, release on FIVE DISCS, due out on March 27, 2012.
Acorn includes the extended original episodes 1 and 2 and wonderful special features, e.g. THE EPIC THAT NEVER WAS, introduced by the superb British actor Dirk Bogarde plus other extras, such as the Derek Jacobi interview, an 8-page booklet, etc.
I, Claudius was a fascinating series, and its seems that Acorn Media is doing justice to it.
They do NOT refer to the new Acorn Media, reg.1, release on FIVE DISCS, due out on March 27, 2012.
Acorn includes the extended original episodes 1 and 2 and wonderful special features, e.g. THE EPIC THAT NEVER WAS, introduced by the superb British actor Dirk Bogarde plus other extras, such as the Derek Jacobi interview, an 8-page booklet, etc.
I, Claudius was a fascinating series, and its seems that Acorn Media is doing justice to it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
"What a twisted web we weave.."
Gruesome and fabulous! I loved watching it every week when I was a teenager and it has only gotten more fun with time.
Published 3 days ago by Alexandra Schwaller
5.0 out of 5 stars
I, Claudius
My wife and I loved the series. Another one of the fine British tv works. Highly recommended to all lovers of a fine series.
Published 4 days ago by De Carl A. Restivo
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Claudius, great movie
Saw it on PBS back in 70s. GREAT movie Don't need to add anything to this rating except 11 more words this program requires
Published 17 days ago by J. Harvey
5.0 out of 5 stars
the best masterpiece theatre!
This is one of the best Master piece theatres that they ever did. I saw it with my husband 35 years ago and it rally wasnice to find it again!
Published 1 month ago by marikay
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of all time best
All time Great series!. Decided to replace ones we recorded from TV years ago. This was same version with a few additional scenes. Other reviews were helpful.
Published 1 month ago by Quincy MA
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you liked the original, you will not be disappointed.
This exceeded my expectations, seeing as how "old" the original Video Tape was. The DVD is very watchable, the colors and details are excellent along with the sound track, very... Read more
Published 1 month ago by zray
4.0 out of 5 stars
As riveting today as it was 35 years ago
My husband who had not seen the original broadcasts of this show, and I who never missed an episode were both equally enthralled by the release of this show. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mary M. Delano
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
This is a classic series. I don't collect DVDs per se, but I considered this as a must have even though I saw the series when it originally aired on TV.
Published 1 month ago by A Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
one of the first/best of the historical dramas
having been a fan in my youth, i was pleased to find that this dvd was better presented than I anticipated. Read more
Published 2 months ago by frank bell
1.0 out of 5 stars
tech disaster
There are 4 discs for the 12 episodes. First 3 were perfect. Last disc has recording difficulties and and cannot be viewed. Whole dvd is thus ruined. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Al P.
