I, Queequeg, rewatch I, Claudius

[grumbler]

I think it is terrific, "stagey" and all.  Like the stage, though, you have to be willing to suspend disbelief.

[Sheilbh]

The programme has a theatrical quality, which seemed natural at the time but now seems too stagey.
Nevertheless, a very fine series.

Well it is a play.  Almost all the action takes place away from the 3-4 sets and the acting can be a bit hammy (Brian Blessed ).  But I think the writing and the fun of it more than makes up for that. 

[Martinus]

Brian Blessed is good at bellowing, though.

[Ed Anger]

Brian Blessed is good at bellowing, though.

And attacking Ming's cruisers.

[Richard Hakluyt]

The programme has a theatrical quality, which seemed natural at the time but now seems too stagey.
Nevertheless, a very fine series.

Well it is a play.  Almost all the action takes place away from the 3-4 sets and the acting can be a bit hammy (Brian Blessed ).  But I think the writing and the fun of it more than makes up for that.

Just so. I recently watched it again about 3 years back, found myself getting peeved about the production quality and whatnot, reminded myself to treat it as a play.....and then thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sheilbh]

Brian Blessed is good at bellowing, though.

IS THERE ANYONE IN ROME NOT SLEEPING WITH MY DAUGHTER?

WHERE ARE MY EAGLES?

[Queequeg]

I could understand Augustus being fantastically upset and, in all probability, bellowing a bit at those moments.  I just don't understand how they could paint him as incompetent though.  He brought stability to an overstretched Empire that had spent over half a century tearing at its own flesh and, in so doing, completely reshaped Western Europe and the rest of human history.  The portrayal of him as buffoonish is fantastically silly.

That said, John Hurt's Caligula more than makes up for it.  That man is a motherfuckign genius.  I think of few other actors who could so totally outshine Derek Jacobi and Jonathan Rhys-Davies. 

[saskganesh]

at that time, the height of American TV drama was "I Love Lucy".

I, Claudius, aired in 1976 on the BBC. Gierek and Jaroszewicz ruled in Poland (where 07 zgłoś się premiered the same year) and the following TV shows premiered in the U.S.:
Charlie's Angels, The Muppet Show, Quincy M.E., The Bionic Woman, The Gong Show, Family Feud, Jabberjaw and Scooby Doo. How's that for quality entertainment?

More importantly, I was also born in that year.

1976? big budget Roots (1977) would be a better comparison.

[Sheilbh]

I could understand Augustus being fantastically upset and, in all probability, bellowing a bit at those moments.  I just don't understand how they could paint him as incompetent though.  He brought stability to an overstretched Empire that had spent over half a century tearing at its own flesh and, in so doing, completely reshaped Western Europe and the rest of human history.  The portrayal of him as buffoonish is fantastically silly.

Graves was a Suetonius fan.  I think what intrigued him was that Augustus did all of that but couldn't control his own family.  Though Blessed is a bit over the top.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Yes, the tragedy for Augustus the man is that this powerful and talented politician can't control his own family. These are different areas of human endeavour, I don't think it's fundamentally ridiculous that Augustus could be both.

Saying that Blessed's performance is a bit OTT is like saying the Pope is a catholic of course 

Graves used to get very annoyed when people said he'd just sat down and read Suetonius and then written I, Claudius btw. He said that he had read or consulted 50 different sources. I'd still say that even so Suetonius is his guiding light.

[Martinus]

I could understand Augustus being fantastically upset and, in all probability, bellowing a bit at those moments.  I just don't understand how they could paint him as incompetent though.  He brought stability to an overstretched Empire that had spent over half a century tearing at its own flesh and, in so doing, completely reshaped Western Europe and the rest of human history.  The portrayal of him as buffoonish is fantastically silly.

Wouldn't that be Robert Graves doing that and not "them" (whoever "they" are)?

[Martinus]

Anyway, it's an artist's vision/fictionalized historical drama, not a historical documentary. It's like complaining about "Lion in Winter"'s Richard being gay, because there are no conclusive sources to confirm that.

Not sure if an autistic antisocial history-obsessed nerd can get it, though.

[The Brain]

We know next to nothing about the personalities involved. Let the stories soar.

[CountDeMoney]

at that time, the height of American TV drama was "I Love Lucy".

I, Claudius, aired in 1976 on the BBC. Gierek and Jaroszewicz ruled in Poland (where 07 zgłoś się premiered the same year) and the following TV shows premiered in the U.S.:
Charlie's Angels, The Muppet Show, Quincy M.E., The Bionic Woman, The Gong Show, Family Feud, Jabberjaw and Scooby Doo. How's that for quality entertainment?

More importantly, I was also born in that year.

1976? big budget Roots (1977) would be a better comparison.

Unfortunately, Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind spoiled everybody at the theaters.

[grumbler]

Wouldn't that be Robert Graves doing that and not "them" (whoever "they" are)?

Not really.  Graves's portrait of Augustus is a bit more positive.  A play by necessity is much less nuanced.