MASTERPIECE THEATRE: I, CLAUDIUS {PART 10 OF 13}: HAIL WHO? (TV)
Summary
This thirteen-part adaptation of Robert Graves's historical novel "I, Claudius," is set in the early years of the Roman Empire and depicts the life and milieu of the first four Roman Emperors as recalled by the fourth, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus (10 B.C. to A.D. 54), the lame, stammering grandson of Mark Antony. In part ten, entitled "Hail Who?" the aged Claudius recalls how Caligula was assassinated and how he was proposed as the most unlikely Roman Emperor of all. In A.D. 41, Rome had become subjected to the wild vicissitudes of life under the auspices of lunatic Emperor Caligula, who believes he has metamorphosed into the god Zeus. When not incapacitated by thundering headaches, Caligula busies himself by forcing Roman senators and their wives to participate in his palace brothel and by assigning a horse to the senate. Middle-aged Claudius -- who had been ousted from the palace at Caligula's whim -- is contentedly keeping home with the magdalene Calpurnia in the poorest quarters of Rome. Forced to attend a belly dancing performance at the palace by the cross-dressing emperor, Claudius is then ordered to marry nubile dancer Messalina to amuse Caligula. Secretly overjoyed by this new marriage, Claudius is too distracted to be aware of Cassius's plot to strike down Caligula at the arena. When the murder is done, members of the Praetorian Guard -- realizing they will lose their jobs as protectors of the emperor should the republic return -- propose Claudius to become the new emperor. Following the program, Alistair Cooke introduces scenes from Part Eleven, in which Claudius the "fool" displays a heretofore unseen confidence and political acumen before the skeptical senators who will vote on his confirmation as leader of the Roman Empire.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: January 8, 1978 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:53
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1263
- GENRE: Docudrama; Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Docudrama; Drama, historical; Roman emperors; Rome
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Martin Lisemore … Producer
- Herbert Wise … Director
- Jack Pulman … Writer
- Robert Graves … Based on the novel by
- Wilfred Josephs … Music (Misc. Credits), Title Music
- David Wulstan … Music (Misc. Credits), Incidental Music
- Clerkes of Oxenford, The … Music (Misc. Credits), Incidental Music
- Alistair Cooke … Host
- Derek Jacobi … Cast, Claudius
- John Hurt … Cast, Caligula
- Jo Rowbottom … Cast, Calpurnia
- Sheila White … Cast, Messalina
- Sam Dastor … Cast, Cassius
- Norman Eshley … Cast, Marcus
- Freda Dowie … Cast, Caesonia
- Anne Dyson … Cast, Briseis
- Lockwood West … Cast, Senator
- Bruce Purchase … Cast, Sabinus
- James Fagan … Cast, Asprenas
- Norman Rossington … Cast, Sergeant
- Bernard Hill … Cast, Gratus
- Sally Bazely … Cast, Poppaea
- Robert Bateman … Cast, the Singer
- Gina Manicom … Cast, Iris
- Jan Carey … Cast, Diana
- Stan McGowan … Cast, the Young Man
- Julian Armstrong … Cast, the German Guard
- William Bond … Cast, the Usher