MASTERPIECE THEATRE: I, CLAUDIUS {PART 5 OF 13}: POISON IS QUEEN (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre," hosted by Alistair Cooke. 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. - A.D. 54), the lame, stammering grandson of Mark Antony. In part five, "Poison Is Queen," the aged Claudius recalls how his grandmother Livia finally completed her murderous scheme to make her son Tiberius the emperor of Rome. As the episode begins, Germanicus has returned from Rome to report the army's bloody victory in Germany. Claudius informs his brother of Livia's decades of treachery, encouraging Germanicus to convince Augustus of his wife's evil doings. Augustus, finally realizing that his wife has systematically murdered every heir to his throne but Tiberius, changes his will to name Postumus his successor. Postumus, however, still on a small isle in exile, bitterly receives Augustus, who promises to return him to Rome. While Livia schemes to pilfer Augustus's new will, Caesar has an omen that he will die in one hundred days. Augustus soon embraces Claudius as a friend, now recognizing the much maligned "fool" as a wise ally. When Augustus collapses while vacationing with Livia, he refuses to eat any food she prepares for him. Livia, however, manages to poison him nonetheless, setting the stage for Tiberius's ascendancy. Following the program, Alistair Cooke introduces a scene from part six, in which the well-practiced amateur poisoner Livia talks shop with a professional in the same field.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: December 4, 1977 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1259
- 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 … Writer, 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
- Brian Blessed … Cast, Augustus
- Sian Phillips … Cast, Livia
- George Baker … Cast, Tiberius
- Patricia Quinn … Cast, Livilla
- Patrick Stewart … Cast, Sejanus
- David Robb … Cast, Germanicus
- John Castle … Cast, Postumus
- Carol Gillies … Cast, Camilla
- Jonathan Burn … Cast, Fabius
- James Bree … Cast, Montanus
- Graham Rowe … Cast, Junius
- John Evitts … Cast, Meno
- Alan Thompson … Cast, Praxis
- Michael Segal … Cast, Quaestor
- Peter Harwood … Cast, the Assassin