MASTERPIECE THEATRE: I, CLAUDIUS {PART 9 OF 13}: ZEUS, BY JOVE! (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 nine, entitled "Zeus, By Jove!" the aged Claudius recalls how the utterly mad Caligula supplanted Tiberius as Roman Emperor. When the initial death announcement of the Emperor Tiberius turns out to be greatly exaggerated, Caligula's henchman Macro uses a feather pillow to snuff out the Caesar's life. Caligula -- at least an equal to Tiberius in his penchant for perversion -- now becomes the Roman Emperor at the precise time he is going insane. Soon after appointing Claudius as his colleague, Caligula slips into a coma and awakens believing that he and his wife (and sister) Drusilla have become gods. Because of the repeated violent and sick acts carried out under emperor's auspices, no one in the senate or in his family is brave enough to come forward as Caligula's detractor. Antonia, disgusted by the cowardice of Roman men, commits suicide so she can join her beloved Germanicus. Even the "goddess" Drusilla soon becomes a target for Caligula's violence. When his wife becomes pregnant, Caligula, believing the future child may be greater than him, mimics the paternal habits of Zeus, and cuts the child from Drusilla's womb. Following the program, Alistair Cooke briefly comments on how historians are able to recreate the day-to-day life of the long ago fallen Roman Empire. He then introduces a scene from part ten, in which Claudius's wedding is attended by Caligula's new equine senator.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: January 1, 1978 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1264
- 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
- Margaret Tyzack … Cast, Antonia
- John Hurt … Cast, Caligula
- Beth Morris … Cast, Drusilla
- George Baker … Cast, Tiberius
- James Faulkner … Cast, Herod
- John Rhys-Davies … Cast, Macro
- Jon Laurimore … Cast, Lentulus
- Anne Dyson … Cast, Briseis
- Lockwood West … Cast, the Senator
- Arthur Whybrow … Cast, the Stone Mason
- Douglas Melbourne … Cast, Gemellus
- Alan Tucker … Cast, a Slave