Wow, I saw this way back in 1991 on Masterpiece Theatre and I couldn't wait for each new episode. I'd forgotten how incredibly compelling and amusing this is. This what sets theatre apart from cinema. Thoroughly engrossing.
What a wonderful nurse Livia makes. Now we can all rest easy, wait a minute. I guess when she usually pois.., er tends to somebody the slime isn't usually green. Marcellus must have a different constitution than her usual vict.., er patient.... Oh dear, something seems amiss with the treatment regime. Yes indeed, it must have been something he ate.
@piontro that and his overbearing poisonous bitch of a mother... Vispania was his love coz she was an escape. Its a little Freudian but I think his perversion was partially a reaction to his mother and the fact he was so much of an introvert person it was more or less an outlet for him where he could apply what he wants to a woman.
That scene, from 8:45 is amazing. The doctor talking about poisoning, the camera panning across the screen, the realisation in the other woman as to what happened - and Livia staring coldly at her the whole time.
oh the sad humour of myself at 20, this was shown in Canada in early 70's, and I'd shout out, gather round folks, I Clav-divs is on ! Using the letter V., of course.
Tiberius-that twisted, evil old pervert. He loved having naked little boys swim around him...doing...ahem....various things to him under the water, then he'd have 1 or 2 of them skinned alive just for the sport of it. Nice.
It's very difficult to say if we know the truth about emperors. History was written by senators (Tacitus, Suetonius), who were the natural enemy to the emperor. They are not, I guess, straight liars, but they obviously have no sympathy for the empire and their political tendencies stayed always republican. Moreover, History was then rather literature than a truthful record of facts. You can see this specially in Tacitus, who is possibly the best prose writer in latin.
You must bear in mind, sexual dalliances between the rich and titled older men and young boys were tolerated, not encouraged - and probably if they didn't go on for too long. Often, a young handsome but poor boy would have only his body as a means to feed and clothe himself.
This is a good arguement for having women participate in full in polotics. If they do not they are behind the scene back-stabign snakes that kill people get what they want.
why are roman soldiers portrayed in armour when at home...
jethro035181 2 months ago
i still expect kenneth williams walks on in toga or syd james in legion uniform, or charles hawtrey giggling in some room in the palace.
digibeet 9 months ago
My father (who gave me both books when I was eight) walked by at 8:44.
Me: "Guess what I'm watching."
My father: "I don't know, but it looks like something cool..." *watches*
At 8:45 he says: "Oh, it's 'I, Claudius'!"
He'd never watched the show before, so who'd bet he recognized Livia's poisonous appearance? Of course, he then mistook the doctor for Claudius!
Freefalldreams 9 months ago
an Indian doctor...plus ca change
AlanWattParrot 9 months ago
"I may ask more than that when im finished"
slickwillywize 10 months ago
Wow, I saw this way back in 1991 on Masterpiece Theatre and I couldn't wait for each new episode. I'd forgotten how incredibly compelling and amusing this is. This what sets theatre apart from cinema. Thoroughly engrossing.
Thanks for posting this.
Grisostomo06 11 months ago
It must have been food poisoning...considering Livia probably poisoned his food.
Memoria777 1 year ago
What a wonderful nurse Livia makes. Now we can all rest easy, wait a minute. I guess when she usually pois.., er tends to somebody the slime isn't usually green. Marcellus must have a different constitution than her usual vict.., er patient.... Oh dear, something seems amiss with the treatment regime. Yes indeed, it must have been something he ate.
packjim56 1 year ago
Vipsania was Tiberius greatest Love. I believe that was the factor that made Tiberius a sexual pervert.
piontro 1 year ago
@piontro that and his overbearing poisonous bitch of a mother... Vispania was his love coz she was an escape. Its a little Freudian but I think his perversion was partially a reaction to his mother and the fact he was so much of an introvert person it was more or less an outlet for him where he could apply what he wants to a woman.
horusrage 1 year ago
Goodness has nothing to do with it. ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shit
kacplaymyst 1 year ago
Tiberius: "Let's hope that her prayers are heard."
Livia: "Yes indeed, and mine too."
Livia has a certain talent for statements which can be taken in more ways than one. The writing in this series was superb.
davegoes 1 year ago 2
this doctor is in on every one of livia's poisonings.
WikeddTung 1 year ago
The idea of Livia poisoning all her enemies in literature is an overblown myth.
guitarcapo 1 year ago
That scene, from 8:45 is amazing. The doctor talking about poisoning, the camera panning across the screen, the realisation in the other woman as to what happened - and Livia staring coldly at her the whole time.
Pure evil!
pulrh 1 year ago
TAKE CARE OF JULIA!!!
Jemmer1000 2 years ago
what is the line that's clipped between parts 3 and 4? he's got what in lesbos?
cuseter 2 years ago
she borrowed that line from Mae West!
Poodlepups 2 years ago
oh the sad humour of myself at 20, this was shown in Canada in early 70's, and I'd shout out, gather round folks, I Clav-divs is on ! Using the letter V., of course.
locheelad2 2 years ago 13
its because V is U in the roman equivalent
horusrage 2 years ago
Thanks, I knew then, it was a corny joke, lol.
locheelad2 2 years ago 3
is that dot cotton
glennwithers 2 years ago
Who? If you mean the actress playing Livia, you couldn't be more off the mark. It's Sian Phillips, quite a well respected British actress.
jonwiley 2 years ago 4
jonwiley....what do mean "quite"????
funkyalfonso 2 years ago
he liked babies to suckle off him too ,he was a right nasty
glennwithers 2 years ago
I think I'd only get as far as Lesbos!
andy7666 3 years ago
"i'll never 4give myself if anything happened 2 u."
phdseuss 3 years ago
Marcellus : "It's really good of you."
Livia : "No, no, my dear. Goodness has nothing to do with it."
Yeah, of course...
Xerxes2005 3 years ago 18
lol
zeusbark 3 years ago
Have you read the books?
winston5610 3 years ago
I have, I even got the audio books.
zeusbark 3 years ago
yea brilliant!
mixedupmuddledup 3 years ago
Tiberius is great. I imagine him exactly this way, a rude soldier who had been never much interested in reign. Thank you for posting.
cadmo7 3 years ago 7
u Welcome :)
zeusbark 3 years ago
Tiberius-that twisted, evil old pervert. He loved having naked little boys swim around him...doing...ahem....various things to him under the water, then he'd have 1 or 2 of them skinned alive just for the sport of it. Nice.
Bix12 2 years ago
It's very difficult to say if we know the truth about emperors. History was written by senators (Tacitus, Suetonius), who were the natural enemy to the emperor. They are not, I guess, straight liars, but they obviously have no sympathy for the empire and their political tendencies stayed always republican. Moreover, History was then rather literature than a truthful record of facts. You can see this specially in Tacitus, who is possibly the best prose writer in latin.
cadmo7 2 years ago 6
Comment removed
trajanus28 2 years ago
Very true. Also, it was a tendency in ancient Roman culture for rumors to spread and almost become fact.
Phillies64 2 years ago 5
And you believe that?
fntime 2 years ago
You must bear in mind, sexual dalliances between the rich and titled older men and young boys were tolerated, not encouraged - and probably if they didn't go on for too long. Often, a young handsome but poor boy would have only his body as a means to feed and clothe himself.
jonwiley 2 years ago 3
@cadmo7 tiberius not interested in reign, dont make me laugh
ifcret 1 year ago
That servant in 0:56 is Lt. Gruber from Allo Allo! LOL
Gourandor 3 years ago
ahahaha awesome, I love Gruber, I kept expecting a german accent in that scene!
MackerelCat 3 years ago 3
This is a good arguement for having women participate in full in polotics. If they do not they are behind the scene back-stabign snakes that kill people get what they want.
middletech 3 years ago 2
Amazing performance by Sian Phillips, don't you agree? EVIL personified. What wickedness!
fkafka64 3 years ago 2
wow... that Livia isn't very discreet. lol!
SlowDaddie 3 years ago 3