When the BBC TV series "I, Claudius" came to American airwaves on PBS's Masterpiece Theater in 1977, I convinced my parents that I should be afforded the family living room TV time to watch it since it was about history and thus was "educational." But I well knew it was to be all about the sordid details of the drama of the highborn of Roman society featuring all manner of lurid spectacle. It had already run its full "series" in the UK and the US papers had reviewed it extensively so I knew what to expect.
Amazingly, I got their permission though I'm pretty sure they didn't hang out watching it with me. Nor my siblings. This wasn't their cup of tea. Way too "highbrow" for them, for certain. And really, much of it was a bit challenging even for me to keep up with, what with all the adult-themed content and subtle intrigue and inuendo built into the plot and acting styles. Oh, and did I mention... I was 13 years old. Yeah, I wasn't your run-of-the-mill kid. I really liked the raw, adult-themed shit. Oh, and as you may be able to tell from the pic above, this show didn't disappoint at all in that respect.
It's available free to stream now on YouTube. Of course it looks ratty with it's 4:3 aspect ratio and low-res rendering, "soap opera" TV lighting and BBC budget setting, but the writing, acting, direction and sound design are all top notch. And, especially considering the times and the budget for television productions, I think the make up and costuming are also great. As far as I can tell, everything looks like natural fabrics -- silk, linen, wool... not a discernable thread of polyester in sight, which is a miracle for the 1970s.
Now there's no foul language and no outright nudity...
Well, except for the very first episode opening shot where topless African women are dancing for the Roman nobles at a fete -- even back in the 70s, like in National Geographic for instance, depictions of naked Black "natives" weren't considered "the same" as white women without clothes, of course #subtle racism. Though actually, I'm kinda guessing that though I just saw this, it may have been the original BBC copy and maybe the PBS broadcast did censor that part since Americans are generally more sensitive about nudity than Europeans. Though, on either count, why isn't it censored on YouTube in current times where their guidelines supposedly forbid it?
...But there's plenty of violence and, well, debauchery. The violence isn't so bloody or gruesome. There's no huge gladiator scenes. There's no battles per se. Almost all of the action is dialogue and it's almost all conducted in the chambers and halls of either the Imperial palace or other such places nobles and senators would hang out. TV budget you know. But the talk of suicide. The talk of murder. The talk of arson. The talk of incest, buggery, and poisoning... lots and lots of poisoning, oh my.
And I well remember the lasting impression that John Hurt's characterization of Caligula had on me. Hauntingly evil. Malevolent in his presence by his unpredictable volatility. He played him like a total fucked-up sociopath. And all his "eccentricities" well-noted in many historian texts, splayed out on the boob tube, burned into my XIII year old retinas.
My father: "Are you still watching that fucking show? Is that a fag in a dress? What is this shit, I thought it was school stuff?"
Me: "Never you mind, feeble minded old man. Just wait until I gain the ability. I'll stab you in your sleep and place the laurel leaf crown upon my head and I shall rule the house and all shall bow to me as the new Emperor -- Hail Caesar! Hail Michael!
Okay, maybe that convo never happened.