But was this better than his death scene as Augustus, Lying in the bed propped up, silent and unblinking for how many minutes until the light of life just passed from his eyes?
@@Losrandir He makes a fool of himself? Do you know what this man has accomplished? He's the oldest man to reach the North pole on foot, climbed the Everest three times, wrote half a dozen books, ... next to his acting career. He has nothing to prove to anyone. People who laugh at him should maybe read up on him before making a fool of themselves.
@@ernestinehemingway7799Blocking is the process of figuring out where actors appear in relation to the camera, their movements and body language, and generally using the camera almost as an active participant in a scene. A different way to block this scene would be to cut to the other actors' faces when they answer the accusations and using a wide shot when Augustus is going up and down the line. Blocking the scene that way would be perfectly fine, but terribly sterile.
I love how his outburst at the end shows both his power and fury but also his wisdom; "Take them out! I'll decide what to do with them later!" = "Get them out of my sight before I impulsively give an order I might regret, I'll make a decision once I've calmed down!" That level of self-reflection and control is exactly what you need in an emperor.
He did sentence his only child, Julia to exile on the tiny island of Pandateria for 5 years and refused to ever see her again. As for her 'lovers', some faced similar exile while others, including Mark Anthony's son, were given the 'option' of suicide...he chose the latter. My point is, Augustus seems to have always had a cruel streak dating back to his Triumvirate days as a young man, and though he may have tempered those demons in his old age, they occasionally surfaced with terrifying effect. He was also something of a hypocrite, as evidenced by his ban on public gambling, yet in private was himself an inveterate gambler. I think it's safe to say he was a complex man who certainly had his flaws, but compared to the two that would follow him(Tiberius and Caligula) as well as numerous others over the next 400 years, he was practically a saint!
@@bodaciousbiker Augustus is depicted more buffoonish in I, Claudius, which drew some critics for his depiction. However, this represents well him being more of a family man after he became Augustus. We still see streaks of his Octavian ruthlessness underneath a few times during the series, however. For example when he mentions to Drusus that his father used to be his enemy once with a death glare, only to smile when Drusus becomes nervous starts replying that he will never be that. Or, when he threatens Tiberus that Mark Antony was twice the man he is, yet when he disrespected him he gave him a lesson he could not live to profit from. Or, when he catches Postumus and is ready to gut him with a knife, seriously telling him to his nose and face that he could kill him right there like it was nothing, like crushing an insect.
@@nm7358 He's certainly not the Octavian who divorced his second wife on the day she was giving birth to his only child, so that he could wed Livia, nor the vengeful one who gouged his enemy's eyes out. Nor is he the one of the proscription lists who 'delivered' Cicero's severed head and hands to Mark Anthony(and yes, Fulvia!), or who ordered the deaths of 300 optimates and the destruction of Perusia for their alleged disloyalty, nor even the one who ordered the execution of his great uncle Julius's 17-year-old son Caesarian(by Cleopatra), because "too many Caesars is not good!". Blessed's Augustus was undoubtedly much more the mellow, benevolent family man...the Fred MacMurray of antiquity that most of us are familiar and comfortable with. This is by no means a criticism of Blessed's Augustus or moreso the real princeps...it's always risky judging figures from our distant past by the mores of the present, rather, it's simply an observation that the remarkable effort of the state 'propaganda machine' that made over Octavian to Augustus sometime around 27BCE has endured for more than two millennia. It also lends credence to the phrase 'history is written by the victors'. There's an interesting interview out there in which Blessed stated he was initially having difficulty deciding how best to portray the princeps and then confessed that his motivation finally came from the 'mafia'...I can definitely see it!
@@bodaciousbiker Exile is merciful by the time period. In a world without paternity tests, it's understandable that they'd be harsh. That's the show though. In history, he was far harsher.
@@bodaciousbiker "but compared to the two that would follow him(Tiberius and Caligula) as well as numerous others over the next 400 years, he was practically a saint!" Well, Constantine IS a saint!
I, Claudius remains the greatest thing I have ever watched on television or at the movies. Brian Blessed was amazing as was all of the cast. It was pure perfection.
'Not slept!' That excuse kills me. You can tell he pulled it out of his ass to try and get off the hook. All joking aside, Brian Blessed was amazing as Augustus, he had his shoutier moments, but often seems so kind and grandfatherly. You feel the loss when he dies, and see why everything goes so disastrously wrong.
I've watched the series about 80 times...never noticed his squeaking sandal. I think it's good that the wardrobe people didn't try to silence it...not only is it realistic (happens even today), but it accentuates his plodding, devastated gait amongst the agonizing quiet before the storm...
I have "I, Claudius" as a remastered DVD boxset with bonus material. It is called "Five Disc Imperial Edition". I also have HBO's "Rome" (2015-2017) as DVD boxset (2 Seasons, 22 episodes), and Monty Python's "Life of Brian" (The 2 DVD Immacute Edition). They are about the same historical era.
It reminds me of Momus, the Greek god of satire and mockery. He was asked to judge the gods and when Aphrodite approached he remarked that she was beautiful but her sandals squeaked.
He would have been amazing, however the odd thing is there's an account from either Henry's own time or a little after, which mentions that his daughter Mary had a low voice like a man's, while Henry's voice was high pitched! So even though he was a big man, it seems he had a high voice.
I know we all think of ‘Gordon’s Alive’ as Brian Blessed’s greatest line, but his outburst at the end I think is just as iconic, just for the sheer volume of anger and power.
They were all amazing. Jacobi, Blessed, Hurt, Baker, Rhys Davies, Stewart… But I have to agree with Brian Blessed that the best of all was surely Siân Phillips (Livia)
You should also watch Charles Laughton in the I, Claudius of 1937. Unfortunately, it was never completed. What a tragedy. It could have been one of the greatest epics in cinema history. BBC made a documentary of it with fragments. It's on the internet.
Firstly, I couldn't believe that Brian Blessed has ever existed without a beard. He was born with a beard. So I waited to hear him speak, to confirm that he was indeed he. But I had to wait 40 agonising seconds. The anticipation was thick. It was calm, so very calm. Then the volcano erupted. Glorious.
I remember this as a child when it was first broadcast. It engendered a life long interest in history. Despite the production values of the time, and budget, the writing and acting created a masterpiece. In the words of the great Mr. Gump, 'thats all I've got to say about that'. Excelsior!
Imagine watching this as a 13 yo girl. My mother was mortified. My Dad said, "Pay very close attention to every word and deed, dear." It has served me well. I know Graves fictionalized much of this story but, he HAD to have gotten the gritty humanity of it right. Especially with Livia.
I, Claudius is a masterclass in writing, acting, and filming. It shows what can be done within a low, tight budget. The quality here is superb all around. When this was broadcast, I so thoroughly enjoyed it. What a pity that these skills have disappeared.
@@audionmusic2787 "When art is required to pay..." Now, that _is_ an interesting thesis, and one that _should_ be developed further in the forum of public debate! It won't be, of course :-(
"And as to the charge that I am half-witted... well... what can I say? Except that I have survived, to middle age, with half my wits while thousands have died with all of their wits intact!! Evidently, quality of wits is more important than quantity!"
Man such a powerful performance. That roar at the end gives me the chills. I've read that this is Brian Blessed's favorite scene in the series. He knows he nailed it.
This has to be one of the most memorable, iconic scenes from TV, and that from a series that has several of them(spoiler alert...another is Livia's warning to her son Tiberius on his seeing Augustus's lifeless body..."Don't touch the figs!"). I love that moment when the one senator responds when next in line, "...not slept, Caesar", and then Blessed's Augustus explodes with rage, "Is there anyone in Rome who has not slept with my daughter!"...a scene that is absolutely priceless and no matter how often I watch it, still gives me goosebumps! Brian Blessed's performance as Augustus was flawless, and he rightfully owns it for all time! And just as I can't help but think of Peter Ustinov's Nero when reading about Rome's fifth emperor, I suppose the greatest compliment I can give Mr. Blessed is that it is his Augustus that is now fixed in my mind's eye whenever I think or read of Rome's first!
Augustus was the second Emperor for life, but the first to take the title directly . Caesar increased his reign in steps, culminating with getting it "for life", before having his life shortened .
@@johndododoe1411Most historians recognize Augustus as Rome's first emperor. He was known as the 'princeps', which translates roughly as first citizen. Our word 'emperor' derives from the Latin title 'imperator', meaning one who commands, which prior to the princeps, had been used as a title bestowed to military commanders. As for Julius Caesar, though essentially emperor(and perhaps even king) in all but name, he was officially known as 'dictator', an actual but rarely used Roman office of state, usually given to someone for a term not to exceed 6 months in order to govern in times of exceptional difficulty. Julius Caesar had already been granted the title four times by the senate, for periods each lasting up to a year, before the unprecedented title of 'dictator perpetuo' (dictator for life) was finally bestowed upon him early in 44BCE. It was this last title which culminated in his assassination on the Ides of March of that year. After this, the office of 'dictator' was abolished.
Look at the camera angles swooping down the line to show how many men are in that room & how Blessed's character must feel as all this unfolding. I remember watching this over & over in the 80's. Just amazing.
I've always loved how you can already hear a faint version of his outburst in the seconds before his outburst. It's like the air itself is preparing for it.
Brian Blessed's performance is superb, especially the mirthless smiles with which he answers the senators' excuses. But the direction is also extraordinary. The way the camera tracks along the line of the accused, slowly revealing more and more men, and at the same time making the viewer think, "Wait a minute... HOW many?" This clip should be shown at every film school - how to tell so much with such economy.
I saw Brian Blessed in Henry V at Stratford in 1984 with Kenneth Branagh in the title role. He was magnificent. This clip of Augustus shows just how good he is but the whole performance is superb. I love the way he mixes ruthess dictator with hen-pecked husband. Most of the cast had extensive stage experience and the long single-take scenes allow them to react in real time which makes the dramatic tension so much more effective.
I saw him the same year also, playing the role of Claudius in Hamlet. Roger Rees in the title role, Kenneth Branagh as Laertes, and Virginia McKenna as the queen. There was a scene where Claudius grabs the queen to pull her in for a passionate kiss, and their teeth slammed together with an audible CRACK (heard at least in the third row, which was where I was sitting), and the audience gasped for fear they had hurt each other. But they carried on without a hitch.
Then Brian and Ken made the HENRY V film together. Ken must've been a massive fan of this production growing up as Blessed and Jacobi were pretty much both his mentors who were in several of his films
Blesssed's performance aside, one of my favourite details in this scene lands in the first few seconds. We begin with Augustus holding a document. The camera pans up to his face. Briefly, he composes his thoughts and as he does, we hear birds. A house sparrow chirps clearly, three times, then falls silent. The sparrow lends a bucolic charm to the Roman villa setting when in fact we can assume the scene was shot on a closed BBC soundstage. I'm sure that little bird didn't "just happen." Ask not for whom the sparrow chirps gentlemen ...
I simply love how this scene is so hilarious, even though the situation itself is actually terrible 😅 Just the way he gathered them all and interrogates them as if they're some bratty schoolboys, and his reactions to some of their answers, jeez, this is pure gold 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Brian Blessed was totally wrong physically for Augustus, who was quite frail and prone to serious illnesses, but he brought out the steel behind the mask of affability brilliantly.
"Answer the question." Spoken as a whisper but louder than a volcano. And then when the excuses come, the sarcasm masking a fury that would break the gods.
Every single main actor/actress in this unsurpassable series could give a masterclass in REAL acting; an endless source of delight. And being shot in a video format, it has an _immediacy_ which you always lose with film.
Like many this programme went out before the advent of home video recorders so you had to watch it or miss it. I worked shifts so inevitably missed some and it really got me mad because, in my opinion, this was one of the greatest TV productions ever made. Its such a pity that the BBC no longer has the finances, and probably the creative staff, to make so many shows like this. Brian was made for this role, pure genius.
My husband worked long hours but he told his boss he would not come in on Monday evenings because he wanted to watch I, Claudius. His boss accepted that.
This is not Brian Blessed's finest moment in I, Claudius. His slow death was - it is the only death scene by an actor I've seen that squares with how people actually do die in bed. Remarkably he gets the light to gradually fade from his eyes - how on earth did he do that? And it is completely against character too. A masterpiece of actor's business.
Brian and Sian Phillips were on a interview not too long ago....theyre still hanging in there....he did this line and Sian said "Oh ....dont touch the figs".... they've both still got it.
I watched the series when it was first shown on PBS stations here in the United States, and this scene has really stayed in my mind. I remember so much of it exactly! The first time I had a good look at Brian Blessed in action.
A great scene but my favorite Blessed moment is the one where he and his adopted son are discussing the fact that Livia is a monster. "Believe it, father." Blessed, softly: "I do. I do."
This is pure filmmaking. Elegant blocking, and acting that reveals the truth with as few words as needed. There is rage, certainly. But there is also shame and a bit of humor. So many movies today should take lessons from this monumental series.
Brian Blessed is an underrated actor. No, I don't mean that as "Oh, people vastly don't like him enough", everyone does, but I mean directors and producers really didn't give him many great or important roles. Claudius is one of his only roles. After Flash Gordon, his image was forever marked as a "screaming larger than life man" and only did comedies. Which is a shame, because he clearly shows pathos in a very particular way. It's not Shakespearian, but its ROMAN. It's LOUD, it takes you by the guts. He isn't pitying himself, he's BEGGING for fairness. Plus his deliveries, his size, his charm, a once in a lifetime man for sure. A shame he didn't get any other roles as main characters.
I first noticed Brian Blessed in a bit part in the Avengers and next as Mark of Cornwall in the TV series Arthur of the Britons. I had read I Claudius and Claudius the God before this TV series was produced. It did not disappoint.
Watched this series the other day for the first time. What a joy it was. I can remember when I was a small toddler this snake that slid over the tv screen and it was time for me to quickly be whisked away to bed. It was the Game of Thrones of 40 years ago - only difference is that most of this actually happened!
This tickled me immensely. After my initial LOL moment I couldn't help chuckling intermittently for the next 15 minutes. Nice one. I've only ever seen BB in Flash! and Blackadder, so I can't take him seriously. They could easily have written your ...fresh daughters as a parody into Blackadder.
Wow! Great scene! I'm in NZ and I would have been about 15 or so when "I, Claudius" was shown here, back in the late 70s. I have to admit - I wasn't at all impressed by it at that time. I think I didn't give it a chance to "grow on me". I dismissed it too soon. Anyway - I was blown away by the "Rome" series a couple of years ago - I found that *wonderful* - and now, having just come across a few "I, Claudius" clips here, I've been impressed by what I've seen and am happy to watch more of that!
For a moment I thought I was going to witness a scene with Brian in which he didn't shout. But then, there he goes... gale force nine! Seriously, a wonderful man and a brilliant actor!
I saw an interview where Brian Blessed said that he was surprised that he got the part, because the major parts were taken by top actors, and he had only been been in a popular TV series.
It is not a criticism but an observation that I, Claudius is very stage-oriented. Very little in the way of spectacle (they didn't have the budget) and simple but effective blocking and framing (again, maybe not the budget for multiple cameras and elaborate lighting schemes). And the actors all projecting their voices - no mumbling as you get in today's movies - so they can be heard in the back row (of course Brian Blessed never had a problem with that :-) ). All of which forced a focus on the brilliant dialogue and the characters.
Brian Blessed managed to hold off from bellowing for a whole 2 minutes 26 seconds; truly a gargantuan feat.
Gordon's alive?
incredible acting
Taking off the man's beard was a feat even greater 😂😊
You obviously haven’t seen the outtakes.
But was this better than his death scene as Augustus, Lying in the bed propped up, silent and unblinking for how many minutes until the light of life just passed from his eyes?
"Once, Caesar."
"Ah, only once! That's all!"
“But not slept”
“So, standing up or in the street or on a bench?!?!”
Is the one that kills me personally.
Also a well done line!
That was funniest
When the loudest man in the room is quietly threatening you with half-joking remarks, you know it's serious.
and catastrophic....
This scene proves Brian Blessed is a genuinely great actor whatever people may be think, the quiet menace in his voice is fantastic
He makes a fool of himself but he has a long distinguished career
@@Losrandir He makes a fool of himself? Do you know what this man has accomplished? He's the oldest man to reach the North pole on foot, climbed the Everest three times, wrote half a dozen books, ... next to his acting career. He has nothing to prove to anyone. People who laugh at him should maybe read up on him before making a fool of themselves.
How can anyone doubt that he is a great actor? The man is a force of nature.
"My daughter's ALIVE!"
Tbf he's pretty much universally beloved.
His amazing performance almost makes you overlook the fact that this is one shot with some brilliant blocking.
Designed to highlight the LENGTH of the line of (21) men.
That is because Brian Blessed is a REAL ACTOR! You only get "one take" on the stage!
It was superbly directed and brilliantly acted. When you have that combo, it's special.
@@Scipio488what does brilliant blocking mean?
@@ernestinehemingway7799Blocking is the process of figuring out where actors appear in relation to the camera, their movements and body language, and generally using the camera almost as an active participant in a scene.
A different way to block this scene would be to cut to the other actors' faces when they answer the accusations and using a wide shot when Augustus is going up and down the line. Blocking the scene that way would be perfectly fine, but terribly sterile.
I love how his outburst at the end shows both his power and fury but also his wisdom; "Take them out! I'll decide what to do with them later!" = "Get them out of my sight before I impulsively give an order I might regret, I'll make a decision once I've calmed down!"
That level of self-reflection and control is exactly what you need in an emperor.
He did sentence his only child, Julia to exile on the tiny island of Pandateria for 5 years and refused to ever see her again. As for her 'lovers', some faced similar exile while others, including Mark Anthony's son, were given the 'option' of suicide...he chose the latter. My point is, Augustus seems to have always had a cruel streak dating back to his Triumvirate days as a young man, and though he may have tempered those demons in his old age, they occasionally surfaced with terrifying effect. He was also something of a hypocrite, as evidenced by his ban on public gambling, yet in private was himself an inveterate gambler. I think it's safe to say he was a complex man who certainly had his flaws, but compared to the two that would follow him(Tiberius and Caligula) as well as numerous others over the next 400 years, he was practically a saint!
@@bodaciousbiker Augustus is depicted more buffoonish in I, Claudius, which drew some critics for his depiction. However, this represents well him being more of a family man after he became Augustus. We still see streaks of his Octavian ruthlessness underneath a few times during the series, however. For example when he mentions to Drusus that his father used to be his enemy once with a death glare, only to smile when Drusus becomes nervous starts replying that he will never be that. Or, when he threatens Tiberus that Mark Antony was twice the man he is, yet when he disrespected him he gave him a lesson he could not live to profit from. Or, when he catches Postumus and is ready to gut him with a knife, seriously telling him to his nose and face that he could kill him right there like it was nothing, like crushing an insect.
@@nm7358 He's certainly not the Octavian who divorced his second wife on the day she was giving birth to his only child, so that he could wed Livia, nor the vengeful one who gouged his enemy's eyes out. Nor is he the one of the proscription lists who 'delivered' Cicero's severed head and hands to Mark Anthony(and yes, Fulvia!), or who ordered the deaths of 300 optimates and the destruction of Perusia for their alleged disloyalty, nor even the one who ordered the execution of his great uncle Julius's 17-year-old son Caesarian(by Cleopatra), because "too many Caesars is not good!". Blessed's Augustus was undoubtedly much more the mellow, benevolent family man...the Fred MacMurray of antiquity that most of us are familiar and comfortable with. This is by no means a criticism of Blessed's Augustus or moreso the real princeps...it's always risky judging figures from our distant past by the mores of the present, rather, it's simply an observation that the remarkable effort of the state 'propaganda machine' that made over Octavian to Augustus sometime around 27BCE has endured for more than two millennia. It also lends credence to the phrase 'history is written by the victors'. There's an interesting interview out there in which Blessed stated he was initially having difficulty deciding how best to portray the princeps and then confessed that his motivation finally came from the 'mafia'...I can definitely see it!
@@bodaciousbiker Exile is merciful by the time period. In a world without paternity tests, it's understandable that they'd be harsh. That's the show though. In history, he was far harsher.
@@bodaciousbiker "but compared to the two that would follow him(Tiberius and Caligula) as well as numerous others over the next 400 years, he was practically a saint!"
Well, Constantine IS a saint!
I, Claudius remains the greatest thing I have ever watched on television or at the movies. Brian Blessed was amazing as was all of the cast. It was pure perfection.
Yes, pure perfection. Unsurpassed.HBOs Rome was a nice big budget counterpart. Hard to imagine that Octavian turning into this guy😂
@@LKaramazov Domina is a great series as well.
Don't touch the figs.
'Not slept!' That excuse kills me. You can tell he pulled it out of his ass to try and get off the hook. All joking aside, Brian Blessed was amazing as Augustus, he had his shoutier moments, but often seems so kind and grandfatherly. You feel the loss when he dies, and see why everything goes so disastrously wrong.
I've watched the series about 80 times...never noticed his squeaking sandal. I think it's good that the wardrobe people didn't try to silence it...not only is it realistic (happens even today), but it accentuates his plodding, devastated gait amongst the agonizing quiet before the storm...
As iconic as Squidwards footsteps
I have "I, Claudius" as a remastered DVD boxset with bonus material. It is called "Five Disc Imperial Edition". I also have HBO's "Rome" (2015-2017) as DVD boxset (2 Seasons, 22 episodes), and Monty Python's "Life of Brian" (The 2 DVD Immacute Edition). They are about the same historical era.
@@lucone2937 congrats?
Has there ever been sarcasm so sarcastic as "Just once?That's all?"
It reminds me of Momus, the Greek god of satire and mockery. He was asked to judge the gods and when Aphrodite approached he remarked that she was beautiful but her sandals squeaked.
What a voice! I'm amazed that Brian Blessed never played Henry VIII. With his voice and beard, he would have been amazing!
@@a3bmediachannel2023 The classic from that is "Are You Retarded" LOL???
@@a3bmediachannel2023are you retarded is the famous line.
He would have been amazing, however the odd thing is there's an account from either Henry's own time or a little after, which mentions that his daughter Mary had a low voice like a man's, while Henry's voice was high pitched! So even though he was a big man, it seems he had a high voice.
Robert, have you seen him in Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V"? Pefect film and Blessed is riveting.
@@TheSaltydog07 I have not!
I know we all think of ‘Gordon’s Alive’ as Brian Blessed’s greatest line, but his outburst at the end I think is just as iconic, just for the sheer volume of anger and power.
Fancy Smith in Z Cars
Nah, I'm gonna go with Exeter's challenge from Henry V.... The menace behind his polite words was palpable.
It's that calm approach before the outburst that really gets me with this scene.
One of my favourite performances in TV history.
I love that line, and also his "God and King Richard!" line before charging at Nottingham in Robin Hood.
I ,Claudius was and still is one of the best Television series ever created.
"Is there anyone in Rome who has not slept with my daughter!"
"You haven't, Caesar."
"..................WHAT!?"
In those days and in that location I wouldn't be so sure...
@@maximillianwylde5163 “but…”
“One more word out of your mouth and you’ll be a Lion’s chew toy!”
"I haven't, Caesar"
"Finally, a virtuous man among degenerates"
"She said no."
"Gods dammit"
Augustus 'Praetorian, give me your sword! You two, hold this man' Cue the the closest shave until Madame Guillotine comes into fashion
Respect to Brian Blessed, he was superbly cast as Augustus. Every inch an emperor !
"They're going to be VAPORISED!" - Brian Blessed, reflecting on this scene years later. The one time we're shown the genuine power of Augustus.
Watching this again 47 years later on BBC4.
Sheer excellence
Derek Jacobi's performance was an absolute triumph.
i am watching for the first time. was always interested in roman history when I went to the roman ruins in my home country
@tla2119 It's fabulous
They were all amazing. Jacobi, Blessed, Hurt, Baker, Rhys Davies, Stewart… But I have to agree with Brian Blessed that the best of all was surely Siân Phillips (Livia)
@@chequereturned Yes, fantastic cast all round. Jacobi's 'vulnerable' performance was what hooked me as a kid when it was first broadcast.
You should also watch Charles Laughton in the I, Claudius of 1937. Unfortunately, it was never completed. What a tragedy. It could have been one of the greatest epics in cinema history. BBC made a documentary of it with fragments. It's on the internet.
"Huh, I've never heard Brian Blessed give such a muted performa..... Oh there it is!"
When you've got that much power, you don't have to shout to scare people.
Firstly, I couldn't believe that Brian Blessed has ever existed without a beard. He was born with a beard.
So I waited to hear him speak, to confirm that he was indeed he. But I had to wait 40 agonising seconds. The anticipation was thick. It was calm, so very calm. Then the volcano erupted. Glorious.
"Ah, only once. That's all!" 🤣
just that long scrolling movement behind so so many heads
I remember this as a child when it was first broadcast. It engendered a life long interest in history. Despite the production values of the time, and budget, the writing and acting created a masterpiece. In the words of the great Mr. Gump, 'thats all I've got to say about that'. Excelsior!
Imagine watching this as a 13 yo girl. My mother was mortified. My Dad said, "Pay very close attention to every word and deed, dear."
It has served me well.
I know Graves fictionalized much of this story but, he HAD to have gotten the gritty humanity of it right. Especially with Livia.
I don't know who Mr Gump is but the great Leonard Cohen ends one of his songs ('Everybody Knows', I believe), with 'That's all I've Got to Say'
I, Claudius is a masterclass in writing, acting, and filming. It shows what can be done within a low, tight budget. The quality here is superb all around. When this was broadcast, I so thoroughly enjoyed it. What a pity that these skills have disappeared.
When art is required to pay it’s own way, it spends all it’s time being entertainment, hoping someday it can be art again.
@@audionmusic2787 Interesting POV. I agree with it.
@@audionmusic2787
"When art is required to pay..."
Now, that _is_ an interesting thesis, and one that _should_ be developed further in the forum of public debate! It won't be, of course :-(
"And as to the charge that I am half-witted... well... what can I say? Except that I have survived, to middle age, with half my wits while thousands have died with all of their wits intact!! Evidently, quality of wits is more important than quantity!"
@@alexanderdgray Dialogue at its finest.
Man such a powerful performance. That roar at the end gives me the chills. I've read that this is Brian Blessed's favorite scene in the series. He knows he nailed it.
This has to be one of the most memorable, iconic scenes from TV, and that from a series that has several of them(spoiler alert...another is Livia's warning to her son Tiberius on his seeing Augustus's lifeless body..."Don't touch the figs!"). I love that moment when the one senator responds when next in line, "...not slept, Caesar", and then Blessed's Augustus explodes with rage, "Is there anyone in Rome who has not slept with my daughter!"...a scene that is absolutely priceless and no matter how often I watch it, still gives me goosebumps! Brian Blessed's performance as Augustus was flawless, and he rightfully owns it for all time! And just as I can't help but think of Peter Ustinov's Nero when reading about Rome's fifth emperor, I suppose the greatest compliment I can give Mr. Blessed is that it is his Augustus that is now fixed in my mind's eye whenever I think or read of Rome's first!
Augustus was the second Emperor for life, but the first to take the title directly . Caesar increased his reign in steps, culminating with getting it "for life", before having his life shortened .
@@johndododoe1411Most historians recognize Augustus as Rome's first emperor. He was known as the 'princeps', which translates roughly as first citizen. Our word 'emperor' derives from the Latin title 'imperator', meaning one who commands, which prior to the princeps, had been used as a title bestowed to military commanders. As for Julius Caesar, though essentially emperor(and perhaps even king) in all but name, he was officially known as 'dictator', an actual but rarely used Roman office of state, usually given to someone for a term not to exceed 6 months in order to govern in times of exceptional difficulty. Julius Caesar had already been granted the title four times by the senate, for periods each lasting up to a year, before the unprecedented title of 'dictator perpetuo' (dictator for life) was finally bestowed upon him early in 44BCE. It was this last title which culminated in his assassination on the Ides of March of that year. After this, the office of 'dictator' was abolished.
Look at the camera angles swooping down the line to show how many men are in that room & how Blessed's character must feel as all this unfolding. I remember watching this over & over in the 80's. Just amazing.
“Not slept, Caesar…” So good! And yes, this is a blessed Blessed indeed.
I so need to see the rest of this episode. I was very young when this was on TV, I'll have to find this and watch it.
I've always loved how you can already hear a faint version of his outburst in the seconds before his outburst. It's like the air itself is preparing for it.
It might have been a glitch in the recording, but it was a glitch that worked to the scene's advantage!
It is tape print-through. The latest restoration of the show now streaming has removed it.
@@RS3DArchive Ah, well I first saw the series on VHS back in the day, so that explains it.
Brian Blessed's performance is superb, especially the mirthless smiles with which he answers the senators' excuses. But the direction is also extraordinary. The way the camera tracks along the line of the accused, slowly revealing more and more men, and at the same time making the viewer think, "Wait a minute... HOW many?"
This clip should be shown at every film school - how to tell so much with such economy.
Brilliant acting, brilliant writing, magnificent tv series.
I WANT my eagles back
QUINTILIUS VARUS, WHERE ARE MY EAGLES!?!?
Augustus had a daughter who was mad keen on charity work. she gave relief wherever she could.
In the book, Livia tricks her into taking "medicine" made from Spanish fly, which explains why she's so boy crazy.
The best acted miniseries of all time. Brilliant cast across the board
Every moment Brian Blessed had on screen was his finest moment.
I saw Brian Blessed in Henry V at Stratford in 1984 with Kenneth Branagh in the title role. He was magnificent. This clip of Augustus shows just how good he is but the whole performance is superb. I love the way he mixes ruthess dictator with hen-pecked husband. Most of the cast had extensive stage experience and the long single-take scenes allow them to react in real time which makes the dramatic tension so much more effective.
I saw him the same year also, playing the role of Claudius in Hamlet. Roger Rees in the title role, Kenneth Branagh as Laertes, and Virginia McKenna as the queen. There was a scene where Claudius grabs the queen to pull her in for a passionate kiss, and their teeth slammed together with an audible CRACK (heard at least in the third row, which was where I was sitting), and the audience gasped for fear they had hurt each other. But they carried on without a hitch.
Then Brian and Ken made the HENRY V film together. Ken must've been a massive fan of this production growing up as Blessed and Jacobi were pretty much both his mentors who were in several of his films
I saw the same performance that same spring. Blessed played Exeter, I believe. I was in college at the time. Such a wonderful performance.
Blesssed's performance aside, one of my favourite details in this scene lands in the first few seconds. We begin with Augustus holding a document. The camera pans up to his face. Briefly, he composes his thoughts and as he does, we hear birds. A house sparrow chirps clearly, three times, then falls silent. The sparrow lends a bucolic charm to the Roman villa setting when in fact we can assume the scene was shot on a closed BBC soundstage. I'm sure that little bird didn't "just happen." Ask not for whom the sparrow chirps gentlemen ...
To answer his final question, yes. Her husband Tiberius.
I simply love how this scene is so hilarious, even though the situation itself is actually terrible 😅
Just the way he gathered them all and interrogates them as if they're some bratty schoolboys, and his reactions to some of their answers, jeez, this is pure gold 🤣🤣🤣🤣
And his squeaky sandal makes it even funnier. Julia was a scallywag!
Reminds me of the Bigus Dickus scene from Life of Brian.
Brian Blessed was totally wrong physically for Augustus, who was quite frail and prone to serious illnesses, but he brought out the steel behind the mask of affability brilliantly.
"Answer the question." Spoken as a whisper but louder than a volcano. And then when the excuses come, the sarcasm masking a fury that would break the gods.
The dark humour was keen in this wonderful miniseries. 👌🏻❤️
this evening I plan to upload the scene where Agrippa asked for his daughters hand, the face he makes is wonderful
@@irishcream9004Another wonderful scene indeed! 👌🏻 Another dose of poison will be dispensed ... 😱
A fabulous show! I still watch it again every 2 or 3 years…
Brian Blessed is a treasure
Every single main actor/actress in this unsurpassable series could give a masterclass in REAL acting; an endless source of delight. And being shot in a video format, it has an _immediacy_ which you always lose with film.
Augustus was the peak of Rome. 40+ years of strength.
I weap for Lepidus
"Frankly, I'm as upset as you are. She told me we were exclusive... I don't regret it though. She's amazing."
I think it's time for my two or three times a decade Claudius binge.
How very restrained.
Like many this programme went out before the advent of home video recorders so you had to watch it or miss it. I worked shifts so inevitably missed some and it really got me mad because, in my opinion, this was one of the greatest TV productions ever made. Its such a pity that the BBC no longer has the finances, and probably the creative staff, to make so many shows like this. Brian was made for this role, pure genius.
My husband worked long hours but he told his boss he would not come in on Monday evenings because he wanted to watch I, Claudius. His boss accepted that.
Livia had, of course, the real power...
The BBC hasn't the finances, the facilities or the GUTS...
@@tooleyheadbang4239 BBC4 (channel 9 Freeview) is currently reshowing this show.
One of the greatest TV productions ever made. I couldn't agree more, we'll never see its like again, finances or not.
Brian Blessed is one the great actors of our time. Especially in Henry V.
This is not Brian Blessed's finest moment in I, Claudius. His slow death was - it is the only death scene by an actor I've seen that squares with how people actually do die in bed. Remarkably he gets the light to gradually fade from his eyes - how on earth did he do that? And it is completely against character too. A masterpiece of actor's business.
He has so many incredible moments in I, Claudius. I love his talk with Claudius when he realizes that Claudius is no fool.
And apparantly he had to do it TWICE due to a power outage in the studio! In my mind, one of he finest death scenes ever recorded.
Next he tells them about his friend Bigus Dickus.
A man of many talents. He was also chewing up the scenery on Black Adder & many other shows.
Brian and Sian Phillips were on a interview not too long ago....theyre still hanging in there....he did this line and Sian said "Oh ....dont touch the figs".... they've both still got it.
Without the beard Blessed resembles Oliver Reed. Outstanding performance from him.
I never thought I'd see Brian without a beard, I didn't recognize him at first, then at the end when I heard his voice I went.. oh THERE he is
This shows that Brian Blessed could act. His death scene is great too. All we tend to see of him since Flash Gordon is his party piece.
I watched the series when it was first shown on PBS stations here in the United States, and this scene has really stayed in my mind. I remember so much of it exactly! The first time I had a good look at Brian Blessed in action.
We watched this series as part of our Ancient History class in high school.
I Claudius TV series....the finest EVER made.
A great scene but my favorite Blessed moment is the one where he and his adopted son are discussing the fact that Livia is a monster. "Believe it, father." Blessed, softly: "I do. I do."
His was one of my favorite characters in a series full of great ones!
From I Claudius to Flash Gordon to Blake's 7 to Doctor Who, Brian needed to be in a lot more shows and films. Great character actor!
I always wanted Brian to be Tom Baker's replacement in Dr Who. Would have been awesome.
IT’S BRIAN BLESSED!!
When a person is so angry, they're calm, watch out.
I know that to be true of myself.
This is pure filmmaking. Elegant blocking, and acting that reveals the truth with as few words as needed. There is rage, certainly. But there is also shame and a bit of humor.
So many movies today should take lessons from this monumental series.
Blessed be thy name...
Brian Blessed is an underrated actor. No, I don't mean that as "Oh, people vastly don't like him enough", everyone does, but I mean directors and producers really didn't give him many great or important roles. Claudius is one of his only roles. After Flash Gordon, his image was forever marked as a "screaming larger than life man" and only did comedies.
Which is a shame, because he clearly shows pathos in a very particular way. It's not Shakespearian, but its ROMAN. It's LOUD, it takes you by the guts. He isn't pitying himself, he's BEGGING for fairness. Plus his deliveries, his size, his charm, a once in a lifetime man for sure. A shame he didn't get any other roles as main characters.
I always love this actor ❤❤❤
Best thing the BBC ever made.
Brian was given one of the greatest dialogue moments in the history of entertainment, and he made the most of it. A wonderful scene.
Fabulous 👌 acting, in one take 👌 👏
Not slept, Caesar 😂
Single take. Gold. It hits home brilliantly.
I bought the dvd and just got to this scene. His daughter has been busy.
I laughed when he just moved without asking anyone
Brian Blessed without a beard, does not compute
I, Claudius has a clean-shaven Brian Blessed and Patrick Stewart with a full head of hair. What sorcery is this?
I first noticed Brian Blessed in a bit part in the Avengers and next as Mark of Cornwall in the TV series Arthur of the Britons. I had read I Claudius and Claudius the God before this TV series was produced. It did not disappoint.
Despite his immense talent, I would have easily seen Oliver Reed in his place.
Watched this series the other day for the first time. What a joy it was. I can remember when I was a small toddler this snake that slid over the tv screen and it was time for me to quickly be whisked away to bed. It was the Game of Thrones of 40 years ago - only difference is that most of this actually happened!
Chiswick, fresh daughters!
This tickled me immensely. After my initial LOL moment I couldn't help chuckling intermittently for the next 15 minutes. Nice one.
I've only ever seen BB in Flash! and Blackadder, so I can't take him seriously. They could easily have written your ...fresh daughters as a parody into Blackadder.
@@jimstewart8122 and the pun works on two levels, he wants fresh daughters and he has a fresh daughter 👍
Ha ha. That's gold 😂
Simon McCorkindale standing awkwardly in the back thinking “It sucks to be the messenger.”
Wow! Great scene!
I'm in NZ and I would have been about 15 or so when "I, Claudius" was shown here, back in the late 70s.
I have to admit - I wasn't at all impressed by it at that time. I think I didn't give it a chance to "grow on me". I dismissed it too soon.
Anyway - I was blown away by the "Rome" series a couple of years ago - I found that *wonderful* - and now, having just come across a few "I, Claudius" clips here, I've been impressed by what I've seen and am happy to watch more of that!
For a moment I thought I was going to witness a scene with Brian in which he didn't shout. But then, there he goes... gale force nine!
Seriously, a wonderful man and a brilliant actor!
In all honesty, I think a quiet Brian Blessed is more menacing and scary than a loud shouting one is. This scene especially.
@@All2Meme Yeah, there is always the ongoing suspense of an imminent outburst. And the man oozes charisma. I heard he sells it in jars.
The sandal squeak of terror
He would have made a great Robert Baratheon
I, Claudius is a production that does all the simple things really really well.
A good use of Cameras and actor Staging go a long way, like Roman Concrete it seems they have been lost to history
I saw an interview where Brian Blessed said that he was surprised that he got the part, because the major parts were taken by top actors, and he had only been been in a popular TV series.
Which one's Naughtius Maximus?
His death scene is superb too - you actually see the life draining from him - hard to pick a best moment.
Don't eat the figs
What a great actor, Brian Blessed!
"Only once that's all"
Which suggests to him that the others may have done it MORE then once.
"Is there anyone in Rome who has not slept with my daughter?" Augustus asked calmly.
He just lost it, as he was the last to know about his daughter. I like Brian Blessed's performance in this
Note to self: never, ever sleep with Brian Blessed's daughter.
'Not Slept'. The greatest line in Roman History.
His finest moment was his death scene, but the line “ is there anyone who hasn’t slept with my daughter?” is a classic!
So is the time when the Germans destroy his armies, & he shouts ' Quinctilus Varus -where are my Eagles'. I think he was the general who lost them.
@@youngsteph1 such an amazing show!
I felt this in my bones
Love the squeaky shoes 😂 BB as always great.
Like many of my countrymen, I grew up calling this I Clavdivs.
of covrse how covld I
Covfefe
If it wasn't for his voice I never would have recognized him. He looks naked without his beard.
Back when drama was well written, well acted & had good direction.
The character actors that cut their teeth in repertory theatre are gone.
It is not a criticism but an observation that I, Claudius is very stage-oriented. Very little in the way of spectacle (they didn't have the budget) and simple but effective blocking and framing (again, maybe not the budget for multiple cameras and elaborate lighting schemes). And the actors all projecting their voices - no mumbling as you get in today's movies - so they can be heard in the back row (of course Brian Blessed never had a problem with that :-) ). All of which forced a focus on the brilliant dialogue and the characters.