The Epic That Never Was (1969)
Overview
The story of the aborted 1937 filming of "I, Claudius", starring Charles Laughton, with all of its surviving footage.
Cast
Charles Laughton
Tiberius Claudius (archive footage)
Robert Graves
Interviewee [original author]
Josef von Sternberg
Interviewee [director] / Himself (archive footage)
Merle Oberon
Interviewee / Messalina (archive footage)
Flora Robson
Interviewee / Livia (archive footage)
Emlyn Williams
Interviewee / Caligula (archive footage)
Dirk Bogarde
Narrator
John Abbott
Himself – Ms. Robson's Host (uncredited)
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CinemaSerf
If you are at all interested in the Robert Graves "I, Claudius" stories then this is a must watch. Dirk Bogarde is superb narrating this hybrid of original, remarkably well preserved, rushes and specially shot interviews with the likes of Merle Oberon and Dame Flora Robson as they describe the logistical and personal nightmares that dogged the attempts by, initially, Sir Alexander Korda and subsequently Josef von Sternberg to turn this classic story into a film. Insightful contributions alert us to the difficulties faced by Charles Laughton ("Claudius") and Emyln Williams ("Caligula") in creating their characterisations and we are given an interesting look at just quite how a film of this stature - grand sets, costumes, Vestal Virgins and orgies was to be put together before - that is - it all went a bit pear-shaped. It's a well put together documentary with plentiful original content to sustain interest and by the end I think I understood why this wonderful story of intrigue, scandal - and sex has never been attempted for the big screen since!
