The Epic That Never Was

Unrated

9/19/19691h 14m

Theatrical (limited) Release (US)

Overview:

The story of the aborted 1937 filming of "I, Claudius", starring Charles Laughton, with all of its surviving footage.

Director:

Bill Duncalf

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

movie business
archive footage
documentary
cancelled film

Cast

Charles Laughton

~ as ~

Tiberius Claudius (archive footage)

Robert Graves

~ as ~

Interviewee [original author]

Josef von Sternberg

~ as ~

Interviewee [director] / Himself (archive footage)

Merle Oberon

~ as ~

Interviewee / Messalina (archive footage)

Flora Robson

~ as ~

Interviewee / Livia (archive footage)

Emlyn Williams

~ as ~

Interviewee / Caligula (archive footage)

Eileen Corbett

~ as ~

Interviewee [script girl]

John Armstrong

~ as ~

Interviewee [costume designer]

Dirk Bogarde

~ as ~

Narrator

John Abbott

~ as ~

Himself – Ms. Robson's Host (uncredited)

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 1 year(s) ago
8
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!