Rather than hijack a related thread, I’ll start anew:
Does anyone remember the original 1970s Masterpiece Theatre broadcast of I, Claudius?
I could almost swear that some of the most graphic details were cut from the early 1990s rebroadcast and the boxed videotape set. Since I was very young when this first aired, I’d like to see whether any Dopers can confirm this one way or the other.
Specifically, I seem to recall these shots from the 1970s that I’ve never seen since:
After Caligula murders his sister, a shocked Claudius encounters him leaving the scene into a palace hallway. Blood drips from Caligula’s mouth down his chin and chest.
Late in Tiberius’ reign some people open a pornographic book. The scene includes a brief shot of the illustrations.
During the rebroadcast I got the impression that violence and partial nudity had been edited down.
Anybody know what happened? Is there an “original uncut version” somewhere or has my memory played tricks on me?
I (one of the few 14 year olds ever have to have watched them) remember the hallway scene… but not the porno scene. Hum, I need to get my priorities straight :p.
I also remember a scene where a woman got her head cut off and her vision spun. It was cool.
After Caligula murders his sister, a shocked Claudius encounters him leaving the scene into a palace hallway. Blood drips from Caligula’s mouth down his chin and chest.
**Yes. I just taped the whole series which was rebroadcast about a year ago here in NYC. This scene is when Caligula (John Hurt) slices open his pregnant-by-him sister’s womb so he can eat the fetus, thereby duplicating something Zeus did (fearing his child would be more powerful than him). The murder takes place off camera and we see Caligula, with bloody mouth, telling Claudius “don’t go in there.” **
Late in Tiberius’ reign some people open a pornographic book. The scene includes a brief shot of the illustrations. Yes, It’s John Hurt’s very first scene. Tiberius is discussing some matter with Sejanus (Patrick Stewart) and Caligula barges in with this “gift” that “took me over a year to find.” “It was very thoughtful of you,” is Tiberius’ reply.
During the rebroadcast I got the impression that violence and partial nudity had been edited down. Not that I know of. I saw the series when it first came out (but memories do fade) and have since seen it many different times both on “official” video and tapes of off-air broadcasts. They have all been identical, at least the ones I saw and within my memory.
The woman in question was Messalina, Claudius’ third wife. As to “porno scenes” British TV is more lenient in terms of nudity than the U.S. (or such was the case in the 70’s) but the BBC doesn’t exactly have porno. Here’s what I recall (I did screen it recently):
The very first scene of the very first episode: Scantily clad African dancers at a dinner honoring the anniversary of the battle of Actium.
Augustus’ naughty daughter Julia in the company of several men in her bedroom, but camera pans away before any significant nudity.
Claudius forced to be the “ticket seller” to Caligula’s orgies (Caligula pressured the rich to attend and pay a fee) and we see what is supposed to be the height of Roman decadence. No significant nudity. A guy dressed as a woman chasing another guy and kissing him. Yecch.
Right before Caligula kills his sister, we see her rather shapely butt.
Messalina’s wager that she can “service” more men than a well-known Roman prostitute. Messalina wins, but the action takes place off camera.
Messalina’s infidelities. We see her breasts and butt a few times.
I never had occasion to think that there were edited versions. Maybe there are.