Thanks for the advice. The U.K. release is going for about 40 dollars used on Amazon and that's too much, but I'll keep my eye out for a better deal.

Caiman has it for $30--before shipping.

http://www.caiman.pl/Caiman/details.cfm?ASIN=B00006G9VS

And if you get a chance and the change pick up that region 2 version of "The Prisoner."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prisoner-40t...9318722&sr=8-1

It's beautiful and puts all other versions to shame.

It's been rumored that a Blu-ray version of "The Prisoner" is coming so you may want to wait for that. (Blu-ray will be hard pressed to beat this current version, however. The image is great.) The Blu-ray is rumored be region free.

I ordered and received the "I, Claudius" from Caiman and it looks to be merely a rehash of the first Image box set without the documentary "The Epic That Never Was." It's from Denmark, has 13 episodes, and runs 670 minutes on two discs--front and back.

http://www.caiman.pl/Caiman/details.cfm?ASIN=B00006G9VS

So, I'm guessing that I have to order this British version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Claudius-C...9481065&sr=1-2

to get the "complete" version of the show, although the Amazon listing says the run time is 648 minutes. Is the run time wrong? Does anybody have this version? (It says it is five discs. Is this version remastered like the newest and cut-up Image version? Is this version cut up, too?)

Never mind. I just reread Tim Tucker's posts and this IS the version I would want, but it also seems to be incomplete, but only by a few minutes.

Never buy any DVD from Denmark. I have come to believe the following-1.) There is nothing different between any of the DVD's except for the edit when they stick two episodes together and trim off some of the begining and ending of episodes one and two. 2.) The new DVD's look better then the old ones. 3.) The documentary on the U.K. release (that is not included on the U.S. release) is supposed to be great and worth seeing. 4.) The ending of "Zeus, By Jove" was cut out and destroyed after it's first U.K. showing and has never been seen again. 5.) The 13 part episodes is a better way to watch it then the 12 part episodes, but if you want to see it remastered you have no choice.

What exactly did the missing footage of "Zeus, By Jove" show that caused it to get cut?

That's the $64,000 question. I just asked the question in a U.K news group and I'll let you know if anybody answers. The guy who remastered the show and did the U.K. documentary actually wrote in to my thread over there and said he was shocked when they told him that they wanted to go with the 12 part series instead of the 13 episode series. I can't imagine why they did it.

I just came across something interesting on ebay that would be great for anybody who has a region free DVD player and wants to see the I Claudius documentary that was not included on the U.S. version. It's an ebay "buy it now" auction (the guy has 100 of them) for a 3 DVD set (Region Two) of I Claudius that has the first disc, the last disc and the bonus disc with the documentary on it. The set is not complete and I have no idea why anybody would have made this set, but it is perfect for people who want to see the documentary. The whole package plus postage comes to a total of $5.08. Just search "I Claudius three" on ebay and it should say "no matches", but if you go down below that it will list one international seller (kevinwilson203) that is selling this 3 DVD set.

A Heads-Up to Those Interested
 

Greetings from a newbie to the community :)

Just a heads-up: The I, Claudius "Making Of" documentary from the UK 2002 version can be viewed on YouTube. It's something like 5 parts, and well worth the time. It was this documentary that enlightened me to the fact that there was cut footage from the series. There is one scene that I recall it showing that was clearly not put in the original series (at least the US 2000 version). The scene is from part 13 (Old King Log) where it shows an extended version of the scene where Nero's mother is consoling Nero about his relationship with Octavia. In the original scene, it ends with the suggestive incestual relationship between Nero and his mother. In the extended scene, it takes it a bit further. In addition, there is a brief sequence where the director explains the cut "Zeus, By Jove" scene in which after Claudius peeks into the "abortion room" the door swings open when he walks away in horror, and we see the aftermath. The director expresses his frustration at having been forced to cut those final seconds.

Naturally, after I became aware of these extras, I have since been digging and digging for information as to which versions may carry these sequences (if any). However, I have had no luck, and am finding some comfort in the fact that there are others whom also love this series that are as frustrated as I am at the lack of explanation concerning deleted scenes, multiple versions, and wondering if these will EVER be available in ONE, complete version.

If I ever do find anything, I will certainly post it here. Until then, I will check in to see what everyone here comes up with.

Peace :)

Thanks, you have answered a lot of my questions.

Thanks for info, Food4Thought.

Not a problem guys :)

I'm up for keeping this thread going so that those of us who are interested in this series can get to the bottom of these unexplained mysteries.

In the meantime, I'll be doing plenty of research and keeping in touch.

Happy Holidays everyone :)

Maybe we should email Video Watchdog and they could do a 30 page article about it (if they haven't already). I wouldn't know if they had because the damn thing is so expensive that I never buy it. I'll email them and ask though.

Awesome idea Chas! Maybe it could help get the ball rolling on some things. It would be great if something like this (provided enough I, Claudius fans became aware) lead to either some solid answers as to what's happend to additional cut material, or the prompting of a future "complete" collection being put together.....who knows....:)

I checked the Video Watchdog index and couldn't find a past review or article, but did go ahead and write them an email. I doubt I'll get a response, but the situation does seem right up their alley. It usually takes them months after a DVD release to review something.

Hello again all - I see now that I'm not the only person to have signed up here because of a love of I, Claudius (hi, Food4Thought).

It's all becoming curiouser and curiouser, isn't it? I'm starting to wonder if the Image release from 2000 was repressed at some point soon after release to reinstate some of the cut scenes, but that they didn't quite manage to catch all of them - if they were even all available to them, since the non-UK releases were all sourced from co-producer London Films (perhaps if people still have the old DVDs, they could check the dates on the VOB files?).

I saw on the HTF review that aside from picture edits, the reviewer spotted that the old Image release also had at least one sound edit (the troublesome ending to Zeus, By Jove again). It's definitely a lot murkier than I first thought, anyway... I'm not sure who supervised the production of the overseas edit, but I can't imagine Herbert Wise asking them to take out the screaming - so I should think that an article would be right up Video Watchdog's street.

Anyway, if you want the longest and originally intended versions of the episodes (minus the lost results of the foetus-eating), it would seem to be like this: Waiting in the Wings to Old King Log from the UK or new US release, depending on your ability to play PAL (I'm guessing everyone here knows by now, but for any lurkers, if your DVD player does a PAL-NTSC conversion then the UK release will end up looking filmised), and Touch of Murder and Family Affairs from either the old US release or the Dutch version (the Caiman version linked to earlier is the Dutch one rather than Danish release). It will mean you see the number 2 appear at the start of two episodes, but it will have the best quality where available and it's got to be better than missing out on several sound effects and scenes.

By the way, Chas, which newsgroup were you chatting with Paul V on, please? I haven't spotted any talk about I, Claudius in my usual online TV haunts recently, but that group could become a new one (unless it was the RT site, and your post got caught-up in the crossfire over RIP notices...).

John R,

Thanks for all the information! It's much appreciated.

I have access to four different versions of this release, so I'll switch among them all to watch this show in its "entirety."

Go to ZETAMINOR.COM and then click ROOBARB'S DVD FORUM and then click DVD- BRITISH FILM AND TELEVISON. It was a few weeks ago, but the topic should be I Claudius (remastered).

I just got the R2 DVD set I mentioned from ebay and the documentary is good. All of the actors refer to the show as a 13 part series. The freeze frame of Ian Ogilvy to "glue" the first 2 episodes together is very lame. I agree that the picture quality is a little better, but not enough to put up with it being a "12 episode" set.

I got the Image Entertainment R1 remaster for Xmas and just watched the first disc...my first viewing of I, Claudius, which for whatever reason I've avoided for decades. I'm floored...I'm loving every minute of the series.

But I'm shocked to discover there's cut footage, edited content, etc. I'm trying to burrow through the diverse threads, and so far this is all I can discern:

The R1 Image Entertainment "remaster" bridges episodes 1 and 2 into 1 98 minute episode, as per the original BBC broadcast (apparently). In the process, the Image remaster features the following cuts: 1.) About a minute is removed from the African dance at the beginning of episode one, and 2.) Due to bridging the first two episodes together, a different scene of Claudius going into flashback has been removed...apparently only a few minutes worth of footage.

Also...the Image lacks the Documentary and the "alternate scenes" of the 2002 UK R2 remaster.

Is that it?

As far as I'm concerned, that African dance was long enough...and so if all I'm missing in addition to another minute of THAT is another scene of old Claudius flashing in and out of memories...well, I guess I can live with it. I mean, I've been a Shaw Brothers movie fan since childhood, and we're talking about movies there which suffer from 20 minutes or more of cut footage in certain versions...so really, this isn't that big of a deal for me.

So if I pick up that 3-disc set on Ebay, mentioned above...that means I'm getting the discs from the 2002 UK release which feature the Documentary and the cut scenes, correct? I note that set also includes disc 1 of the UK set...which features, I assume, the original split of the first two episodes -- meaning, you get that scene of the flashing-back Claudius which has been excised from the Image remaster?

It's funny...I would've assumed there would only be ONE version of I, Claudius out there...all these various edits and re-cuts are what you'd expect for some obscure cult classic, not a long-esteemed BBC production!

Though I would love to see the Making of doc, I can live without the missing minutes (and, really, isn't the abortion scene far worse when we have to imagine the aftermath?) Like perfectpawn this was my first viewing of Claudius and I was absolutely enthralled. Feeling a great void after finishing the series, I took a chance on HBO's "Rome" and found it to be a nice dessert after the main course.

Re: DVD Talk review of 'I Claudius & Epic That Never Was'
 

The best way to view them is to watch the first two season of "Rome" first and then watch "I, Claudius". "I, Claudius" seems to start at almost the exact point (give or take a decade) where "Rome" ends. It really is a fun way to watch them.

Re: DVD Talk review of 'I Claudius & Epic That Never Was'
 

I intended to do that myself -- rewatch Rome seasons 1 and 2, and then I, Claudius, but I couldn't wait. I'd put off I, Claudius too long.

One problem I can foresee with watching Rome and then Claudius is making the two different presentations of Augustus jibe -- the coldly anylitical (and likely more historically-accurate) Augustus of Rome with the theatrical, boisterous (and ultra-likeable) Augustus of I, Claudius.

Re: DVD Talk review of 'I Claudius & Epic That Never Was'
 

As great an actor as he is, I can't help but always think of Brian Blessed as King Henry in Black Adder I.

Re: DVD Talk review of 'I Claudius & Epic That Never Was'
 

I think my favorite delivery of his was toward the end of his run on the series, while talking about taking a German king's son prisoner..."I keep threatening that I'll kill him. But he's such a likeable little chap!"

Re: DVD Talk review of 'I Claudius & Epic That Never Was'
 

Hello again, everyone!

Hello perfectpawn........I just wanted to comment on how envious I am that you are watching it for the first time. I clearly remember my feelings the first time that I watched this