i claudius

[felixdembinski]

I heard on a documentary about I claudius that the ending of episode 8/9 (depending on wether you look at it from the broadcast number or dvd released number) was edited after transmission. It was just after caligula stabs his pregnant sister (for those who know the story) and the final shot is of the door to the room in which the murder took place slowly opening. On the dvd the end titles run just before the door opens to show the body, according to the documentary the door opens fully to show the the bloody corpse of caligula's sister. Does an unedited version exist in the archives or could a reconstruction using off air recordings (i claudius was broadcast in 1976 so it's not to unlikely.

[RWels]

Wasn't this discussed before, years ago even?
The documentary denies that the unedited version still exists. From what I understand it was NOT broadcast but correct me if I am wrong.
But even so, off air from 1976 is quite unlikely actually. Unless you settle for off air audio, which would not be much use if you wish to see what Caligula did to Drusilla. No, your best bet would be a photograph. Did they shoot much photos on the set? I have no idea.

[felixdembinski]

I thought i heard on the documentary that it was edited after broadcast, I'll check and make sure.

[RWels]

Btw. I could be wrong, I was just speaking from memory.

[felixdembinski]

I have checked the documentary www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-B7ZIDtnXk&feature=related (the quote about the edit is in 3/3) It says that the edit was made the night before transmission unfortunaly, we'll never be able to see the original ending to the episode. It would of given a huge impact to it.

[RWels]

The second disc of "The Caesars" (the "I, Claudius" of the sixties) features a nice set of colour photos. Could there have been pictures taken of that missing scene? But I suppose if there had been a photographer present, they would have found a picture of that set.