"The Caesars" is actually a misnomer for this 6-part series, as one of them is titled "Seianus" who was Tiberius' henchman and the other "Germanicus" who died before he could inherit the laurels.
The sound is lousy at times and made me wish for subtitles and the black and white picture betrayed its advanced age. Yet this is five-star material beyond a shadow of a doubt. There are two good reasons:
- the actors. With a minimum of inflection or change of expression emotions are conveyed. Particularly Tiberius and Claudius come over absolutely convincing. The latter (Freddie Jones) deserves an Oscar - he really lived his deformity and sadness (not bitterness) of being constantly overlooked, undervalued and ridiculed. A heart-rending display of the will to live and a historical plea for the acceptance of disabilities!
- the script. Many lines are good quotations for politicians even today. My favourite is "The rule by one person is the most hazardous form of government ever invented." It proved only too true for many successors of the original, brilliant Gaius Julius. Actors of Roman series or films just don't seem to get to say meaningful things any more.