MovieChat Forums > I, Claudius (1977) Discussion > Deleted scene in Episode 1

Deleted scene in Episode 1

posted 9 years ago by Mortimer605
4 replies | jump to latest

Actually it wasn't deleted but scene lasts a little longer - about 30 sec.
I'm talking about Royal Palace garden scene (with Augustus, Livia, Octavia, Marcellus, Julia and little Antonia). It's a fine introduction to Antonia's character and we learn that her father was Mark Antony. So, why exactly was this part deleted from the final cut ? Maybe because the viewers unfamiliar with Julio-Claudian family tree would be fairly confused and thought that Mark Antony was also father of Marcellus ? (Octavia's first husband and Marcellus's father was never mentioned in episode 1). I can't find any other reason.

Rooney Fassbender and Joaquin Blanchett

[–] angmc43 9 years ago

All the cuts I've seen (specifically, the 13-episode series and not the original broadcast 12-parter that combined 'A Touch of Murder' with 'Family Affairs') have this:
-Livia commenting about Antonia's sewing skills.
-Augustus calling Antonia over to admire the fruit.
-Livia praising Antonia's father with Octavia sadly commenting about being Mark Antony's wife.
-Marcellus greeting his mother, commenting about the populace, telling Augustus his plans for the games (with both him and Octavia paying the bill).
-Octavia leaving with Antonia.

I suppose the scene you mention was cut for the 12-parter broadcast cut (which I've never actually seen, aside from the bridging scene of Old Claudius at the Gym).

[–] Mortimer605 9 years ago

- Livia commenting about Antonia's sewing skills.
- Augustus calling Antonia over to admire the fruit.
- Livia praising Antonia's father with Octavia sadly commenting about being Mark Antony's wife.

Yes, that's the part cut from 12 episodes version and can be found as deleted scene in special features on DVD ( together with original ending of A TOUCH OF MURDER and original prologue of FAMILY AFFAIRS - both with Claudius as old man).

I have PAL Region 2 DVD box set (2002, 12 episodes version). That's the only thing I don't like about this release - we don't have an option of watching the series as original 13 part ( A TOUCH OF MURDER and FAMILY AFFAIRS were always two different episodes to me. They don't work as one part - too much big time gap between them - I mean, we see Augustus and Agrippa in 23 BC and one minute later we are in 10 BC with Tiberius and Drusus).

Rooney Fassbender and Joaquin Blanchett

[–] angmc43 9 years ago

Really? I find that ironic considering before the US Acorn DVD release, the PAL DVD set was considered the more complete, including scenes that the US NTSC PBS Video/CBS Fox Video/Image DVD releases lacked: Cassius and the conspirators arguing about assassinating Claudius and Caesonia & child, Nero and Agrippinilla getting physically passionate.

After getting the Acorn release, I decided to get the PAL DVD as well (because it had those Award segments).

[–] Mortimer605 9 years ago

Sorry for the late response.

Oh, I really don't know details about every DVD release. I'm just saying that I prefer watching I CLAUDIUS as 13 part instead of 12 and on PAL I don't have the option to choose (I always stop with Episode 1 after Augustus and Livia quarrel about Agrippa's marriage with Julia and next day I continue with Episode 2 with Tiberius and Drusus in the gym). Besides that I have no other complaints. I watched the series for the first time in 2002 on TV (as 13 part of course) and I vividly remember that two scenes you mentioned above were in (only not sure about that 30 seconds from my OP but judging by your comment I believe it was)

Rooney Fassbender and Joaquin Blanchett