Those About To Die — a 10-episode Prime Video series — is one among the many stories of Ancient Rome to grace our screens over the years, writes Craig Barker |
STORYTELLERS have long embraced the Ancient Roman world as a vessel to explore a variety of themes. Amazon Prime Video’s recent series, Those About to Die (starring Anthony Hopkins), is just the latest example. Meanwhile, cinephiles and fans of the genre are waiting to see whether Ridley Scott can recapture the magic of the Oscar-winning film Gladiator (2000) in its forthcoming sequel. Both productions provide the perfect opportunity to reexamine the many stories of Ancient Rome that have graced our screens through the decades. Incidentally, Those About To Die is based on Daniel P Mannix’s 1958 novel of the same name — which also served as the inspiration for the Gladiator screenplay. The 10-episode series focuses on the power struggles in Imperial Rome at the time of the construction of the Flavian amphitheatre (the Colosseum) under the ailing emperor Vespasian (Hopkins) and his competing sons Titus (Tom Hughes) and Domitian (Jojo Macari). The story is backdropped by corruption, represented by a cast of characters from lowly bookmakers through to the powerful families of the Senate who finance competing chariot-racing factions for popular support.
As viewers, we expect a degree of intrigue and corruption in Imperial Roman stories – something akin to “Succession in togas, or at least Suits in sandals” as one critic writes. And Those About To Die doesn’t fail to deliver on the drama. With a reputed budget of more than US$140 million, the lavish production is filled with spectacular chariot races and arena fights. Its large cast, pacing and interweaving subplots are reminiscent of similar epics such as Game of Thrones. And despite mixed reviews and historical inaccuracies, the show has been green-lit for a second season. |
HOLLYWOOD’s fascination with Ancient Rome was already obvious in 20th-century cinema, particularly from the 1950s onwards, when studios began releasing sweeping historical epics to bring people back into theatres as television became the predominant avenue of entertainment. Ironically, however, in many ways, it is television that has proven to be a more natural fit for stories set in Ancient Rome. For TV producers, Ancient Rome provides the perfect blank canvas: it can represent the pagan, the decadent and deviant; the Christian and honourable, the corrupt and overrun, or republican and just. Further, many of the modern productions we know are based on just three bestselling 19th-century novels set in Ancient Rome: Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Last Days of Pompeii (1834), Henryk Sienkiewicz’s Quo Vadis (1896), and Lew Wallace’s Ben Hur (1880 ). Each of these novels is highly detailed, which is why series and miniseries adaptations – such as the 1984's The Last Days of Pompeii and 2010's Ben-Hur – allow for better plot development compared with the various film adaptations. |
THE BBC’s 1976 show I, Claudius remains the gold standard for Ancient Rome-based productions on television. Based on Robert Graves’ 1934 novel (which itself borrowed heavily from the ancient writers Suetonius and Tacitus) I, Claudius featured a cast comprising veritable British theatrical royalty. Through Derek Jacobi’s BAFTA award-winning performance as Claudius, Patrick Stewart as Sejanus and John Hurt as Caligula (to name a few), the 12-episode series portrayed the salacious lives and court intrigue of the Julio-Claudian family. Despite being originally broadcast to a largely negative reception, the show is now held in very high regard (it was voted among the best British series of all time by the British Film Institute). And while it’s somewhat slow in its pacing by contemporary standards, this dramatic story of the Imperial family retains its power even after multiple watches. Lover of classics or consumer of all that's new, we've got you covered. Subscribe to the OTTplay Premium Jhakaas monthly pack, for only Rs 249. I, Claudius followed the similarly themed, although less sensationalist, The Caesars (1968). This black-and-white series follows the domestic lives of the Julio-Claudian family from Augustus to Claudius, with each of the six episodes dedicated to a specific family member. There has also been a surprising comedy series set in the Roman world: Up Pompeii! (1969-70) had comedian Frankie Howerd as the slave Lurcio, who delivers plenty of double-entendres and risqué jokes. |
WHEN “the golden age of television” was ushered in, HBO’s Rome (2007-09) was counted among its gems. Set in the 1st century BCE, as Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire, the series is seen through the eyes of two soldiers, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). Both men find their lives intertwined by key historical events and people including Brutus, Marc Antony and Julius Caesar. Despite being beautifully shot, having high viewing figures and even Emmy wins, Rome was cancelled after two seasons due to its large budget demands. But it did prove there was a 21st-century audience for such stories. This was evident in a show that fully embraced the arena fight — one of the most popular cliches of Ancient Rome: Spartacus (2010-13). The series vividly told the story of the gladiator Spartacus, who led the slave uprising in 73-71 BCE. The various seasons presented a frenzy of violence and graphic sex. Contrast this with the more recent Domina (2021-23), that focuses on the life of Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus. Domina presents the power struggles of the era from a female perspective, as opposed to the male-centred world of previous tellings such as I, Claudius. An even starker difference to Spartacus would be observed in the lighthearted Plebs (2013-23), which — once again — mixes comedy with Roman history. With an anachronistic soundtrack of Jamaican ska music, this British series traces the misadventures of three young plebeian citizens in Rome, as they “try to get laid, hold down jobs and climb the social ladder”. But of course, even if none of these shows mentioned so far catch your eye, there's no reason to fret. If history is anything to go by, television producers will be returning to Rome — time and again. Those About To Die is streaming on Prime Video. Craig Barker heads public engagement at the University of Sydney's Chau Chak Wing Museum. This essay is excerpted and modified from an article originally published in The Conversation. |
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