Stars: Ed Harris, Marlee Matlin, Rene Assa

Director: Alex Cox

Summary: True story of William Walker who was born in America. He was a successful businessman who carved himself brilliant careers in medicine, law, journalism and politics. During this time America was expanding its borders and with the help of an industrial magnate, Walker went to `conquer' Nicaragua. He declared himself President and for two years he ruled before being driven out and executed in 1957.

This offbeat historical drama is another in a line of hard-to-categorize films from cult director Alex Cox. Ed Harris stars as William Walker, an idealistic doctor, lawyer, and journalist who, at age 32, led a bloody revolution and installed himself as president of Nicaragua under orders from Cornelius Vanderbilt (Peter Boyle). Harris' performance is terrific, the violence is effective and well-used, and the film conveys an uncompromising political viewpoint without ever lapsing into self-righteousness.

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A truly epic saga of dynastic conflict at the heart of Imperial Rome, I Claudiuswas the landmark BBC drama series of the 1970s. Originally transmitted as 13 50-minute episodes, the series dramatises the human face of ancient Rome as interpreted by Robert Graves in his two enormously complex novels, I, Claudiusand Claudius The God. Derek Jacobi gives one of the greatest television performances ever as Claudius, the appalled chronicler of the decadence, corruption, intrigue and carnage which comes with the absolute power of his ruling family. Augustus (Brian Blessed) is Emperor and Livia (Sian Phillips) his scheming, ambitious wife, Claudius's aunt. By virtue of his stammer and uncontrollable twitches, Claudius passes for a fool, thus escaping the poisonous machinations of Livia, all the while recording the comings and goings of the Imperial household.

Events become increasingly frenzied as Caligula (John Hurt playing the tyrant with psychotic fury) bloodily slaughters his way to power, making a senator of his favourite horse along the way. Claudius eventually becomes Emperor himself, and Jacobi is simply magnificent in the intensely moving finale, which is not to overlook the rest of a fine cast, including: George Baker; Ian Ogilvy; Christopher Guard; Stratford Johns; John Rhys-Davies; Bernard Hepton and Patrick Stewart as the murderous Praetorian Guard Captain Sejanus. Inevitably lacking the visual scale of cinematic features such as Ben-Hur, and today looking more studio-bound than ever, I, Claudiusremains a television masterpiece of intelligently written and rivetingly intense character drama. --Gary S Dalkin

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1987
Release Date:	July 7, 2003
Runtime:	93 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	820 857 3
Keywords:	General, Walker, Drama
Genre:	Drama