I, Claudius (1937)

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writer:

Robert Graves (book)
(more)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Unfinished Film | Caligula | Claudius | Ancient Rome | Based On Book

Cast

Charles Laughton	...	Claudius
Merle Oberon	...	Messalina
Emlyn Williams	...	Caligula
Flora Robson	...	Livia
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alan Aynesworth	...	Asiatacus, Senator
John Clements	...	Valente
Leonora Corbett	...	Caesonia
Roy Emerton	...	Octavius
Gina Evans	...	Vestal Virgin
Frank Forbes-Robinson	...	Lupus, captain of the guard
Basil Gill	...	Xenophon, Claudius' doctor
Morland Graham	...	Halotus, master of Livia's household
Everley Gregg	...	Domita, Messalina's mother
Lyn Harding	...	Vespasian
Allan Jeayes	...	Musa, the emperor's physician
Robert Newton	...	Cassius, Capt. of Caligula's Guard

Directed by
Josef von Sternberg		(unfinished)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lester Cohen		uncredited
Robert Graves		book

Produced by
Alexander Korda	....	producer

Original Music by
Arthur Bliss

Cinematography by
Georges Périnal

Costume Design by
John Armstrong

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist

Art Department
Ferdinand Bellan	....	mosaic settings

Sound Department
John W. Mitchell	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Krasker	....	camera operator

Other crew
Eileen Corbett	....	script supervisor
Agnes de Mille	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• London Film Productions

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Charles Laughton, despite giving a splendid performance, had a great deal of difficulty getting into the role, and director Von Sternberg was not very sympathetic or helpful. So when co-star Merle Oberon was injured in a car crash during filming, he used it as an excuse to abandon the film, which was nowhere near completion. All the filmed footage survives, however.

Quotes:

Claudius: I only limp with my tongue, and stutter with my leg. Nature never quite finished me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Trouble with Merle (2002)

Laughton vs Von Sternberg: Genius vs Tyrant

I was amazed to have read previous comments especially that last one on 'Laughton not being able to develop the character'. Well you must be blind to think that Laughton didn't understand the character and his suffering. As so often before Laughton dug deep to find every emotion, to feel every fiber of the Claudius character.

Unlike Dieterle , Boleslawski and Leo Mc Carey (directors of other Laughton films) , Von Sternberg wasn't prepared to follow his genius as he was not in for the 'thinking actor' approach.

He was used to have it his way or no way and was looking for a way out. Luckily for him and for Korda, whose company had already spent a zillion dollars on the project, Merle Oberon (who adored Laughton) had her car accident. What remains is proof of Laughton's genius and the greatness of the whole project. Derek Jacobi's portrayal, is equally masterful and both actors in my mind where examples of perfect casting.

Emlyn Williams comments on Laughton are sufficiently clear, praising his colleague and Merle Oberon who featured with Laughton in Korda's 'the private life of Henry VIII' was positive too.

Von Sternberg lost his touch around that time and never really recuperated turning him into an interesting but frustrated teacher at American film schools. One last thing : of course Laughton was not flawless himself and sometimes when he really put his teeth into a role he could be painstakingly meticulous and full of self-doubt even when he had mastered the whole character but the results were almost always worth the pain.

Ps.: It was Von Sternberg (still very frustrated) that didn't like Laughton 30 years on.