Epic That Never Was, The

1190.THE EPIC THAT NEVER WAS 1965 England).with Charles Laughton,Flora Robson,
EMLYN WILLIAMS, MERLE OBERON, ROBERT NEWTON, JOSEF VON STERNBERG, ROBERT GRAVES. Hosted
by DISK BOGARDE, In 1937, after only a few short weeks Of shooting, a film version Of Robert Graves’ /, Claudius
was shelved. It was produced by Sir Alexander Korda and directed by Josef von Sternberg, with set design by Vin
cent Korda; starring were Charles Laugh ion as Claudius, Flora Robson as Livia, Merle OberonasMessalrnaann* Em-
lyn Wi [Hams as Caligula. For 28 years, lhe surviving footage had been lying in tins, collecting dust, forgotten. In
this extraordinary documentary, these clips am screened for the first time. Additionally, there are revealing inter,
views with Graves, von Sternberg, Robson,Oberon, Williams and other principals involvedin the production. The
fpi’c Thai Never Was is lhe inside story Of what really happened here: how Craves came lo write I, Claudius; how
the project came fntobeing; what went on during the shoot; how Laughtoncarng lo discover theessence Of his character;
and why and how lhe production fell apart. Most memorable Of all, though, are the clips, which are highlighted
by Laughlon’s expressive, potentially award-calibre performance, If only I, Claudius had been completed….
74 minutes.