Great scene from I, Claudius

[SocialDemocrat61]

In the BBC series I, Claudius, when Claudius is proclaimed Emperor, he meets with a group of skeptical Senators.

Senator: There are those who say you cannot hear properly, you cannot speak properly, and that you've got no experience of government.

Claudius: And that I am besides half-witted... As for being half-witted, well, what can I say - except that I have survived to middle age with *half* my wits, while thousands have died with *all* of theirs intact. Evidently, *quality* of wits is more important than *quantity*.

Some have voiced concern about Joe Biden being too old and not having all his facilities. Well, I’ll take Joe Biden without all his facilities than Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley or Dean Phillips with all of theirs combined.

[Clash City Rocker]

1. The difference between Biden and those others is that he still has wits to lose

[Walleye]

2. That made an impression when I saw the play on TV, I have often thought about those lines.Survived with half my wits

[John1956PA]

11. The same here. Whenever I encounter a reference to . . .

. . . Claudius or his reign (which I think was about seventeen years) I think of that scene. Derek Jacobi was excellent in portraying Claudius at various stages of his life. The impressive larger-than-life actor ( I can not recall his name) who played Augustus Caesar was terrific also.

On EDIT: By virtue of another post in this thread, I am reminded that the actor who portrayed Augustus Caesar is Brian Blessed.

[PJMcK]

3. I, Claudius!

Great catch, SocialDemocrat61!

In the late 1970s, I watched the British television serial of the novel. It starred Derek Jacobi and it was a brilliant representation of the book... and history.

Afterwards, I read the novel and couldn't put it down. It's filled with deep thoughts and thrilling drama.

[SocialDemocrat61]

5. Plus Patrick Stewart's toupee

[ProudMNDemocrat]

8. As well as ......

John Ryhs Davies
Bernard Hill
Stuart Wilson
Brian Blessed
David Robb
John Hurt

All wonderful actors who have gone on to other amazing projects over the years.

[progressoid]

9. He talked about his baldness on Conan's podcast recently...

?si=razar54SOOD-iZ5j

[Kablooie]

18. I remember that character but never realized till now it was Patrick Stewart.

[SocialDemocrat61]

20. He was good as Lenin too.

[progressoid]

10. We have the DVD set of that series.

[Raine]

12. I love the series! I've watched it again and again

one the best Masterpiece theaters ever.

[Sneederbunk]

4. TFG strives to be a quarter-wit.

[niyad]

16. I love the elizabethan term, "lackwit".

[Sneederbunk]

19. Bingo!

[El Supremo]

6. Reminds me of:

In the 1960s the feeble Churchill only occasionally attended the House of Commons as the member representing the London bedroom constituency of Woodford. As Churchill lolled on the bench, he overheard some members talking behind of him: “Poor fellow—he’s a bit gaga, you know—he can’t understand a thing that’s going on.” Churchill turned around and, fixing them with a stare, roared, “Yes, and they say the old boy’s quite deaf, too.”

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. Love I CLAUDIUS.

Great scene too and relevant to the times we are living in.

[Iggo]

13. That's "I Clavdivs" to you.

[Buttoneer]

14. Love it! However, President Biden

has plenty of experience in government.

[soldierant]

15. Don't let them snooker you.

The only thing that really bothers them about Biden's age is that she's black.

I don't mean to say that that is something that can just be dismissed either. Misogyny can never be just dismissed. But it's at its worst and most dangerous when it is being disingenuous.

[niyad]

17. So very true.

[justaprogressive]

21. Sorry, for me there's only one Claudius

Charles Laughton



See:

"The Epic That Never Was"