The Caesars

The Caesars

1968 - United Kingdom

Broadcast to tremendous critical acclaim in 1968, The Caesars remains one of the last truly great black-and-white drama productions made for ITV by Granada Television. In a time before colour dominated the small screen, this bold and uncompromising series delivered an unrivalled period drama that explored the murky depths of power, ambition, and madness in ancient Rome.

At the heart of The Caesars is a chillingly plausible depiction of the transition from republic to empire, beginning with the absolute rule of Augustus, played with quiet authority by Roland Culver. After a century torn apart by ruinous civil wars and factional strife, Rome is portrayed as a weary state—ready, perhaps even desperate, to trade freedom for the promise of internal peace. The series boldly suggests that Augustus’ brand of dictatorship was both a remedy and a new disease, one that would fester across the generations that followed.

The narrative is steeped in intrigue, betrayals and moral decay, deftly charting the course of Rome’s descent into imperial madness. As Augustus' grip begins to loosen in his later years, the spectre of succession looms large, with deadly consequences. The drama doesn’t flinch from depicting the murder, sex, and psychological turmoil that came to define Rome’s emperors. Yet what sets The Caesars apart is its refusal to indulge in melodrama; instead, it opts for a sober, intelligent approach to its subject, far more grounded than later adaptations like I, Claudius, which it pre-dated by a full eight years.

The Caesars

Performance-wise, the series is a masterclass in character acting. Freddie Jones delivers a mesmerising, award-winning performance that captures both the grandeur and the grotesquery of imperial power. Andre Morell and Ralph Bates provide equally compelling portrayals, anchoring the narrative with gravitas and complexity. Together, the cast breathe vivid life into historical figures who might otherwise have remained mere names in dusty texts.

Although filmed in black and white, The Caesars loses none of its visual impact. If anything, the stark palette enhances the series’ bleak, unvarnished tone—Rome here is not a place of golden glory, but of shadow, blood, and steel.

In all, The Caesars is a forgotten gem of British television—intelligent, unflinching, and superbly acted. For those with an interest in classical history or historical drama, it is essential viewing. Its legacy deserves to be remembered alongside the very best the genre has to offer.

Published on December 2nd, 2018. Written by Percival Wexley-Smith for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Devil in the Fog

"In the beginning this tale tells how I, George, eldest born son of Master Salathiel Treet, strolling player and man of genius, came to have greatness thrust upon me."

Also released in 1968

Brideshead Revisited

At the time it was made Brideshead Revisited was the biggest television film project attempted by any company including the BBC, who had considered it, but decided it too hard to make. There was a point where Granada must have been thinking the same.

Also tagged Historical Drama

The Devil's Crown

Ambitious BBC dramatisation of the life and times of the Plantagenets - Henry sees the opportunity to seize the Crown of England and create a kingdom of law and order.

Also starring Freddie Jones

The Cleopatras

Lavish historical drama from BBC Television which was much derided by critics and viewers alike.

Also tagged Historical Drama

The Flames Trees of Thika

Elspeth Huxley's autobiographical account of her childhood when, at just six years of age, she left London with her parents, Tilly and Robin Grant, who set out to establish a coffee plantation in Kenya.

Also tagged Historical Drama

Best of Enemies

Television's first attempt to poke fun at the world of politics from within the Houses of Parliament in a situation comedy...

Also released in 1968

Adam Adamant Lives

When workmen discover a male body in 1966 that was frozen alive in a block of ice in 1902, he is revived to continue his war on crime in this curious but undeniably charming blend of period swashbuckling and Sixties swagger

Also starring Gerald Harper

Father, Dear Father

Generation gap comedy starring middle-aged divorcee Patrick Glover, the author of a series of pulp fiction novels, who is left to bring up his two teenage daughters (Anna and Karen) in trendy Hampstead when his wife, Barbara, runs off to marry his best friend.

Also released in 1968