The Last Days of Pompeii

1984

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1
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Released: 06 May 1984 Ended
Producted By: RAI
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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This seven-hour British-Italian adaptation of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1834 epic, set against the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. and previously filmed in 1935, and in 1960 was a vehicle for muscleman Steve Reeves, was trashed by the critics as the campiest of sword and sandal sagas to emerge in years. This despite its reported $19-million price tag, the nobility of its cast that includes Laurence Olivier, Siobhan McKenna and Anthony Quayle, and its rather unspectacular special effects. The central figures are Nicholas Clay as Glaucus, the noble Athenian; Olivia Hussey as the high-born Ione, his love, who is seduced by the Egyptian, Arbaces (Franco Nero), a religious fanatic; Duncan Regehr as Lydon, the champion gladiator; and Linda Purl as the blind slave Nydia, who is torn between Glaucus and Lydon.

Genre

Drama

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Director

Peter H. Hunt

Production Companies

RAI

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The Last Days of Pompeii Audience Reviews

ThiefHott Too much of everything
BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See
Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
cuculus74 This film - my favorite for almost 18 years, since as it showed on the first channel. The remarkable love stories of several couples - wealthy Athenian Glaucus and Iona (priestesses of Isis, celibate), a poor nobleman Clodius and daughter of a wealthy merchant of Julia, a blind slave girl Nydia and slave - Gladiator Lydon. The only downside of this movie, I think "a clearly defined line Christianity ", making some note of tediousness in a rather dynamic and vivid story, as too idealized image of Glaucus. Well not ancient Roman citizen could do what he could not! This behavior His friend, Clodius - are spelled out fully in accordance with worldview of the ordinary Roman - without unnecessary cruelty, but without much pity for the losers. But everything else - clothes, scenery, the game actors - all at the highest level! It remains only unfortunate that the film so more and did not show on the central television, and many - many viewers are not even aware of it!
s-cools I've read the novel written by Bulwer Lytton, I visited Pompeii about 5 times and have read scores of books on the city and its dramatic destruction. This is the best screen adaptation of the book so far. It sticks quite well to Bulwer's novel and adds quite a few pleasant characters and events. Of course this mini-series is not perfect, even has countless flaws : the Temple of Isis, the houses of Glaucus and Diomedes come directly out of the set-designers' imagination, sending Christians to the lions is a bit too cliché, some aspects of the novel have been changed to make it all more dynamic (the novel is very slow-paced actually). But all in all, the plot is interesting, changes and additions good. Nead Beatty's portrayal of Diomedes is just brilliant!! Lesley-Ann Down is gorgeous as Chloe... The day this mini-series comes out on DVD, I'll buy it right away!
jeanmarclord I would like that film should be represented on television on Channel 12 CFCF or Global TV. So I can recorded it on VHS cassette video and keep it for remembrance of all the people that die during that explosion of the volcano and for my self. If you can do something about it I would very much appreciate it. Thank You. Jean-Marc Lord.
uruguay-2 I´ve first seen in 1985, and was the first time that a movie touch my heart, then I read the book and I think that the traslation to the movie is very difficult, but Peter Hunt give us a masterpiece. The adaptation is amazing, and the cast is excellent specially by the beauty from Argentinian actress Olivia Hussey as Ione and Franco Nero as the the cruel Arbaces the Obscure.I recommend as one of the best mini-series of all time.