"Rome" (2005) TV series 2005-2007

Creators:

Bruno Heller
William J. MacDonald
John Milius

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

28 August 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | War

Plot:

A down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Controversy | Dictator | Treason | Whore

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 14 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Kevin McKidd	...	Lucius Vorenus (22 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ray Stevenson	...	Titus Pullo (22 episodes, 2005-2007)
Polly Walker	...	Atia of the Julii (22 episodes, 2005-2007)
Kerry Condon	...	Octavia of the Julii (22 episodes, 2005-2007)
James Purefoy	...	Mark Antony (22 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ian McNeice	...	Newsreader (20 episodes, 2005-2007)
Coral Amiga	...	Vorena the Elder (19 episodes, 2005-2007)
Lindsay Duncan	...	Servilia of the Junii (18 episodes, 2005-2007)
Lidia Biondi	...	Merula (18 episodes, 2005-2007)
Tobias Menzies	...	Marcus Junius Brutus (17 episodes, 2005-2007)
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Posca (17 episodes, 2005-2007)
Indira Varma	...	Niobe (15 episodes, 2005-2007)
David Bamber	...	Marcus Tullius Cicero (15 episodes, 2005-2007)
Chiara Mastalli	...	Eirene (15 episodes, 2005-2007)
Manfredi Aliquo	...	Castor (15 episodes, 2005-2007)
Suzanne Bertish	...	Eleni (14 episodes, 2005-2007)
Max Pirkis	...	Gaius Octavian (13 episodes, 2005-2007)
Lee Boardman	...	Timon (13 episodes, 2005-2007)
Esther Hall	...	Lyde (13 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ciarán Hinds	...	Gaius Julius Caesar (13 episodes, 2005-2007)
Anna Fausta Primiano	...	Vorena the Younger (12 episodes, 2005-2007)
Michael Nardone	...	Mascius (10 episodes, 2005-2007)

Runtime:

UK:90 min (1 episode) | UK:50 min (9 episodes) | 52 min (22 episodes) | Argentina:60 min (12 Episodes)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-15 (DVD) | Australia:MA (some episodes) (cut) | Australia:R (some episodes) | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 (heavily cut) | Germany:16 (TV rating) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Singapore:M18 (season 1) | UK:18 | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:12 (Season 1 DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 (Season 2 DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 (season 2) | Spain:18 | South Korea:18 | Hungary:16 | New Zealand:R16 (season 2) | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

HD Vision Studios

Trivia:

On 9 August 2007 a fire broke out at Rome's Cinecitta Studios back-lot. It destroyed 3,000 square meters of the 400,000 square meter "Rome" set but did not spread to the rest of the historic Studios. During the three hours it burned, a few of the highly flammable fiberglass sets in the "suburra" red-light district were destroyed but fortunately, the Forum, temples, thermal baths and other buildings were untouched. It is considered to be the largest open-air set ever constructed to date.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: During several episodes captive birds are shown. There are Macaws and Amazon parrots from America, and cockatoos from Australia. Since the continents these birds came from were unknown to the Romans, who would not have been able to travel there and bring these animals back to Rome with them.

Quotes:

Atia of the Julii: A large penis is always welcome!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Funeral for a Fiend (#19.8)" (2007)

Wonderful for history buffs and common viewers alike!

Even though there has been only one episode so far, I have to say that "Rome" looks to be the best production of ancient Rome I have seen yet. Yes, Gladiator was a cool movie, but it lacked was historical accuracy. "Rome" has brought together what no one though possible: historical accuracy and good production. Octavian is an snide little wimp, but with political brilliance. Marc Antony is an arrogant and drunken man who has a love for brutality. Caesar is cunning and insightful. It's all there! The costuming is great, the dialog is crisp, the character interaction spot on and the plot flows smoothly. What more could you want!? This series is far and above that ABC knock-off "Empire", which couldn't even get Roman troops in proper costume. Every penny of this record-budget ($12 million for 12 episodes I think) series was well spent.