Heil Caesar

Synopsis
A televised production of the play. John Bowen’s adaptation transforms the play into a modern political conspiracy thriller with modern dialogue and many strong allusions to political events in the early 1970s. Originally produced for a school audience, it was subsequently repeated as an evening broadcast.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
21 Oct 1974 at 21:25 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
90 mins

Credits

Producer
Ronald Smedley
Writer
John Bowen
Art Direction
Humphrey Jaeger
Cast
Peter Howell (2)Julius Caesar
John StrideMark Antony
Arthur BlakeDecius Brutus
David AllisterCaius Cassius
Angela ThornePortia
Alan RoweTrebonius
Andrew BradfordCaptain
Andrew KyriakidesCroupier at the crap table
Angela CrowCalphurnia
Anthony BateMarcus Brutus
Anthony SmeeAide-de-comp to Messala
Clive JacobsNewscaster
Dorothy PrimroseFortune-teller (Soothsayer)
Erik ChittyCaius Ligarius
Frank MiddlemasMessala
Frank TadeuszStickman at the crap table
Gareth ArmstrongSergeant
Geoffrey BayldonLepidus
Jeffry WickhamMetellus Cimber
John BakerCicero
John BartonCroupier at the crap table
John SalthouseRadio Operator
John SterlandPublius
Peter SettelenOctavius Caesar
Valerie ColganSecretary
William SimonsCasca

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Historical period
1970s
Plays
Julius Caesar
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
schools; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
The BFI National Archive holds viewing copies for both the individual parts and the single play.

The Birmingham Shakespeare Library holds a camera script.
History
The production was originally broadcast in three 30-minute parts on BBC 1 schools television. The three parts were entitled ‘The Conspirators’ (12.11.1973), ‘Murder of a President’ (19.11.1973) and ‘Defeat’ (26.11.1973).
Awards
The film won the ‘Flame of Knowledge’ Award of the Society of Film and Television Arts in 1974 as well as the Tokyo Prize.
Textual information
John Bowen’s text of the play was published by the BBC in 1974. It was subsequently rewritten, published and performed as a play for the theatre. Cf. John Bowen, Heil Caesar!: A Play (London: French , 1974).

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

BoB

Email
bob@learningonscreen.ac.uk
Web
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand External site opens in new window
Phone
020 3743 2345
Address
Learning on Screen - the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council
330 Holborn Gate
1st Floor, Suite 120
London
WC1V 7QH
Notes
Formerly a service from BUFVC, British Universities Film & Video Council

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Heil Caesar". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37104 (Accessed 06 Oct 2024)