The Cleopatras 1983 Dvd Jun 2026

The Cleopatras was an ambitious eight-part serial written by Philip Mackie, who intended it to be the "I, Claudius" of the 1980s.

Will the BBC ever sanction an official release? Perhaps when the winds of nostalgia blow hard enough. Until then, fans must rely on bootlegs, academic copies, and that one friend who still has a VCR. But one thing is certain: like its namesake queen, The Cleopatras refuses to fade quietly into the desert sands. the cleopatras 1983 dvd

There has been no Region 1 (North America), Region 2 (Europe), or Region 4 (Australia/New Zealand) official commercial release. Major online databases like Amazon, Best Buy, and Zavvi list the title as “unavailable” or “out of stock indefinitely.” The British Film Institute (BFI) has not included it in its "BBC Cult Classics" line. The Cleopatras was an ambitious eight-part serial written

In the golden age of the BBC epic miniseries—think I, Claudius (1976) and The Borgias (1981)—there emerged a glittering, scandalous, and often overlooked gem: . Broadcast in 1983, this eight-part historical drama promised a lurid dive into the final, turbulent century of Ptolemaic Egypt. For decades, it has languished in the memory of British television enthusiasts as a camp classic, a curious footnote, and the holy grail of "lost" BBC archival programming. Until then, fans must rely on bootlegs, academic

Upon its original transmission (January 19 to March 9, 1983), critical reception was savage. The Times called it “toga-clad tawdriness.” Mary Whitehouse, the moral crusader of the day, decried its “near-pornographic” content. The BBC itself seemed to distance itself from the production. Yet, for a generation of viewers who stumbled upon it during late-night repeats, it was a mesmerizing train wreck of wigs, eyeliner, and Shakespearean ambition.

Have you found a legitimate copy? Do you remember watching it live in 1983? Share your story in the comments below—and if you spot a DVD listing, let the legion know.