Watch Steven Online |
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O. Henry: Steven is interviewed about author O. Henry, the main character of A Twist at the End, Steven’s novel about Austin, Texas in the 1880s and America’s first recorded serial murders. Watch it here. USA, 2007, 6 minutes. (Read more about the novel here.) |
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ROMA: “Meet the Author”: An exhausted Steven (can you tell?) sits for a brief “Meet the Author” interview about Roma at the end of his 2007 UK book tour. Watch it here or here. UK, 2007, 4 minutes. |
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ROMA Book Launch, Madrid: In February 2008, Steven’s Spanish publisher La Esfera de los Libros hosted a launch party for Roma at the massive SPQR Roman art exhibit. Watch a clip here. Spain, 2008, 3 minutes. |
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ROMA: “Periodista Digital”: Steven is interviewed about Roma during his Madrid book tour. Steven’s replies are dubbed over in Spanish. Watch it here. Spain, 2008, 6 minutes. |
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Saylor & Pressfield at the Getty Villa: Steven and fellow author Steven Pressfield (Gates of Fire) discuss the challenges of setting fiction in the ancient world. Watch it here. USA, 2008, 84 minutes. |
Animation |
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The Destruction of Troy and the Adventures of Odysseus: Nicely animated feature-length film. Watch it here (registration required). UK, 1998, 97 minutes. (Also available on Region 2 DVD from the UK.) |
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Etched in Stone: From the inscription on Trajan’s Column comes the typeface that bears his name. But can a font be too powerful? An unlikely Hollywood murder mystery. Watch it here. USA, 2004, 10 minutes. |
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Gladiator—Playmobil Tribute: An homage to the Ridley Scott film, using the medium of Playmobil. We are all auteurs now. Watch it here. USA, 2008, 6 minutes. |
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Hercules: The graybearded demigod reflects on the lessons of his legendary labors for the enlightenment of the troublesome young Mars. Watch it here (registration required). Australia, 1996, 50 minutes. (Also available on DVD.) |
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Mighty Hercules in “Medusa’s Sceptre”: This cartoon series was a treasured inspiration from Steven’s boyhood. Johnny Nash sings the theme song: “Softness in his eyes, iron in his thighs, virtue in his heart, fire in every part of the mighty Hercules!” Watch it here. USA, 1963, 6 minutes. |
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Oedipus: Sophocles’ timeless Greek tragedy, performed by...vegetables! A sword and salad mini-epic from animator Jason Wishnow. Watch it here. USA, 2004, 8 minutes. |
Documentaries & Docudramas |
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Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul: National Geographic made these short videos for the eye-opening exhibit, including Greek and Egypto-Roman artifacts, now at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau-Ottawa through March 28, 2010. Watch here. USA, 2008. (Read the companion book.) |
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Balancing Fact & Fiction: The Ancient World of HBO’s Rome: Jonathan Stamp (author of the Rome coffee table tome) discusses his experiences as the historical consultant on the Rome series in an appearance at the Getty Villa. Watch it here. USA, 2009, 75 minutes. |
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Britain B.C.: Francis Pryor looks at life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans. Watch Episode 1 • 2. UK, 2003, 46 minutes each. (Read the companion book.) |
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Caligula: Reign of Madness: “While Rome cowered in terror, Caligula killed for the sheer fun of it!” Watch it here. (Veoh Web Player download and ad-viewing required.) USA, 1997, 44 minutes. |
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Catacombs of Rome: A three-year long project has created the first 3D images of Rome’s catacombs. Read the BBC story and watch a brief clip here. UK, 2009, 1 minute. |
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Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer: BBC docudrama inspired by the discovery of a skeleton purported to be that of Cleopatra’s younger sister Arsinoë (more info here), murdered at the queen’s behest. Watch it here. (Veoh Web Player download and ad-viewing required.) UK, 2009, 58 minutes. |
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Getting to Know Herakleides: Scientific analysis has revealed the secrets of the rare and spectacular mummy of Herakleides; a talk by conservator Marie Svoboda at the Getty Villa. Watch it here. USA, 2008, 40 minutes. |
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Gladiator•Games: The Roman•Bloodsport: A look at the making of Gladiator and the history behind the movie. Watch it here. USA, 2000, 60 minutes. |
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Gladiator•Graveyard: BBC Timewatch docudrama based on archaeological discoveries in Ephesus. Watch it here. UK, 2007, 48 minutes. |
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Hadrian: Empire & Conflict: A series of mini-videos produced by The British Museum, including “An Emperor’s Love” about Antinous. Watch them here. UK, 2008. (Read the companion book.) |
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Hannibal v. Rome: Large-scale docudrama from National Geographic with Tamer Hassan as the champion of Carthage in the struggle for survival against Rome. Begin watching here. USA, 90 minutes, 2005. |
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Hidden•History of Rome: TerryIJones looks at the daily lives of ordinary Romans in ancient times. Watch it here. UK, 2007, 50 minutes. |
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Knossos, Lost Capital of Atlantis: Archaeologist Arthur Evans uncovers the civilization of the people he calls Minoans, after the legendary King Minos. Watch it here (registration required). 68 minutes. |
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Murder•in Rome: Docudrama based on Cicero’s first big murder trial — the same source material for Steven’s debut novel, Roman Blood. Paul Rhys plays Cicero. Watch it here. UK, 2005, 50 minutes. |
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Pericles of Athens and the Dangers of Democracy: Classicist Loren J. Samons II examines the legacy of the man who created the Athenian Empire; a talk at the Getty Villa. Watch it here. USA, 2008, 72 minutes. |
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Roman Bath: Historians and scientists build a Roman bath from scratch to unlock its secrets. A “Secrets of Lost Empires” episode from Nova/PBS. Watch it here. USA, 2000, 54 minutes. (Also available on DVD.) |
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The Roman Empire: Documentary series by historian/filmmaker Serge Tignères: Roman Legions • Timgad: Africa’s Rome • Grandeur & Decadence (registration required). France, 2004, 50 minutes each. (Also available on Region 2 DVD from the UK.) |
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The Search for Alexander the Great: 4-part docudrama series hosted by James Mason, starring Nicholas Clay as Alexander and Ian Charleson as Hephaistion. The whole thing is up at YouTube; start watching here. UK, 1981, approx. 200 minutes. |
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Secrets of Egypt: Alexander’s Tomb: A look at Alexander the Great’s exploits in Egypt and the mystery of his tomb’s location. Watch it here. (Veoh Web Player download and ad-viewing required.) UK, 2009, 45 minutes. |
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Secrets of Egypt: Cleopatra: Overview of the Egyptian queen’s proud pedigree and tumultuous career. Watch it here. (Veoh Web Player download and ad-viewing required.) UK, 2008, 45 minutes. |
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Secrets of the Parthenon: Historians and scientists reverse-engineer the remarakble achievement of the ancient Athenians. An episode from Nova/PBS. Watch it here. USA, 2008, 53 minutes. (Also available on DVD.) |
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Sex in the Ancient World: Prostitution in Pompeii: Excellent doc about brothels and sexual slavery in Pompeii. Watch it here. USA, 2009, 42 minutes. (Another episode is about Ancient Egyptian erotica; watch it here.) |
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Togas•on TV: BBC documentary about the small screen’s fascination with Ancient Rome. Lots of vintage clips and talking heads. Watch it here. UK, 2007, 59 minutes. |
Features & Shorts |
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79 A.D.: The Destruction of Herculaneun: Sword & Sandal epic starring Brad Harris; the whole thing is up at YouTube thanks to Peplumz Channel. Watch it here. Italy, 1962, 95 minutes. |
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Antigone: Jean Anouilh, in Nazi-occupied France, wrote this timely, timeless version of the Greek tragedy. Geneviève Bujold, Fritz Weaver, and Stacy Keach star. Watch it here (registration required). USA, 1974, 89 minutes. (Also available on DVD.) |
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Caesar & Cleopatra: Shaw’s play with a dream cast — Alec Guinness and Geneviève Bujold. Start watching here. USA, 1976, 75 minutes. (Also available on Region 2 DVD from the UK.) |
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Cleopatra: The Royal Diaries: Mini-drama about the young princess, based on the novel in the Scholastic Books series. Start watching here. USA, 2000, 26 minutes. (Also available on DVD.) |
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Discus: Commercial for GE Ecomagination shown during the Beijing Olympics; a discus thrower in ancient Greece inadvertently wreaks havoc. Watch it here. USA, 2008, 1 minute. |
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My Fair Pharaoh: Joan Collins lives out her Cleopatra dream on Fantasy Island, with Michael Ansara as Ptolemy and Ron Ely as Marc Antony. Watch the minisode here. USA, 1980, 6 minutes. |
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Peplumz Channel at YouTube: As Captain Oveur asked in Airplane!, “Do you like movies about gladiators?” Get your daily dose here. (For a more substantial fix, check out Steven’s Sword & Sandal page.) |
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Rinse the Blood Off My Toga: Vintage comedy skit by the Canadian duo Wayne & Shuster. Brutus on Caesar: “He was stabbed, yeah. They got him right in the rotunda!” Watch it here. 8 minutes. |
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Time Tunnel: “Revenge of the Gods”: In this episode from the 1966 TV series, two American time travelers find themselves in the Trojan War—where everyone speaks English! Watch it here. 51 minutes. |
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Trailerifor a Remakeiof Gore Vidal’s “Caligula”: Read more about conceptual artist FrancescoiVezzoli and his star-studded mock-trailer at The NY Times. Watch it here. Italy, 2005, 6 minutes. |
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United 300: Pseudo-Spartan tomfoolery. MTV Movie Award for Best Movie Spoof. Watch it here. USA, 2007, 5 minutes. |