The Cleopatras was an 8-part historical drama set in ancient Egypt concentrating on a line of royals bearing the name of Cleopatra.
It began on 19th January 1983 and was shown on BBC2. It has never been repeated or released on video or DVD. The series can be seen on YouTube however.
Were there ever to be an official DVD release here are a couple of supplementary items that might be extras.
1) Wogan's Guide to the BBC
This was a BBC1 special in which Terry Wogan took a tour of the BBC.
It was broadcast on 29th August 1982 at 21:25.
One feature was about The Cleopatras, which was then in production but not yet broadcast. It included backstage dressing room footage of some of the handmaidens having their makeup applied.
The red haired actress looks like Sherel Keller from episode 1.
The other I have not been able to spot from the series in any featured or background capacity.
NOTE: Wogan's Guide to the BBC 1982 is on YouTube.
2) BBC Christmas Tape 1982: Flash Frames
Christmas Tapes were unofficial in-house productions prepared by broadcasting engineers for the entertainment of staff.
The 1982 BBC tape included some outtakes from The Cleopatras. The scene featured was the one where Pauline Moran was being attacked on the floor by King Alexander The Younger from episode 4. It includes off-camera studio instructions telling the King to expose her breast more (for continuity purposes) and a lot of giggling from her. None of this camera angle was used in the finished episode.
Pauline Moran from Episode 4 showing that the broadcast version used a different angle.
Hullo,
ReplyDeleteD'you know where I could get ahold or watch the 1982 xmas tape called "Flash Frames"? It is the only one that seems not to be available online.
Best wishes,
Len
I concur, I've never found that one online either. It was supplied to me offline by a private collector who had it. Mainly because it was the one featuring the Ann Bell outtake from Festival: Lysistrata (1964) which I was then currently researching. But this was on it also.
Delete