1981 miniseries, hosted by James Mason. Starring Nicholas Clay as Alexander the Great and Ian Charleson as Hephaistion.
There are four episodes and, while the historical details of the
background are given by James Mason as narrator, the story of Alexandros
is told by the people who loved him and were loved by him (Olympias,
Ptolemy, Hephaestion, Philip, Cleitus, Aristotle, Bagoas) and by the
defeated king Darius: they are gathered together - dead and alive - for
a banquet and they discuss Alexandros' life from their different points
of view. The show is very enjoyable and the historical details are
always correct. Nicolas Clay (who was a wonderful Lancelot in
"Excalibur") is a great Alexandros and he looks very much like Richard
Burton who, in my opinion, despite that awful movie, was perfect as
Alexandros. Ian Charleson is a great actor (I remember him as Fortinbras
in "Hamlet" with Derek Jacobi) but his Hephaestion doesn't persuade me
enough, can't explain why, it's jus a feeling, even if the relationship
with Alexandros is correctly portrayed, no modern vision of it. Jane
Lapotaire (Mary Tudor in "Lady Jane") is a passionate and strong
Olympias, Julian Glover a powerful Philip and Gabriel Byrne is very wise
as Ptolemy.
DIRECTOR:PETER SYKES
SCRIPWRITER: GEORGE LEFFERTS, SIMON RAVEN
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