Pompeii: The Last Day

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Pompeii: The Last Day
Pompeii ---- The Last Day.jpg
Title screenshot
Genre Docudrama
Written by Edward Jones carter
Directed by Peter Nicholson
Starring
Narrated by
Composer Ty Unwin
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Michael Mosley
Producer Ailsa Orr
Running time90 minutes
Original release
Network BBC One
Release20 October 2003 (2003-10-20)
Related

Pompeii: The Last Day is a 2003 dramatized documentary that tells of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius towards the end of August 79 CE. [1] [2] This eruption covered the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash and pumice, killing a large number of people trapped between the volcano and the sea. The documentary, which portrays the different phases of the eruption, was directed by Peter Nicholson and written by Edward Canfor-Dumas.

Contents

Production

The film is directed and produced by the BBC in co-production with TLC. [3] [ citation needed ]

Awards

This was the highest rated specialist factual programme of the year with an audience of 10.3 million and a 40% share. [7]

Plot

The documentary tells the story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius from the point of view of assorted inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaneum whose names and occupations are known, including a local politician and his family, a fuller, his wife, and two gladiators. Historical characters include Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger. It draws heavily on the eyewitness account of Pliny the Younger, as well as historical research and recent discoveries in volcanology. Extensive CGI was used to recreate the effects of the eruption.[ citation needed ]

Death throes

Most of the people who were in Pompeii when the fourth pyroclastic surge hit either died instantly or slowly suffocated to death.

Cast

ActorNameDescription
Jim Carter Julius PolybiusA wealthy Pompeiian, husband of Epidia and father of Julia.
Chrissie Cotterill EpidiaA wealthy Pompeiian, wife of Polybius and mother of Julia.
Katherine Whitburn JuliaDaughter of Polybius and Epidia, wife of Sabinus; 7 months pregnant.
Leigh JonesSabinusHusband of Julia.
George Yiasoumi FelixSlave to Polybius; has a wife and two sons.
Jonathan Firth StephanusA wealthy Pompeiian, owner of a fullery. Married to Fortunata.
Rebecca Clarke FortunataMarried to Stephanus.
Inika Leigh Wright HedoneSlave and lover to Stephanus.
Neji Nejah RestitutusSlave to Stephanus.
Robert Whitelock Celadus the ThracianPompeiian gladiator, friend to Africanus.
Chad Shepherd AfricanusPompeiian gladiator, friend to Celadus
Tim Pigott-Smith Gaius Plinius Secundus Roman Navy Commander. Brother to Plinia and uncle to Pliny the Younger.
Martin Hodgson Gaius Plinius Caecilius Nephew to Pliny the Elder and son to Plinia.
Rachel Atkins Plinia MarcellaSister to Pliny the Elder and mother to Pliny the Younger.
Tony Amendola Pomponianus Friend of Pliny the Elder. Lived in Stabiae.
Emily Canfor-Dumas Slave girlSlave from Herculaneum.
Omar Berdouni CallistusPompeiian working for Polybius. Father to seven-year old Claudia.

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References

  1. "Pompeii: Vesuvius eruption may have been later than thought". BBC. 16 October 2018.
  2. "Die Forschung...". Sie Letzen Tage von Pompeji .... Als die Zeit Stehen Blieb. 4/2022. Der Spiegel (Spiegel Geschichte): 14. August 2022.
  3. "The Romans come to BBC ONE". BBC - Press Office located near Pompeii.
  4. "Primetime Emmy Award Database". Emmys.com. Los Angeles: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Pompeii: The Last Day (2003) (TV) - Awards". IMDb.
  6. 1 2 "Review of Pompeii: The Last Day". peternicholsonfilms.com. p. 9.
  7. "About Me". peternicholsonfilms.com. p. 15.