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The Borgias

  • TV Mini Series
  • 19811981
  • 50m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
180
YOUR RATING
The Borgias (1981)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
The ruthless Rodrigo Borgia intends to become Pope and will not let anything stand in his way.The ruthless Rodrigo Borgia intends to become Pope and will not let anything stand in his way.The ruthless Rodrigo Borgia intends to become Pope and will not let anything stand in his way.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
180
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Oliver Cotton
    • Maurice O'Connell
    • Louis Selwyn
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Oliver Cotton
    • Maurice O'Connell
    • Louis Selwyn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Episodes10

    Browse episodes
    1 Season
    1981

    Photos

    Adolfo Celi in The Borgias (1981)
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    Top cast

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    Oliver Cotton
    Oliver Cotton
    • Cesare Borgiaas Cesare Borgia
    10 episodes10 eps • 1981
    Maurice O'Connell
    • Michelottoas Michelotto
    10 episodes10 eps • 1981
    Louis Selwyn
    Louis Selwyn
    • Jofre Borgiaas Jofre Borgia
    10 episodes10 eps • 1981
    Adolfo Celi
    Adolfo Celi
    • Rodrigo Borgiaas Rodrigo Borgia
    9 episodes9 eps • 1981
    Anne-Louise Lambert
    Anne-Louise Lambert
    • Lucrezia Borgiaas Lucrezia Borgia
    9 episodes9 eps • 1981
    Ralph Nossek
    • Johann Burchardas Johann Burchard
    9 episodes9 eps • 1981
    Barbara Shelley
    Barbara Shelley
    • Vannozza Canaleas Vannozza Canale
    7 episodes7 eps • 1981
    Eleanor David
    Eleanor David
    • Sanciaas Sancia
    7 episodes7 eps • 1981
    Alfred Burke
    • Giuliano della Rovereas Giuliano della Rovere
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    Clive Merrison
    Clive Merrison
    • Ascanio Sforzaas Ascanio Sforza
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    Martin Potter
    Martin Potter
    • Paolo Orsinias Paolo Orsini
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    Kevin Lloyd
    • Ramiroas Ramiro
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    Nicholas Le Prevost
    Nicholas Le Prevost
    • Baglionias Baglioni
    5 episodes5 eps • 1981
    Peter Benson
    Peter Benson
    • Gaspare Patoas Gaspare Pato
    5 episodes5 eps • 1981
    Mark Buffery
    • Giovanni Sforzaas Giovanni Sforza
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    William Ellis
    • Perottoas Perotto
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    George Camiller
    George Camiller
    • Juan Borgiaas Juan Borgia
    3 episodes3 eps • 1981
    Jenifer Landor
    Jenifer Landor
    • Angelinaas Angelina
    3 episodes3 eps • 1981
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The BBC intended the series to be the I, Claudius (1976) of the 1980s. However, it was poorly received and negatively compared to Brideshead Revisited (1981), which was broadcast concurrently on ITV. The Cleopatras (1983), the BBC's next attempt to create a new I, Claudius (1976), was similarly unsuccessful.
    • Connections
      Featured in TV Hell (1992)

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Agree that this Excellent Series Was Under-Appreciated
    A few days ago, I picked up Sarah Bradford's biography of Lucrezia Borgia from my sister's library to read on a plane trip. It rekindled my interest in viewing again a dusty, neglected tape, of the 1981 10-part BBC mini series, The Borgias, that A&E aired in 1985, which another family member taped for me, knowing that I love history and BBC drama. When I first viewed the series, in 1985, I thought it had good acting and production value but was a bit cheesy in its portrayal of some of the more seedy aspects of the reputed Borgia family skeletons. I did enjoy the way the series brought to life Renaissance Italy and the prominent Italian families and loved the commentaries by Renaissance historians and museum curators added by A&E.

    Twenty-two years later (and as many years more seasoned) when I pulled out the tapes to view again of the series I had almost taped over several times, I was overjoyed that I had the miniseries intact. What a delight! The portrayal of the seedy aspects of the Borgias no longer seemed "cheesy," but a plausibly accurate interpretation of an audacious family's blatant disregard for conventions, societal limitations, and taboos, demonstrated in practically every aspect of their ambitious, larger-than-life actions. Having greater exposure to the entitlement attitudes of privileged, self-promoting families in politics and history, I now find the salacious aspects of the Borgias' story not only likely, but an intriguing part of the psychological whole. There are documented parallels in the families of the Egyptian rulers, the Roman Caesars and Virginia Woolfe, among others. Aside from my reevaluation of this previously disturbing aspect of the storyline, I found the portrayal of the political intrigues at the Vatican and among the prominent Italian families to be far more interesting subsequent to having traveled to some of the locales depicted. I agree with previous reviewers who have stated that the better you know your history, the more you appreciate this series.

    With a few forgivable exceptions, the casting is perfect. "Rodrigo Borgia/Alexander VI" looks just like his portraits. "Cesare Borgia" looks like he stepped right out of his. "Lucrezia," "Giulia Farnese," and Alfonso D'Este also are convincingly portrayed. Vanozza Catanei and Sancia d'Aragon, strangely, are miscast as to appearance, a minor quibble as both are strong actresses.

    I came online today to see if I could purchase a DVD of The Borgias as a Christmas present to the sister whose book I borrowed. While I was disappointed to find that the series is not available for purchase, I am delighted that my 1985 tape is in good shape. What a shame this series is not rebroadcast/available for purchase!
    helpful•14
    1
    • amfranco-1
    • Dec 4, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1981 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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