Netflix and (Coin) Chill

Inspired by @Gavin Richardson's review in the Commodus Netflix thread, I thought it would be fun to post a movie you like and a related coin.

My pick is a nice slice of 80s cheese - the 1984 miniseries The last Days of Pompeii. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086746/

OK, first of all, this is not art. This mini series was produced for May 'sweeps week', and it shows. It's Full of sex, melodrama, wooden acting, some fairly big stars (for the time), and a volcano destroying Pompeii at the end. For better or for worse, the script sticks fairly close to the Edward Bulwer-Lytton novel.



















It's trashy and dumb ... and Jupiter help me, I love it! The famed historical scholar and artist Peter Connolly was a consultant, so the sets look pretty impressive.

Also, I think Titus would have approved of Lesley-Ann Down's choice of wardrobe.

Titus
AR Denarius, 3.27g
Rome Mint, 79 AD, after July 1st
RIC 20 (R2), BMC pg. 227 note, RSC 282
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, l.
Rev: TR P VIIII IMP XIIII COS VII P P; Capricorn l.; below, globe
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection.

The coin was struck in mid to late summer of 79, just prior to Vesuvius blowing its top.

Post any films and coins you like.

 

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Awful movie but a wonderful poster.

 

King Arthur 2004
Places this tale in 5th century Britain as the Romans were leaving. The only connection this coin has is that Arthur was taken (genetations later) from the Sarmatians after they lost to Rome.

Constantine I
Sirmium mint
324 to 325 AD
AE 3
Obvs: CONSTANTINVS AVG
Revs: SARMATIA DEVICTA, Victory advancing holding trophy and spurning captive on ground(refers to the victory over the Sarmatians in 322 AD). SIRM in ex
20mm, 3.8g

 

i still think Monty Python rocks wiff the Holy Grail

 

kool movie and some great actors!(well..mini series)

 

I consider Monty Python movies Historical Documentaries. Think about it: all the humor, stupid situations, reinterpretations, etc. happen all the time. AND, humor has been a human trait ever since the dawn of Man. Yeah, they are Documentaries, and probably depicting many of the humorous stupidity that has happened throughout our history! Tongue-in-cheek...

 

the absurdity of it all...

 

That OP miniseries after Bulwer Lytton's Last Days of Pompeii shows some excellent character actors: Laurence Olivier no less, Ernest Borgnine, Brian Blessed, and isn't that toady senator played by Ned Beatty? All great actors with an even grander Past. Love it!
Less so the cardboard Special Effects, that spoils it.

 

I was at the castle a few weeks ago where they shot that scene. I could almost see the cow being tossed over the battlements.

 

O kool!..runaway!><

 

Is that Ernest Borgnine?



I had no idea my favorite PT Boat Commander from Mchale's Navy was also a player in ancient Roman affairs. LOL

 

yup, that's him. he was a great actor and had a super long career! one of my favs he is!

 

I'm familiar with a lot of his career from the 50's, 60s and 70s, and limited appearances in 1990s and 2000s TV shows, and I know as late as 2010 he was doing the voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants.

That man had more raw talent and intelligence than 2 to 3 modern actors put together. Is there a role he didn't play and play it well during his career? It didn't matter if the role was priest, soldier, cop, judge, guy next door, businessman, cartoon character, or what have you...his performances were always superb.

 

haha><

 

Olivier acted circles around everyone else and I would think was only in it for a pay check. Ernest Borgnine was woefully miscast as a lanista. Brian Blessed plays the leader of an underground Christian cult and does his best to deliver his character's cheesy lines. Ned Beatty's bumbling rich freedman provides some needed comic relief.

Jack Cardiff did the cinematography and Trevor Jones wrote the music, so the whole thing is packaged quite well and looks and sounds great. The special effects aren't that bad, considering it's an 80s TV movie.

One of the (unintentionally) funniest line of the series is uttered by a Roman soldier to Brian Blessed's character - "Turn the other cheek, Christian lover!" Need I say more?

 

I believe he shows up in a few other Roman and Ancient roles... IMDb.com

 

Cool idea David! My pick is Ben-Hur(1959)

www.imdb.com/title/tt0052618/

IMDB storline: Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge.







My coin:

Judaea, Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem). Marcus Aurelius AE24
Obv: Laureate bust of Aurelius right,
Rev: Commodus on horseback right, raising right hand.
161-180 CE. Æ25, 10.4g.
Meshorer, Aelia Capitolina 60, BMC 57

 

I have never seen any of the two movies discussed here - Ben Hur or The Last Days of Pompeii. Not sure either one is available on Netflix.

Keeping with the theme of Netflix and a movie I like...I'm going to go a little out there...



I find this show hilarious and enjoy it's stupidity. It is not for everyone. Essentially the characters commit crimes in an effort to strike it rich or retire. It's dumb but I love it.

How do I find a coin that relates?



Get one with the god of debauchery on the obverse and "sexian" on the reverse! (You'll have to watch it to get the reference)

 

I'm a sucker for the Hollywood biblical epics of the 50s and 60s ... and 1959's Ben Hur is one of the best!

Great coin too!