Adapted from Anthony Burgess' novel The Kingdom of the Wicked, A.D. is set in the turmoil following the crucifixion of Jesus, following the lives of  Peter and Paul after the crucifixion of Jesus, and the struggle to establish Christianity in the Roman Empire during the  persecutions during the reigns of the Emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero (30 to 69 AD), roughly based on the book of Acts.

David is Porcius Festus, new governor of Caesarea. He doesn't understand the schism forming between the Jewish elders and Paul, nor does he care. To restore peace (and make his wretched posting in Caesarea more tolerable), he sends Paul to Jerusalem to argue his case.

The DVD release is a 6-hour edited version.
The complete mini-series, which is available on VHS but not yet on DVD, runs 12 hours.

 

Coming soon - A. D. The Television Event of 1985   The NBC uniform of the day -- or the season is the toga.  Tune in on the peacock and you can see Ava Gardner, Richard Kiley, John Houseman, Jennifer O'Neill, Jack Warden and the late James Mason in  Roman costumes.  A. D. recreates the 40 years following the death of Christ.   A. D. will be more than just a TV miniseries since it could be instrumental in determining where NBC finishes in the 1984-85 Nielsen ratings race.   NBC, now a strong second is a bit worried that a second season push by ABC.  They  might be in position to edge NBC out of second place.  Thus, NBC looks at A. D. as sort of a late season insurance policy.   Watching A. D. will take perseverance. Many of the characters look alike and have names that are too tough to remember on the screen, let alone the next night.   A. D. is  peopled with emperors, ex-emperors, soldiers, ambitious commanders, palace guards, lovers and ex-lovers.  And disciples.  If you plan to watch A. D., start now to devise your own I. D. for all the above.