TV Review : The Glory of ‘Roman City’

Viewers can take a captivating journey to the ancient world courtesy of “Roman City,” the latest animated and live-action special based on the work of author-illustrator David Macauley, who previously has documented how pyramids, castles and cathedrals were built.

In the live-action sequences, Macauley goes on location to explain the glory that was Rome’s cities, and how their basic design--with marketplaces, theaters, public baths and running water--was exported throughout most of the known world.

Especially engrossing is Macauley’s visit to the remains of the Colosseum of Rome, the greatest stadium of its day. He shows us what remains of the complex basement area, where gladiators and wild animals waited to be taken--by elevator--to the floor of the Colosseum, site of some of the most brutal entertainment ever provided.

The animation sequences tell of the construction of the fictional city of Verbonia in the frontier territory of Gaul (now France) around 27 B.C. These portions of the program are most interesting when revealing the construction of Verbonia; less successful are the subplots involving a mischievous daughter and a love-struck civil engineer.

“Roman City” is an engrossing look into the history of a fascinating civilization. The Romans’ feats of civic endeavor would be unsurpassed in the Western world for 1,500 years.

* “Roman City” airs at 9 p.m. Sunday on KCET-TV Channel 28, at 7 p.m. Monday on KVCR-TV Channel 24 and at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on KPBS-TV Channel 15. Macauley’s three earlier productions--”Pyramid,” “Castle” and “Cathedral”--will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on KCET.