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Macbeth [DVD] [1971]
 
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Macbeth [DVD] [1971]

DVD ~ Jon Finch
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
Price: £4.88 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this item with William Shakespeare's Macbeth [1978] [DVD] DVD ~ Ian McKellen

Macbeth [DVD] [1971] + William Shakespeare's Macbeth [1978] [DVD]
Price For Both: £10.86

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Macbeth [DVD] [1971]
86% buy the item featured on this page:
Macbeth [DVD] [1971] 4.5 out of 5 stars (26)
£4.88
William Shakespeare's Macbeth [1978] [DVD]
9% buy
William Shakespeare's Macbeth [1978] [DVD] 4.1 out of 5 stars (7)
£5.98
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream [DVD] [1999]
2% buy
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream [DVD] [1999] 3.9 out of 5 stars (23)
£4.88
The Merchant of Venice [DVD] [2004]
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The Merchant of Venice [DVD] [2004] 3.8 out of 5 stars (27)
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Product details

  • Actors: Jon Finch, Francesca Annis, Martin Shaw, Terence Bayler, John Stride
  • Directors: Roman Polanski
  • Writers: Roman Polanski, Kenneth Tynan, William Shakespeare
  • Producers: Andrew Braunsberg, Hugh M. Hefner, Timothy Burrill, Victor Lownes
  • Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, Danish, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 27 May 2002
  • Run Time: 134 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005UWUE
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,726 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in this category:

    #41 in  DVD > Classics > Drama

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Roman Polanski's adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth remains one of the most infamous for a number of reasons: the copious amounts of bloody gore, its expert use of location settings (filmed in North Wales) and Lady Macbeth's nude sleepwalking scene. Despite its notoriety, though, this does remain one of the more compelling film adaptations of the Scottish tragedy, if one of the more pessimistic takes on the story of Macbeth and his overreaching ambition. If you think the play is normally a bit of a downer, you haven't seen Polanski's bleak version of it, made in reaction to the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson "family". Jon Finch (Hitchcock's Frenzy) is a forceful Macbeth, bringing out the Scot's warrior instincts, and Francesca Annis is a memorable Lady Macbeth but the main thrust of the film belongs to Polanski's and noted British playwright and critic Kenneth Tynan's take on the play: extremely violent, nihilistic and visceral; this is down-in-the-dirt, no-holds-barred Shakespeare, not fussy costume drama. Pay close attention to the end, a silent coda that puts a chilling twist on all the action that has come beforehand and foreshadows more tragedy to come. --Mark Englehart

Amazon.co.uk Review
Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Macbeth remains one of the most infamous for a number of reasons: the copious amounts of bloody gore, its expert use of location settings (filmed in North Wales), and Lady Macbeth’s nude sleepwalking scene. Despite its notoriety, though, this does remain one of the more compelling film adaptations of the Scottish tragedy, if one of the more pessimistic takes on the story of Macbeth and his overreaching ambition. If you think the play is normally a bit of a downer, you haven’t seen Polanski’s bleak version of it, made in reaction to the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson "family". Jon Finch (Hitchcock’s Frenzy) is a forceful Macbeth, bringing out the Scot’s warrior instincts, and Francesca Annis is a memorable Lady Macbeth, but the main thrust of the film belongs to Polanski’s and noted British playwright and critic Kenneth Tynan’s take on the play: extremely violent, nihilistic, and visceral; this is down-in-th!e-dirt, no-holds-barred Shakespeare, not fussy costume drama. Pay close attention to the end, a silent coda that puts a chilling twist on all the action that has come beforehand and foreshadows more tragedy to come.--Mark Englehart, Amazon.com

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Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (16)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Shakespeare production for all time, 17 Feb 2006
By JWBlatchley "Julian Blatchley" (Aigina, Greece) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
When we think of screen Shakespeare, as in the theatre, we generally refer to the lead role... Brannagh's 'Henry V', or Gibson's 'Hamlet'. Despite the fact that I cannot think of an actor or actress in this production, from the King to the gate-keeper, who does not succeed admirably, yet this will always be Polanski's 'Macbeth'. The style and power of the direction are the dominant impression of this piece.

Brutally medieval in portrayal and attitude, this is a grim telling of a grim tale which captivated me entirely. At once theatrical, stunningly visual and historically believable, Polanski for me has not only done full justice to the language and drama of the work but has presented the rugged, uncertain, internecene way of life of the period so starkly that the devices of the play are seen in a truly medieval light... this production has been described as vicious, brutal, visceral... well, it is, but above all I find it credible. I think, to date, that I cannot identify a better screen production of a Shakespeare work.

If anyone still believes that The Bard does not translate to the modern age, this film should be prescribed!

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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Macbeth - Roman Polanski's film, 31 Jan 2003
By A Customer
Anyone who considers Shakespeare boring would be well advised to watch this film. It is not for the fainthearted and it may give you nightmares, but it is gripping as it gathers pace towards the final white-knuckle-ride climax. The Olivier-type 'Shakespeak' which the actors use is rather jarring at times but it is well compensated for by the atmosphere created by Polanski and supported by music of the ethereal Third Ear Band. Martin Shaw steals the show with his portrayl of Banquo supported, suprisingly well, by a rather youthful Keith Chegwin playing his son. Cheggers escapes the clutches of Macbeth's murderous assassins unlike his father who returns as a spectre to haunt Macbeth.

As a youth I worked as an extra in this film, one of the many trees forming Birnam Wood approaching Dunsinane Castle. This involved many of us carrying a christmas tree across the moors of North Northumberland many times in adverse weather conditions. Everyone was cold and wet most of the time with interminable hanging around between shoots usually while 'Leo' with his smoke gun kept falling off his motorbike into peat bogs (mist features heavily in this film). Contrary to the sleeve notes, many of the scenes were filmed in the stunning scenery of Northumberland, including Lindisfarne Castle and Bamburgh Castle.

A must for GCSE students in my opinion to fire the enthusiasm for this play, the name of which must not be uttered!

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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required viewing at school, 8 Jan 2006
By Dr. C. D. Connaughton (London, London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I saw this film in the cinema years ago, but the impression it left on me is still with me.

The previous reviews express my view quite well. This film is, for me, the quintessential Macbeth. Everything is spot-on. The acting is so good, one forgets that it is Shakespeare, productions of whom usually have for me a 'stagey' feel about them.

Pictorially it is entrancing, and there is that sense of the poetic in the gothic aspect of the tale, the evil of Macbeth, and the three witches, whom I just love, along with Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth.

The story is, of course, exciting but the appeal of the actors and actresses, and the production make it enjoyable at many other levels. I tended to empathise considerably with the main protagonists, although they are 'the villains of the piece'. This speaks well of the acting and the direction, and it makes the film more involving.

Polanski excelled himself in this work!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Scottish play
Roman Polanski's bloody take on Shakespeare's tale of deception, murder and witchcraft, is emminently watchable but fairly dated. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Binro The Heretic

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly the best film of Shakespeare's dark masterpiece!
The way in which this film script is faithful to Shakespeare is highly commendable. Polanski highlights perfectly the way in which Lady Macbeth uses sexual manipulation to spur on... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Davingh

4.0 out of 5 stars out damn... is that cheggers?
I'm so, so glad that I didn't recognise Cheggers until the credits, that would have changed my whole viewing experience.
Anyway... Read more
Published 6 months ago by N. Carley

5.0 out of 5 stars Still With Me Now
Picture this: Circa 1975, A class of 32 bored, inner city school, O level English kids, dragged off to an arts cinema to see a showing of Polanski's Macbeth. Read more
Published 12 months ago by R. Kerr

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Job
After directing such dark classics as Repulsion and Rosemary's Baby, who better than Roman Polanski to take on Macbeth? And what a great job he does. Read more
Published 17 months ago by S. Skilton

5.0 out of 5 stars You see, Shakespeare can make great movies
This is it - a full blooded version of a Shakespeare tragedy. Admittedly this was going to be one of the easier ones to give the full on treatment to but that doesn't take away... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Lou Knee

5.0 out of 5 stars Shockspeare
Having consumed a bottle of red I can't be bothered to write a proper literary review at the moment and being inexperienced in this art I shall leave a more detailed analysis of... Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2007 by Jason Sawford

3.0 out of 5 stars Just didn't do it for me
I found Polanski's film of Macbeth disappointing. Having seen the play a couple of times on stage, I was really looking forward to the perspective and breadth of scope the movie... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2006 by McNicol

4.0 out of 5 stars Roman Polanski feat William Shakespeare
Not really, it's a joint effort! So calm down. ok!

Now.If there ever was a man to get me in to anything it would be my favorite director ........Roman Polanski. Read more

Published on 29 Mar 2006 by Only Me

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Polanski's best
A flop in its day, Polanski's MacBeth now looks more and more like one of his finest achievements. Unlike many Shakespeare adaptations, Polanski opts for clarity and accessibility... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2005 by Trevor Willsmer

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