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Product Description
Television performance of Trevor Nunn's acclaimed RSC production. Following their triumph in battle, warrior generals Macbeth (Ian McKellen) and Banquo are rewarded well by King Duncan. However, a prediction by three crones turns Macbeth's mind to further glory, and encouraged by his ambitious wife (Judy Dench) he secretly murders Duncan while he sleeps. Macbeth now seizes the throne for himself, but his new-found power is soured by guilt over his bloody deeds.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Remastered, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: This 1976 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Macbeth was originally broadcast on Thames Television in 1978. The company's artistic director Trevor Dunn directs the cast on a small bare stage with mostly black costumes and minimal props. After the witches (Susan Dury, Judith Harte, Marie Kean) announce the prophecy that Macbeth (Ian McKellen) will be the next king, the elderly King Duncan (Griffith Jones) proclaims that his son, Malcolm (Roger Rees), will be heir to the throne. Lady Macbeth (Judi Dench) learns about the witches' prophecy in a letter, prompting he to ask the gods to remove her femininity so she can make her weak husband kill the king. When Duncan comes to visit Macbeth's castle, he is murdered in his sleep. Macbeth kills the guards, claiming they were the murderers. In fear of their own lives, Duncan's sons flee the country and Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland. Riddled with guilt, Macbeth goes mad and sees horrible visions while the witches announce the prophecy of his downfall. Also starring John Woodvine as Banquo, Ian McDiarmid as the porter, and Bob Peck as Macduff. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...A Performance of Macbeth (1979) ( A Performance of Macbeth by William Shakespeare ) ( Macbeth )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 87 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
A TV version of a stage production is normally a recipe for disaster: not so here, however. Ian MacKellen and Judi Dench (not yet Sir and Dame) are riveting as the husband and wife team from hell. McKellen's descent into indifferent, hubristic madness is chilling, and Judi Dench's screech in the sleepwalking scene is - quite simply - unbelievable: if this does not send shudders down your spine, nothing will.
Given the fact that this Macbeth was recorded in 1979, the picture quality leaves a bit to be desired, but any lover of Shakespeare or great acting would be insane not to buy this DVD.
Prepare to be blown away. (And by the way: where is television of this quality today?)
Given the fact that this Macbeth was recorded in 1979, the picture quality leaves a bit to be desired, but any lover of Shakespeare or great acting would be insane not to buy this DVD.
Prepare to be blown away. (And by the way: where is television of this quality today?)
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The use of light & dark is fantastic. It's in colour but looks like black & white.
Comes across as a stage play (which it is!) and avoids the temptation to go for lavish sets, e.g., the battle scenes, just because it's a film.
I saw the original stage play and this is just as good. The best filmed Shakespeare tragedy I've seen. Absolutely superb
Comes across as a stage play (which it is!) and avoids the temptation to go for lavish sets, e.g., the battle scenes, just because it's a film.
I saw the original stage play and this is just as good. The best filmed Shakespeare tragedy I've seen. Absolutely superb
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By Alan Cutts
Format:DVD
This is not just another Macbeth. Though faithful to the text and to the poetry of the text, this is used as a springboard to the production's own powerful exploration of what really drove Shakespeare - the issue of good and evil. Neither McKellen nor Dench have quite the right face for their characters (too strong and too warm respectively) but this is unimportant. Their unparalleled intensity of delivery glues the play together from beginning to end, however unpleasant to watch. But the most remarkable achievement is the way the so-called `minor' characters steadily coalesce into a unified force for good that by the end over-rides all else in our attention. The Act IV English scene is extraordinarily strong, `king's cure' and all. The need to produce for TV, usually a noose around the neck of Shakespeare, is mightily used here: no set to speak of, darkness everywhere against which a certain amount of white and occasional flashes of red or gold make their impact, a superb use of camera angles, and music that perfectly matches and supports the tone of the production. And as well as the modern dress there is a curiously modern style of delivery that makes this not Shakespeare's exploration of his theme but our own. Trevor Nunn and his team have out-Shakespeared Shakespeare.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Macbeth
Condition great. As it turned out it wasn't suitable for the children I bought it for. The actors were dressed in modernish clothes and they performed to a dark background not much... Read more
Published 2 months ago by cath
4.0 out of 5 stars
William Shakespears Macbeth (1978)(Dvd)
I bought this for my son as he is studying it for his leaving cert. Excellent quality. he would recommend it.
Published 3 months ago by Paula O'Callaghan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great DVD
Bought this for my Mum who's a huge Ian McKellen and Shakespeare fan and has been for years - she loved it :)
Published 3 months ago by Miss Kerry Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
great.
this item was bought for my neighbours daughter to help her wih her studies for her exams. she was very happy.
Published 4 months ago by april
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD
Oh yes . The quality of the DVD is perfect. Sounds, colour and the image are very clear. It is enjoyable.
Published 4 months ago by Odilian Greene
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD
Will be helpful in supporting our daughter with her GCSE's next year, able to watch it as and when she wants to
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. A. Cull
1.0 out of 5 stars
Now I know why I missed this as a kid
Fast delivery and well packaged, but what a lot of c--p. I fell asleep while watching this. I hope I dont have to teach this in class.
Published 5 months ago by Roger
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Macbeth Ever
Okay - it's a film of a stage production (one I loved so much - and I have seen many, at least 20, sad person that I am - I saw twice) but what performances. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ex-King Zog
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best Macbeth
This is a very precious DVD capturing Judi Dench as a young and passionate Lady Macbeth. The DVD is in black and white and feels old but it couldn't be anything else and Judi Dench... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Caroline Childs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive!
I have to confess that "Macbeth" was for a long time something of a "blind spot" for me; although I could of course appreciate its many great qualities and especially the dramatic... Read more
Published 14 months ago by M. Joyce
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