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Macbeth [DVD] [1971] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
 
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Macbeth [DVD] [1971] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

DVD ~ Jon Finch
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

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Region 1 encoding (requires a North American or multi-region DVD player and NTSC compatible TV. More about DVD formats.)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Macbeth [DVD] [1971] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
89% buy the item featured on this page:
Macbeth [DVD] [1971] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] 4.6 out of 5 stars (27)
William Shakespeare's Macbeth [1978] [DVD]
6% buy
William Shakespeare's Macbeth [1978] [DVD] 3.9 out of 5 stars (8)
£5.88
Macbeth [2006] [DVD]
1% buy
Macbeth [2006] [DVD] 2.8 out of 5 stars (6)
£4.18
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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: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
  • Studio: Columbia TriStar
  • DVD Release Date: 7 May 2002
  • Run Time: 140 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000063JZQ
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 58,772 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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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

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
40 of 41 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)   
This review is from: Macbeth [DVD] [1971] (DVD)
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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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Still With Me Now, 7 July 2008
By R. Kerr (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Macbeth [DVD] [1971] (DVD)
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. We settled down for a boring couple of hours messing about and talking. Five minutes into the film, you could have heard a pin drop. We were hooked.
We went from complete disinterest, to shakespeare fans in one afternoon. I will always be grateful to that young english teacher (whatever her name was?) for igniting a lifelong interest in literature. If our Headmaster/parents had known what we were going to see, I'm sure the trip would never have happened! But the quality of acting was such, that suddenly we all knew and understood olde worlde english, something which carried on through other plays we studied. We were lucky enough to have our study of Romeo & Juliet underpinned with another of Polanski's films- exam results were good that year!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant film, 4 Jan 2005
By Lauren (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Macbeth [DVD] [1971] (DVD)
I have seen many films and productions of Macbeth, but this film really brought it to life. It is well directed and the main actors, Jon Finch and Francesca Annis, play the parts of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth so well, they were just how I imagined them to be. I recommend this film, especially if you are studying Macbeth, it is highly enjoyable. I was disappointed with the Trevor Nunn version of Macbeth, however, it didn't bring Macbeth to life at all.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Polanski Macbeth
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays and Polanski does it justice. From the opening scene with the witches burying a severed arm on the beach to the death of Macbeth... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Kennedy

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
All students of Macbeth should see this version. My niece and I watched it with the French subtitles to help her with the Shakespearean lang, and she got totally involved and now... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ewa Sharwood-Smith

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 8 months ago by Barney McGrew

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 9 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 13 months ago by N. Carley

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 on 1 Feb 2008 by S. Skilton

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 Robinson Crusoe

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required viewing at school
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. Read more

Published on 8 Jan 2006 by Dr. C. D. Connaughton

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