"Hallmark Hall of Fame" Macbeth (1954)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

George Schaefer

Writers:

George Schaefer (adaptation)
George Schaefer (writer)

TV Series:

"Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1951)

Original Air Date:

28 November 1954 (Season 4, Episode 13)

Plot:

Based on Shakespeare's play: As Macbeth and Banquo return victorious from fighting a battle, they are...

Plot Keywords:

Scotland | Ambition | Murder | William Shakespeare | Usurper

Cast

Maurice Evans	...	Macbeth
Judith Anderson	...	Lady Macbeth
House Jameson	...	King Duncan
Richard Waring	...	Macduff
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frieda Altman	...	Second Witch
Staats Cotsworth	...	Banquo
George Eberling	...	First Murderer
Peter Fernandez	...	Donalbain
Roger Hamilton	...	Malcolm
Michael Kane	...	Angus
Noel Leslie	...	Doctor
Brewster Mason	...	Angus
John Reese	...	Fleance
Jane Rose	...	First Witch
Guy Sorel	...	Ross
Margot Stevenson	...	Lady Macduff
Rhoden Streeter	...	Macduff's Son
Val Wrenne	...	Servant

Series Cast

These people are regular cast members. Were they in this episode?

David Winters	...	Jacques
Selena Royle	...	Cast Member 1951-1952

Runtime:

USA:103 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (surviving kinescope prints) | Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Trivia:

The 1954 and 1960 versions of "Macbeth", both made for the Hallmark Hall of Fame, are often erroneously considered to have had the same cast and technical staff. This is actually not true. Of the 1954 cast, only Maurice Evans and Judith Anderson appeared in the 1960 version, and the rest of the cast of the 1960 version was made up of British players who seldom appeared on American television. The cast of the 1954 version was largely made up of American players who often appeared on early live television. The technical staff of each production was entirely different, except for 'George Schaefer', who directed both the 1954 and 1960 versions.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Hallmark Hall of Fame: Macbeth (Second Hallmark Hall of Fame Version)" (1960)

Very Good Straightforward Adaptation

For such a straightforward production, this is a very good adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth", and it demonstrates how good a simple production can be when it has a good cast and sticks to the powerful ideas and dialogue of Shakespeare himself. While the settings and scenery are generally rather plain, and it could really have benefited from more atmospheric detail, this is still much more satisfying to watch than many more elaborate versions have been.

Maurice Evans is quite good as Macbeth, giving a convincing portrayal of a man who begins as an honorable servant, then wavers over his choices, and finally gives in to his worst side. Judith Anderson, who might have been born to play Lady Macbeth, is even better. The rest of the cast does not the spotlight as often, but most of them are effective in their roles, with Michael Hordern as Banquo perhaps being the most noticeable. The screenplay is a straightforward adaptation, with almost every scene included, very little re-arrangement, and only enough dialogue omitted to fit it into its running time.

In its time, this production was thought of highly enough that a few years later almost the identical the cast was re-assembled, and the film remade with color and other advantages. But this earlier black-and-white version might be a little easier to find, and anyone who appreciates the play for its own sake will at the least enjoy the quality acting and character portrayals.