Edward II (1970) (TV)

Directors:

Richard Marquand
Toby Robertson

Writer:

Christopher Marlowe (play)

Release Date:

6 August 1970 (UK)

Plot:

The reign of Edward II, King of England, is troubled from the start when he brings his male lover, hated by the nobles, out of exile. |

Plot Keywords:

King | Roman Numeral In Title | Kissing A Dead Body | Father Son Relationship | Unfaithful Wife

Cast

Ian McKellen	...	King Edward
Timothy West	...	Young Mortimer
Diane Fletcher	...	Queen Isabella
James Laurenson	...	Piers Gaveston
Robert Eddison	...	Lightborn / Archbishop of Canterbury
Paul Hardwick	...	Earl of Warwick / Sir John Maltravers
Trevor Martin	...	Earl of Lancaster / Rice Ap Howell
Andrew Crawford	...	Old Spencer / Third Poor Man
Bette Bourne	...	Edmund of Kent (as Peter Bourne)
David Calder	...	Young Spencer
David Strong	...	Robert Baldock
Michael Spice	...	Old Mortimer / Sir John of Hainault
Stephen Greif	...	Earl of Pembroke
Colin Fisher	...	Earl of Arundel
Richard Morant	...	Earl of Leicester / Levune
Michael Godfrey	...	Bishop of Coventry
Myles Reithermann	...	Prince Edward
Lucy Fleming	...	Niece to the King
Terence Wilton	...	Thomas Gurney
Jeremy Nicholas	...	A Mower
Christopher Whitehouse	...	First Poor Man
Michael Howarth	...	Second Poor Man
Nigel Crewe	...	Solider / Attendant
Gordon Nicol	...	Solider / Attendant
Nigel Havers	...	Solider / Attendant
Nicolas Olivier	...	Solider / Attendant
William Smith	...	Soldier / Attendant

Directed by
Richard Marquand
Toby Robertson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christopher Marlowe		play

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Prospect Theatre Company

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met (1972)

McKellen and Laurenson shine in a memorable production

Shakespeare's Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II were successful stage productions recorded in the studio for BBC Television in the early days of colour transmissions. At that time only the recently inaugurated BBC 2 channel was broadcasting in colour and the new TV sets were very expensive.

I was a university student at the time and watched these outstanding productions in the colour TV lounge in my hall of residence. I've remembered them vividly ever since, particularly the young Ian McKellen's highly charged and sensual performances in the title roles. Those were less enlightened times and young Ian was still firmly 'in the closet' but to my youthful mind his gay sensibility was more than evident, especially in the role of Edward II. James Laurenson was also outstanding as Gaveston.

These landmark productions are crying out for a DVD release.