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The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
13 October 1971 (USA) morePlot:
A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
The Court of Public Opinion -- Dellamorte reviews Roman Polanski Wanted and Desired on DVD(From Collider.com. 2 February 2009)
User Comments:
very good adaptation more (122 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jon Finch | ... | Macbeth | |
| Francesca Annis | ... | Lady Macbeth | |
| Martin Shaw | ... | Banquo | |
| Terence Bayler | ... | Macduff | |
| John Stride | ... | Ross | |
| Nicholas Selby | ... | Duncan | |
| Stephan Chase | ... | Malcolm | |
| Paul Shelley | ... | Donalbain | |
| Maisie MacFarquhar | ... | First Witch | |
| Elsie Taylor | ... | Second Witch | |
| Noelle Rimmington | ... | Third Witch | |
| Noel Davis | ... | Seyton | |
| Sydney Bromley | ... | Porter | |
| Richard Pearson | ... | Doctor | |
| Patricia Mason | ... | Gentlewoman |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
140 minLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Australia:M | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1985) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Canada:14A (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) | Finland:K-15 (2002) (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 (1972) (cut version) | Singapore:PGFun Stuff
Trivia:
Roman Polanski owned a painting by British artist Michael Worrall, which gave him the inspiration to make the movie. The second scene was based on this painting. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: The lyrics to the song that Fleance sings at Macbeth's banquet for Duncan at Inverness are taken from the poem "Merciles Beautè" by Geoffrey Chaucer. In the context of the film this extraneously inserted song is itself an anachronism, as Chaucer lived in the fourteenth century and Shakespeare's "Macbeth" historically takes place in the eleventh century. moreQuotes:
Three Witches: Double double, toil and troubleThree Witches: Fire burn and cauldron bubble
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (122 total)
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Roman Polanski's blood-soaked version of Shakespeare's Scottish play was the video version of choice when we were studying this at school, in spite of it having a nude Lady Macbeth and witches (and Keith Chegwin in the cast - he's Banquo's son).
Jon Finch has the lead and he is exceptionally good. Even a dagger which really appears to float before him (an effect not needed) doesn't spoil things. Odd that he never really got good movie roles after this. His Lady M is Francesca Annis, a spider of a schemer, also putting in a good performance.
Less adequate are Martin Shaw as Banquo, Stephan Chase as Malcolm, and Sydney Bromley as the Porter, although Terence Bayler gives good value as Macduff.
Perhaps this Macbeth is the first one to be truly cinematic, something that even Orson Welles couldn't achieve with Scots accents and Scandinavian settings. It remains memorable long after seeing and, in its excesses, opens up the text for a new generation, and finally, sees the repellent murdering usurper get what he deserves.
(Incidentally for perspective, the book 'Macbeth - man and myth' by Nick Aitchison looks at the real historic facts in accessible coffee-table book style).