Macbeth (1971) The Tragedy of Macbeth (original title)

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play) and
Roman Polanski
(more)

Release Date:

13 October 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.

Plot Keywords:

King | Throne | Tragedy | Murder | Guilt

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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
Michael Balfour	...	First Murderer
Andrew McCulloch	...	Second Murderer
Keith Chegwin	...	Fleance
Andrew Laurence	...	Lennox
Bernard Archard	...	Angus
Bruce Purchase	...	Caithness
Frank Wylie	...	Menteith
Diane Fletcher	...	Lady Macduff
Mark Dightam	...	Macduff's Son
Bill Drysdale	...	King's Groom
Roy Jones	...	King's Groom
Vic Abbott	...	Cowdor
Ian Hogg	...	First Thane
Geoffrey Reed	...	Second Thane
Nigel Ashton	...	Third Thane
William Hobbs	...	Young Seyward
Alf Joint	...	Old Seyward
Paul Hennen	...	Doctor's Apprentice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Olga Anthony	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Roy Desmond	...	Dancer (uncredited)
David Ellison	...	Old Soldier (uncredited)
Pamela Foster	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Clement Freud	...	Hanging Man (uncredited)
John Gordon	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Barbara Ann Grimes	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Aud Johansen	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Janie Kells	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ronald Lacey	...	Macbeths man - killed Banquo (uncredited)
Howard Lang	...	Old Soldier (uncredited)
Dickie Martyn	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Terence Mountain	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Beth Owen	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Christine Paul-Podlasky	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lynette Reade	...	A witch (uncredited)
Maxine Skelton	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Don Vernon	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Anna Willoughby	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Roman Polanski

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(play)
Roman Polanski
Kenneth Tynan

Produced by
Andrew Braunsberg	....	producer
Timothy Burrill	....	associate producer
Hugh M. Hefner	....	executive producer
Victor Lownes	....	assistant executive producer

Original Music by
The Third Ear Band

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor		(as Gil Taylor)

Film Editing by
Alastair McIntyre

Casting by
Miriam Brickman

Production Design by
Wilfred Shingleton		(as Wilfrid Shingleton)

Art Direction by
Fred Carter

Set Decoration by
Bryan Graves

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Biddy Chrystal	....	chief hair stylist
Tom Smith	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hercules Bellville	....	second unit director
Simon Relph	....	first assistant director
Michael Green	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Nigel Wooll	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack Stephens	....	assistant art director
Kenneth Tynan	....	artistic advisor

Sound Department
Jonathan Bates	....	dubbing editor
Simon Kaye	....	sound mixer
Nolan Roberts	....	dubbing mixer
John Ireland	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ted Samuels	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Gerald Larn	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
William Hobbs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russ Jones	....	stunt double: broadsword (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alec Mills	....	camera operator
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Breed	....	wardrobe (as Jackie Breed)
Philippe Pickford	....	wardrobe (as Phil Pickford)

Other crew
Angela Allen	....	continuity
Sally Gilpin	....	choreographer
William Hobbs	....	fight director
David W. Orton	....	production advisor
Jeremy Taylor	....	horse master
Richard Vetter	....	process consultant

Production Companies

• Caliban Films
• Playboy Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"The Tragedy of Macbeth" - UK (original title)

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | Italy:VM14 | 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:PG

Filming Locations:

Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Caliban Films

Trivia:

When crew members suggested to Roman Polanski that perhaps the film was too unrealistically gory for its own good, Polanski reportedly replied, "I know violence. You should've seen my house last summer."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Macbeth dines after Banquo's death, time freezes for 5-10 seconds as Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost sitting at the table. This is achieved by the other actors freezing in place until Macbeth drops his chalice. During the time freeze, a man sitting at the table and facing the camera blinks his eyes.

Quotes:

Macbeth:[after slaying someone in battle] Thou wast born of woman!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Camp Rock (2008) (TV)

Fascinating Adaptation

When the text is cut, folks like me hope to hear the rhythm preserved. Polanski and Tynan opted not to try to cut this way. However, what is remarkable about Polanski's film is that the images cut from the language are instead presented visually. Read the play just before watching the film, and you'll see what I mean. A great film for students who are studying, and reading, the play.

This is also one of the great efforts by RSC master fight choreographer William Hobbs, who followed this film with the comic fights of Richard Lester's "Three Musketeers" films. On the stage, Macbeth's next-to-last fight with Young Seyward is often a "warmup" for the big finale with Macduff. Here, it brings the audience back to what characters had to say about "the noble Macbeth" at the play's beginning, before his descent. Hobbs plays Young Seyward, and is established early on, training men to fight. Their astonishing confrontation leaves you wishing Macbeth didn't have to perish.

As another reviewer noted, the DVD and VHS box art is a testament to Columbia Home Video's botched handling: they put Banquo on the cover by accident. The shot is from Macbeth's vision of Banquo and his sons, actor Martin Shaw wears a crown...you can see how easily the mistake could be made, especially if the person designing the art hasn't bothered to watch the film. But never fear, the geniuses at Columbia made it up to Jon Finch. There's a terrific photo of him as Macbeth in the final fight with Macduff. You'll find it on the back of Columbia's edition of Nicol Williamson's "Hamlet." When you're in marketing, I guess all Shakespearean actors look alike...