The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971)

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play) and
Roman Polanski (writer)
(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:

Wife | King | Throne | Shakespeare | Tragedy

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 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		writer
Kenneth Tynan		writer

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
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russ Jones	....	stunt double: broadsword (uncredited)

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

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Breed	....	wardrobe
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:

Macbeth (USA)

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 | 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:

The very first "Playboy Production" for the cinema.

Goofs:

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.

Quotes:

Macbeth: I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet, And to be baited with the rabble's curse. Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou oppos'd, being of no woman born, Yet I will try the last. Lay on, Macduff; And damn'd be him that first cries, "Hold, enough!"

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Story of 'Frenzy' (2001) (V)

Medieval accuracy, good Shakespeare

A few years after this was released in the USA, I convinced my high school English teacher to take our class to see it. (In the days before videos & vcr's, this involved renting a theater and print.) I was glad I did. It is certainly the most real and immediate filmed version of the play. The sets, costumes (or lack thereof), and casting all work to create an accurate depiction of "nasty, brutal, and short" 11th century life. And of course, there is the wonderful insight of Shakespeare's language to engage our modern sensibilities.

One can only thank Polanski for casting such relatively young actors as his leads. Kings lived and died young then, and had to be both excellent generals as well as administrators to succeed. Jon Finch is both athletic and impassioned enough to carry off the soldiering, and young and introspective enough to be moved by his wife both as a woman and co-conspirator. Of course Francesca Annis made a splash by doing the mad scene in the nude--but in medieval times, everyone slept in the nude, so it was certainly accurate to the times.

And as has been noted before, at least the castle keeps are cold, dark, and dirty. The communal sleeping arrangements, straw bedding, flaring smoky torches, seeping walls, and muddy yards all contribute to the historical accuracy of this production. The exterior of Bamburgh also works. And keeping with Shakespeare's light vs. dark metaphors, the mist, rain, and lowering skies combine to enhance the mood.

What happens in this "Macbeth" is as realistic as possible. So what happens offstage in the play, happens onstage in the film: the murders of Duncan, Banquo, Macduff's family. Murder is nasty and bloody and Polanski (having much experience of its results) makes sure we know it. Medieval Scotland was nasty and bloody as well, and if the film is accurate in depicting its setting, why not the action? And only Polanski has an ending that hints that violence and ambition didn't die with Macbeth's overthrow. All said, Polanski's film still has the most accurate medieval setting, engaging performance(s), and thrilling battles.

PS. For those interested in the real historical Macbeth, read Dorothy Dunnett's excellent biographical novel "King Hereafter". Dunnett is world renowned for her historical accuracy, and did much research to create not only a very plausible rendition, but a thoroughly interesting and entertaining story as well.