The Tempest (TV 1980)

Director:

John Gorrie

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Michael Hordern, Derek Godfrey, David Waller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Hordern	...	Prospero
Derek Godfrey	...	Antonio
David Waller	...	Alonso
Warren Clarke	...	Caliban
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Stephano
David Dixon	...	Ariel
Andrew Sachs	...	Trinculo
John Nettleton	...	Gonzalo
Alan Rowe	...	Sebastian
Pippa Guard	...	Miranda
Christopher Guard	...	Ferdinand
Kenneth Gilbert	...	Boatswain
Edwin Brown	...	Master
Paul Greenhalgh	...	Francisco
Christopher Bramwell	...	Adrian

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

shakespeare's the tempest | based on play

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1980 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: The Tempest

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Time-Life Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Gielgud was cast as Prospero but backed out after disagreements over the production concept.

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Connections

Version of The Tempest (1980)

User Reviews

Loyal to the text, but dull and uninspired.

Letting the class watch this in English was a bad idea. Films that are serious and more educational can have an effect, but it appears this one didn't have any effect whatsoever on the class - whenever the teacher left, conversations quickly started - and I didn't hear the words "Shakespeare" or "Tempest" being used at all. And when you look at this, it is easy to see why. The acting is nothing special - everyone seems bored to bits, just reading from the page without a care in the world. Shakespeare always did prefer expository dialogue to action and death, but I just couldn't understand a word anyone was saying. The costumes aren't too bad and neither are the special effects

• the class may not have loved the film, but they weren't exactly

taking the p*ss either. But it is hard to joke at a film that is devoid of any sort of inspiration or joy. The scenes on the ship at the start of the film weren't too badly done - though the rain looked a bit unrealistic, everything else was done well and good. But where were the severed heads and exploding masts? Where was the death? Where was the inspiration? The character of Ariel would have been taken a lot more seriously had he been wearing clothes - but as all was on show, he was just another excuse for a joke. This film is not in any way appealing to either sex. The women and girls won't have any romance or comedy to enjoy, and there is an abundance of naked men and lack of action or death that will put most men and boys off. The Tempest wasn't badly done, but this felt like something the producers HAD to make, not something they wanted to make. And the general boredom and lack of inspiration show. 3/10