The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

David Hugh Jones

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Release Date:

27 December 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

When Sir John Falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of Window wives: Mistress Ford and Mistress Page...

Plot Keywords:

Shakespeare's The Merry Wives Of Windsor | Mistrust Of Wife | William Shakespeare | Based On Play

Cast

Alan Bennett	...	Justice Shallow
Richard O'Callaghan	...	Slender
Tenniel Evans	...	Sir Hugh Evans
Bryan Marshall	...	George Page
Richard Griffiths	...	Sir John Falstaff
Gordon Gostelow	...	Bardolph
Nigel Terry	...	Pistol
Michael Robbins	...	Nym
Miranda Foster	...	Anne Page
Judy Davis	...	Mistress Ford
Prunella Scales	...	Mistress Page
Ron Cook	...	Peter Simple
Michael Graham Cox	...	Host of the Garter Inn
Lee Whitlock	...	Robin
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mistress Quickly

Also Known As:

The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor (USA) (video title)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Director David Hugh Jones originally wanted to shoot the entire film on location in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's home town, but when this proved impossible, he had production designer Don Homfray design a house based on the real life house which Shakespeare's son-in-law, Dr. Tom Hall, lived in.

Movie Connections:

Version of Falstaff (1995) (TV)

A Christmas Treat

This delightful production, crammed with good things like a Christmas pudding, was originally presented at Christmas time - and what a treat! The sets evoke Shakespeare's Stratford, and the comedy is the nearest we'll get to how life was lived in the reign of Good Queen Bess. Richard Griffiths is perfect as Falstaff, rueful and gullible compared with his prime in 'Henry IV' but still thoroughly endearing. Prunella Scales and Judy Davis (then only 27) enchant as the merry wives and Ben Kingsley, though OTT, is very funny as the jealous Ford. Michael Bryant is a choice Dr Caius, Tenniel Evans a likeably Welsh Sir Hugh, and among a splendid supporting cast I must mention Alan Bennett as Justice Shallow - not least because I played the part myself in Paris once upon a time. Of course the word-play is challenging, and Falstaff's treatment is rather cruel, but the Bard ensures that at the end the fat knight is not totally discomfited, and the show ends with a glow!