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The Beggar's Opera (1983) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   33 votes
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Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
John Gay (opera)
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View company contact information for The Beggar's Opera on IMDbPro.
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Plot:
A historical adaptation of John Gay's 18th Century ballad opera, exuberantly performed for BBC television... more | add synopsis
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For fans of the original more (2 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Rosemary Ashe ... Lucy Lockit
Peter Bayliss ... Lockit
John Benfield ... Jailer
Isla Blair ... Jenny Diver
Gaye Brown ... Mrs. Trapes
Tim Brown ... Robin of Bagshot
Jeannie Crowther ... Mrs. Coaxer

Roger Daltrey ... Macheath
Jacqueline Davis ... Molly Brazen
Derek Deadman ... Drawer
Don Estelle ... Crook Fingered Jack
Gawn Grainger ... Ben Budge
Carol Hall ... Polly Peachum

Bob Hoskins ... Beggar
Stratford Johns ... Peachum
Paddy Navin ... Suky Tawdry
Anthony Pedley ... Matt of the Mint
Patricia Routledge ... Mrs. Peachum
Leslie Sarony ... Nimming Ned
Iris Saunders ... Betty Doxy
Elayne Sharling ... Dolly Trull
Lucy Skeaping ... Mrs. Slammekin
Peter Spraggon ... Harry Paddington
Kay Stonham ... Mrs. Vixen
Ken Stott ... Jemmy Twitcher
Richard Suart ... Wat Dreary
Gary Tibbs ... Filch
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For fans of the original, 3 October 2009
10/10
Author: newatt-2 from Toronto, Canada

This is a really interesting outing which attempts to be naturalistic with a deeply artificial form. I have watched it tens of times because I love the original and I love this version.

As always, MacHeath and Polly are not terribly likable - which is more a fault of changing mores and the script than the acting.

However, everyone else in the cast is brilliant, with the most amazingly chewy performance by Patricia Routledge as Mrs. Peachum. Peachum and Lockit and Lucy and Filch are all very likable. Bob Hoskins does an excellent cameo.

The production values are really high. The costuming is wonderful. The music is lush. The scenery is appropriately grotty and dark.

The meta-ness of the attempt to be natural with it can turn one's head inside out occasionally, particularly with the lovely ending gallop to "Thus I stand like the Turk", which substitutes for a curtain call. All in all, if you like the play, you should really enjoy this TV-made film.

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