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King Lear

  • 19701970
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
842
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
King Lear (1970)
  • Drama
The Shakespeare tragedy that gave us the expression "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." King Lear has not one but two ungrateful children, and it's especial... Read allThe Shakespeare tragedy that gave us the expression "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." King Lear has not one but two ungrateful children, and it's especially galling because he turned over his entire kingdom to them. Paul Scofield is an ancient,... Read allThe Shakespeare tragedy that gave us the expression "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." King Lear has not one but two ungrateful children, and it's especially galling because he turned over his entire kingdom to them. Paul Scofield is an ancient, imposing shell of a Lear tormented by his too-long life as well as by daughters he calls ... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
842
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Brook
  • Writers
    • Peter Brook
    • Geoffrey of Monmouth(source material)
    • William Shakespeare(play)
  • Stars
    • Paul Scofield
    • Irene Worth
    • Cyril Cusack
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Brook
  • Writers
    • Peter Brook
    • Geoffrey of Monmouth(source material)
    • William Shakespeare(play)
  • Stars
    • Paul Scofield
    • Irene Worth
    • Cyril Cusack
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 28User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Photos

    King Lear (1970)
    King Lear (1970)
    King Lear (1970)
    King Lear (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Scofield
    Paul Scofield
    • King Learas King Lear
    Irene Worth
    Irene Worth
    • Gonerilas Goneril
    Cyril Cusack
    Cyril Cusack
    • Albanyas Albany
    Susan Engel
    Susan Engel
    • Reganas Regan
    Tom Fleming
    • Kentas Kent
    Anne-Lise Gabold
    • Cordeliaas Cordelia
    Ian Hogg
    Ian Hogg
    • Edmundas Edmund
    Robert Langdon Lloyd
    • Edgaras Edgar
    • (as Robert Lloyd)
    Jack MacGowran
    Jack MacGowran
    • Foolas Fool
    Patrick Magee
    Patrick Magee
    • Cornwallas Cornwall
    Barry Stanton
    Barry Stanton
    • Oswaldas Oswald
    Alan Webb
    Alan Webb
    • Gloucesteras Gloucester
    Søren Elung Jensen
    • Duke of Burgundyas Duke of Burgundy
    • Director
      • Peter Brook
    • Writers
      • Peter Brook
      • Geoffrey of Monmouth(source material)
      • William Shakespeare(play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The Shakespeare tragedy that gave us the expression "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." King Lear has not one but two ungrateful children, and it's especially galling because he turned over his entire kingdom to them. Paul Scofield is an ancient, imposing shell of a Lear tormented by his too-long life as well as by daughters he calls "unnatural hags." At one point, the king looks his eldest daughter, Goneril (Ireme Worth), straight in the eye and declares, "Thou art a boil, a plague-sore, of embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood." These are the troubles not even the best-trained family counselor could ever hope to resolve. —alfiehitchie
    • king
    • kingdom
    • tragedy
    • old man
    • madness
    • 54 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some violent content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Brook based this production on ideas expressed by Polish theater critic Jan Kott in the book "Shakespeare, Our Contemporary".
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      King Lear: Know that we have divided In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl toward death.

    • Crazy credits
      Not only is there no music in the film, but there are no "ambient sounds" at all during the opening credits, giving the impression that they were filmed using no soundtrack whatsoever.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Unearthly (1991)

    User reviews28

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Extremely underrated Shakespeare movie
    King Lear is a very complex and powerful tragedy, and therefore adapting it is difficult. Peter Brook's 1971 film, shot in black and white, actually does a great job and summons up most of the titanic power of its source material. This has been a divisive film, and I can partially see why. With its drained, melancholy black and white cinematography, gloomy line delivery, subtle camera movements and dark, nightmare-like atmosphere, this does not hold back at all in its bleakness, and is not for the faint of heart. This is one highly nihilistic movie, so do not watch this for a good time. Still, King Lear is one of the most depressing plays ever written so perhaps that's appropriate. Despite the liberties it takes with the play (It cuts out much of the dialogue and its unrelenting misery occasionally causes the play's more optimistic, tender moments to lose some of their impact), this is a very good film which urgently needs more attention. Peter Brook's direction is haunting and brutally bleak, yet best of all very subtle and intelligently understated. Paul Scofield is brilliant as Lear, and gives a wonderful and pleasingly quiet performance as the tragic protagonist. Another highlight is the Fool, who is drained of all his normal humour. A miserable film for sure, but a very compelling one with a terrific finale. This is a very worthy adaptation overall and shows just how much of a gut-punch King Lear is.

    9/10
    helpful•8
    1
    • Rickting
    • Apr 21, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1970 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Denmark
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kral Lear
    • Filming locations
      • Råbjerg Mile, Jylland, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Athéna Films
      • Filmways Pictures
      • Filmways
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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    Apr 19eyeforfilm.co.uk
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