Measure for Measure (1979)

When the Duke of Vienna takes a mysterious leave of absence and leaves the strict Angelo in charge, things couldn't be worse for Claudio, who is sentenced to death for premarital sex. His ... See full summary »

Director:

Desmond Davis

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Kenneth Colley, Kate Nelligan, Tim Pigott-Smith

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenneth Colley	...	Duke Vincentio
Kate Nelligan	...	Isabella
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Angelo
Christopher Strauli	...	Claudio
John McEnery	...	Lucio
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Mariana
Frank Middlemass	...	Pompey
Alun Armstrong	...	Provost
Adrienne Corri	...	Mistress Overdone
Ellis Jones	...	Elbow
John Clegg	...	Froth
William Sleigh	...	Barnardine
Neil McCarthy	...	Abhorson
Yolande Palfrey	...	Juliet
Eileen Page	...	Francisca

Storyline

When the Duke of Vienna takes a mysterious leave of absence and leaves the strict Angelo in charge, things couldn't be worse for Claudio, who is sentenced to death for premarital sex. His sister, Isabella (a nun-in-training), however, is a very persuasive pleader. She goes to Angelo, but instead of freeing her brother, she gets an offer from Angelo to save Claudio's life if Isabella sleeps with him. The only sympathetic friend Isabella has is a priest who, in actuality, is the Duke in disguise...and he has a plan.

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Plot Keywords:

shakespeare's measure for measure | based on play | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 February 1979 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the interview scenes, Desmond Davis decided to link them aesthetically and shot both in the same manner; Angelo was shot upwards from waist level to make him look large, Isabella was shot from further away so more background was visible in her shots, making her appear smaller. Gradually, the shots then move towards each other's style so that, by the end of the scene, they are both shot in the same framing.

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Connections

Version of Maß für Maß (1957)

User Reviews

A Good Job Overall

If you want to see a straight, rigorously faithful adaptation of this not often read or studied play, please watch this version. The play itself is one of the best kept secrets in the Shakespeare cannon. The costumes are colorful and interesting and the sets (though the budget was clearly not hugely substantial) really flesh out aspects of the play you typically miss when reading it. The acting is fine, particularly from Lucio, Pompey (the clown), and the Provost. I will admit that the actor who played the Duke could have put more emotion behind what he was saying, though he did a good job. As a side note, he played Admiral Piett in Star Wars Ep. V & VI (I just thought that was interesting and funny). True this is a kind of no frills version, but, in my opinion, many of the modern 'adaptations' of Shakespeare's plays are weak because people of our age forget the unequivocally beautiful and startlingly profound language that Shakespeare abounded in. He truly offers metaphors that are profound and universal; if you wish to hear this powerful language spoken in a convincing and effective manner, please watch Measure for Measure.