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The Tempest

  • TV Movie
  • 19801980
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
311
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
32,789
2,635
The Tempest (1980)
Drama
Exiled Prospero lives on a desolate island with his daughter, Miranda. When Prospero's usurping brother sails by the island, Prospero conjures a storm that wrecks the ship and changes all of... Read allExiled Prospero lives on a desolate island with his daughter, Miranda. When Prospero's usurping brother sails by the island, Prospero conjures a storm that wrecks the ship and changes all of their lives.Exiled Prospero lives on a desolate island with his daughter, Miranda. When Prospero's usurping brother sails by the island, Prospero conjures a storm that wrecks the ship and changes all of their lives.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
311
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
32,789
2,635
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • John Gorrie
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare(play)
    • Stars
      • Michael Hordern
      • Derek Godfrey
      • David Waller
    Top credits
    • Director
      • John Gorrie
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare(play)
    • Stars
      • Michael Hordern
      • Derek Godfrey
      • David Waller
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos

    Nigel Hawthorne and Andrew Sachs in The Tempest (1980)
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    Top cast

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    Michael Hordern
    Michael Hordern
    • Prospero
    Derek Godfrey
    • Antonio
    David Waller
    • Alonso
    Warren Clarke
    Warren Clarke
    • Caliban
    Nigel Hawthorne
    Nigel Hawthorne
    • Stephano
    David Dixon
    • Ariel
    Andrew Sachs
    Andrew Sachs
    • Trinculo
    John Nettleton
    John Nettleton
    • Gonzalo
    Alan Rowe
    • Sebastian
    Pippa Guard
    Pippa Guard
    • Miranda
    Christopher Guard
    • Ferdinand
    Kenneth Gilbert
    • Boatswain
    Edwin Brown
    Edwin Brown
    • Master
    Paul Greenhalgh
    Paul Greenhalgh
    • Francisco
    Christopher Bramwell
    • Adrian
    Gwyneth Lloyd
    • Juno
    Elizabeth Gardner
    • Ceres
    Judith Rees
    • Iris
    • Director
      • John Gorrie
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare(play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Part of the long running BBC Television Shakespeare project which ran between 1978 and 1985.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Story of English: A Muse Of Fire (1986)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The Stuff of Pleasant Dreams
    Second in my viewing of BBC Shakespeare adaptations: as with the previous 'Measure for Measure', I'd not previously seen any version of the play, and was only vaguely acquainted with the plot.

    Although the vengeful wizard, Prospero and to a lesser extent his sprite aide/conscience, Ariel, are the key characters, the title is an apt one in that it is the eponymous tempest, or storm - brought about by Prospero - which drives so much of the plot in that it causes to bring to Prospero's island those who had most wronged him. Not surprisingly, given that it is one of Shakespeare's later plays, I found it to be one of his most satisfying and intricately plotted, and although officially classed as a comedy, I'd probably also consider it a moral tale, in the choices and decisions it ultimately has Prospero make when he finally has his hated opponents at his mercy. Although I haven't done any further research or re-reading since my only viewing of this production, I was also interested with one of Prospero's speeches where he seemed to be suggesting that much of his situation might be entirely a dream, which would make the plot richer still (And, incidentally, the actual quote "We are such stuff As dreams are made on" was the source for Bogey's similarly memorable "that's the stuff that dreams are made of", from and about 'The Maltese Falcon')

    As regards the production itself, I'd absolutely no problem with any of the sets, which more than fulfilled their functions, and allowed for the intelligence of the viewers to flesh them out; the scene where Nigel Hawthorne and Andrew Sach's character first appeared reminded me of various sets for Beckett's 'Happy Days', which is no bad thing. Acting- wise, Hordern was supreme, and well-nigh faultless; I don't understand some reviewers problem with David Dixon's Ariel, as he seemed to me to fit all the requirements of the role. Similarly, Hawthorne and Andrew Sach's characters' interaction with Warren Clarke's hirsute and mildly scary Caliban provided the necessary comic relief, ably, as they did their roles. The remaining performances and characters I'd largely consider functional.

    Now I can't wait to compare and contrast with Julie Taymor's much- maligned adaptation; on the evidence of her enthralling and visually arresting adaptation of 'Titus Andronicus', I've no doubt that it will make for a worthwhile watch. On a side note, watching Andrew Sachs in this version, I was reminded of his recent very public 'spat' with Russell Brand and, given that they both played Trinculo, it should be interesting to see whose characterisation is the better one.
    helpful•0
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    • Joseph_Gillis
    • May 10, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 27, 1980 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: The Tempest
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Time-Life Television Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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