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IMDbPro

King Lear

  • 19991999
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 3h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
95
YOUR RATING
King Lear (1999)
Drama
King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly fl... Read allKing Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his other ... Read allKing Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his other two daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
95
YOUR RATING
    • Brian Blessed
    • Tony Rotherham(additional segments)
    • William Shakespeare(play)
  • Stars
    • Brian Blessed
    • Hildegard Neil
    • Jason Riddington
    • Brian Blessed
    • Tony Rotherham(additional segments)
    • William Shakespeare(play)
  • Stars
    • Brian Blessed
    • Hildegard Neil
    • Jason Riddington
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    King Lear (1999)
    King Lear (1999)
    King Lear (1999)
    King Lear (1999)
    King Lear (1999)

    Top cast

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    Brian Blessed
    Brian Blessed
    • King Lear
    Hildegard Neil
    • The Fool
    Jason Riddington
    • Edmund
    Phillipa Peak
    • Cordelia
    Peter Balderstone
    • Cornwall's Captain
    Mark Burgess
    • Edgar
    John Corvin
    • Gentleman
    Paul Curran
    Paul Curran
    • King of France
    Mark Denny
    • Duke of Cornwall
    David Dexter
    • 2nd Messenger
    Billy Hanna
    • 1st Knight
    Mark Hayden
    Mark Hayden
    • Oswald
    Claire Laurie
    • Regan
    Caroline Lennon
    • Goneril
    Graham McTavish
    Graham McTavish
    • Duke of Albany
    Iain Stuart Robertson
    • Earl of Kent
    Douglas Verrall
    • 1st Messenger
    Lisa Von Hasenberg
    • Musician
      • Brian Blessed
      • Tony Rotherham(additional segments)
      • 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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    • Goofs
      When Edgar/Poor Tom leads his father Gloucester to the Cliffs of Dover, where Gloucester intends to kill himself, Edgar deceives him and only tells him that they have arrived so that when Gloucester jumps, he may not die. In this version, Gloucester is really led to the cliff. However, when he seems to jump, both he and his son - all of a sudden - are at the bottom of the cliff by the seaside.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1999)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Brian Blessed shines.
    Like many of Bill Shakespeare's play King Lear is open to many interpretations. Should the old sire of Pagan Britain be played as a once great man now crippled by senility or a powerful King though stripped from his regency still powerfully defiant against his treasonous children and unbending mind?

    Personally I don't give a hoot in what way they portray Lear as long as the performance impresses me and Brian Blessed did strike a cord.

    His booming voice and his ample frame, even more present by the thick robes he wears create a Lear of great power.(watch how the the clothing changes to more delicate gowns when Lear is in his weaker moments, even to a white thin robe when he has come to terms with his insanity and is reunited with Cordelia, but that could all be a coincidence, hahaha) Although some my find Blessed's gibes and quaint gestures and intonations overacting, I liked them. (I love a good ham by the way.) Brian Blessed really carries the film and his boisterous Lear is just as impressive as the powerful performance by James Earl Jones. (Both drool at some point of the piece, but one thing I learned Shakespeare is better with a lot of Alien-like salivating.)

    The supporting roles are good. Iain Stuart Robertson plays Kent and handles his role nicely and Philipa Peak is a serene Cordelia, albeit she seems a little uncomfortable with role.

    Hildegarde Neill is a strange choice for the fool, but it works. If you really want to see her shine watch MacBeth with Jason Connery, she is excellent there as one of the Weird Sisters. Jason Riddington gives a fine portrayal of the villainous Edmund, though not as impressive as when Raoul Julia played the bastard(pun intended, hahaha, Shakespeare humor. Funny? Well, actually No)

    The role that really impressed me besides Brian Blessed was Mark Burgess as Edgar, although Edgar's part doesn't feature any real shining moment besides when he feigns madness as "Poor Tom", Burgess handles these madness scenes with finesse. Playing the role more calmly and reserved letting his eyes speak the madness rather than a more physical performance with a lot of shouting and jumping, like many others play Poor Tom. (for instance René Auberjonois)

    All in all; a nice production of Bill's majestic drama despite the probably tight budget, but hey, you watch Bill's plays for the acting not the dressing.
    helpful•3
    10
    • Calibanhagseed
    • Mar 21, 2008

    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 7, 1999 (United Kingdom)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • A-Z Russian Services
      • Cromwell Productions Ltd.
      • Lamancha Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 3 hours 10 minutes

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