All of the drama of the William Shakespeare play was captured on videotape in the 1979 television production of “Macbeth.” It features Ian McKellan as Macbeth and Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth, the power-mad couple plotting to take over the throne of Scotland at any price. Director Philip Casson (“The Muppet Show” 1977-1981) was at the helm of this show.
Producer and teleplay author Trevor Nunn and Casson preserved the essence of the play for the top-rate cast to perform. The supporting cast behind Dench and McKellan includes Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine of the “Star Wars” series), Bob Peck (gatekeeper of “Jurassic Park” 1993), Roger Rees (Robin Colcord of TV’s “Cheers”), Griffith Jones (father of Gemma Jones), Greg Hicks, John Brown, Susan Dury, Judith Hart, David Howey, Marie Kean, Duncan Preston, Zak Taylor, Stephen Warner, and John Woodvine.
“Macbeth” was aired on ITV in January, 1979, filmed in a barebones manner on a circular set with a black background, a Royal Shakespeare Company presentation from Thames Television. Bill Shakespeare himself would have approved.
Macbeth (1979)
cinema
My Review
All of the drama of the William Shakespeare play was captured on videotape in the 1979 television production of “Macbeth.” It features Ian McKellan as Macbeth and Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth, the power-mad couple plotting to take over the throne of Scotland at any price. Director Philip Casson (“The Muppet Show” 1977-1981) was at the helm of this show.
Producer and teleplay author Trevor Nunn and Casson preserved the essence of the play for the top-rate cast to perform. The supporting cast behind Dench and McKellan includes Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine of the “Star Wars” series), Bob Peck (gatekeeper of “Jurassic Park” 1993), Roger Rees (Robin Colcord of TV’s “Cheers”), Griffith Jones (father of Gemma Jones), Greg Hicks, John Brown, Susan Dury, Judith Hart, David Howey, Marie Kean, Duncan Preston, Zak Taylor, Stephen Warner, and John Woodvine.
“Macbeth” was aired on ITV in January, 1979, filmed in a barebones manner on a circular set with a black background, a Royal Shakespeare Company presentation from Thames Television. Bill Shakespeare himself would have approved.