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The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
13 October 1971 (USA)
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Plot:
A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won BAFTA Film Award.
Another 1 win
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
Very surprising, and competently made film
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jon Finch | ... | Macbeth | |
| Francesca Annis | ... | Lady Macbeth | |
| Martin Shaw | ... | Banquo | |
| Terence Bayler | ... | Macduff | |
| John Stride | ... | Ross | |
| Nicholas Selby | ... | Duncan | |
| Stephan Chase | ... | Malcolm | |
| Paul Shelley | ... | Donalbain | |
| Maisie MacFarquhar | ... | First Witch | |
| Elsie Taylor | ... | Second Witch | |
| Noelle Rimmington | ... | Third Witch | |
| Noel Davis | ... | Seyton | |
| Sydney Bromley | ... | Porter | |
| Richard Pearson | ... | Doctor | |
| Patricia Mason | ... | Gentlewoman |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Macbeth (USA)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
140 min
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:M |
Netherlands:16 |
South Korea:15 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 (video rating) (1985) |
UK:AA (original rating) |
USA:R |
West Germany:16 |
Canada:14A (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba) |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) |
Finland:K-15 (2002) (DVD rating) |
Finland:K-16 (1972) (cut version) |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When crew members suggested to Roman Polanski that perhaps the film was too unrealistically gory for its own good, Polanski reportedly replied, "I know violence. You should've seen my house last summer."
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: The lyrics to the song that Fleance sings at Macbeth's banquet for Duncan at Inverness are taken from the poem "Merciles Beautè" by Geoffrey Chaucer. In the context of the film this extraneously inserted song is itself an anachronism, as Chaucer lived in the fourteenth century and Shakespeare's "Macbeth" historically takes place in the eleventh century.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Story of 'Frenzy' (2001) (V)
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I remember watching this film in my Grade 11 English class when we were studying William Shakespeare's "Macbeth". Reading the story a couple of times, I rather enjoyed the classic tale to a degree. Whether or not it would convincingly translate to film, I, along with my class, was about to find out...with Roman Polanski's 1971 film adaptation, also produced by - HUGH HEFNER?!? As strangely amusing as the "Playboy" credit seemed in the opening credits, we were prepared for a very interesting take on the famous, violent play.
Shakespearean tragedies/comedies being translated to film are nothing new, of course. There have been some clear hits and misses over the decades - but fortunately, "Macbeth" does not fall into that latter "miss" category, for it is a tremendously underrated, very surprising, and overall competently made film. Roman Polanski is an excellent director here, and the acting, music, and effects (some of which - particularly the "dagger/murder" sequence - perversely amused my fellow classmates, who are obviously jaded by today's overblown, unsubtle, effects-laden "dramas") worked well for me. As well, the graphic violent and sexual nature of the film (which was also sometimes entertaining to the class, sadly) shocked me quite a bit. Of course, for a film made in 1971, Polanski's "Macbeth" isn't exactly "tame", if you will. Apparently it was rated X at the time, when the notorious film rating existed. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it clearly wouldn't be surprising if it were, especially considering how intense this film can get - both physically and psychologically. It works extremely well as an old-fashioned action-packed thriller, and even to someone who knew the story fairly well, it was an exciting little soap opera to behold. The class really enjoyed it as well, I'm glad to say; even for all its "old" qualities (i.e. the twangy psychadelic-sounding music that plays upon the closing credits) it still achieved a certain charm that was impossible to deny.
One of the most impressive and enjoyable Shakespearean films I have ever seen, "Macbeth" deserves much more acclaim than scorn - for it is well-made, and enormously faithful to its original source, capturing all the details of ol' Scotland and its inhabitants with great care. It's a wonderful treat. Highly recommended.