"Life of Shakespeare" (1978) TV mini-series

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

13 June 1978 (UK)

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series

Cast

Tim Curry	...	William Shakespeare (6 episodes, 1978)
Paul Freeman	...	Dick Burbage (6 episodes, 1978)
John Normington	...	Alex Cooke / ... (6 episodes, 1978)
Ron Cook	...	Jack Rice (6 episodes, 1978)
Richard Cordery	...	Henry Condell (6 episodes, 1978)
Ronald Herdman	...	Sam Crosse (6 episodes, 1978)
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Jack Heminge (6 episodes, 1978)
Michael Hadley	...	Augustine Phillips (5 episodes, 1978)
Derek Royle	...	William Kempe (5 episodes, 1978)
Nicholas Clay	...	Earl of Southampton (4 episodes, 1978)
John McEnery	...	Hamnet Sadler (3 episodes, 1978)
Matthew Taylor	...	Hercules (3 episodes, 1978)

(more)

Series Directed by
Mark Cullingham		(3 episodes, 1978)
Robert Knights		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Writing credits
John Mortimer		(6 episodes, 1978)

Series Produced by
Cecil Clarke	....	producer (6 episodes, 1978)
Lorna Mason	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1978)
Peter Roden	....	co-producer (6 episodes, 1978)

Series Original Music by
Richard Hill		(6 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Design by
Michael Bailey		(6 episodes, 1978)
Henry Graveney		(6 episodes, 1978)

Series Costume Design by
David Walker		(6 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Richard Hill	....	music arranger (6 episodes, 1978)

Series Other crew
Arnold Ross	....	location manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Associated Television (ATV)
• Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI)

Distributors

• BWE Video

Also Known As:

Will Shakespeare (UK) (alternative title) (USA) (DVD title)
William Shakespeare, His Life & Times (video title)

Runtime:

60 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

Will Shakespeare Must Be Rolling Over in His Grave...

Well, with all due respect to the brilliant actors associated with this production I must heartily disagree with the previous good review, evidently penned by a rabid Tim Curry fan, of this disenchanting mini-series. I felt Ian McShane, in particular, was totally wasted in his role -as Marlowe- and although Tim Curry did the best that could be done, with the sub par material, he was altogether forgettable in the lead. The ambling, misguided, largely fictional account of William Shakespeare's life was aided somewhat by adequate production values, but was not worthy of being aired on prime-time TV, in the US. In fact the ABC network considered showing it, at one point, but was rightfully disappointed with its clumsy, substandard contents. View it if you must, Tim Curry aficionados, but everyone else, I just thought you should be warned...