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IMDb > King Lear (1983) (TV)

King Lear (1983) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   322 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Michael Elliott
Writer:
William Shakespeare (play)
Contact:
View company contact information for King Lear on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 January 1984 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
An aging King invites disaster when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters and rejects his one loving, but honest one. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Throw the textbook away more

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)
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Directed by
Michael Elliott 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
William Shakespeare  play

Produced by
David Plowright .... executive producer
David Plowright .... producer
 
Original Music by
Gordon Crosse 
 
Casting by
Malcolm Drury 
 
Production Design by
Colin Lowrey 
Roy Stonehouse 
 
Costume Design by
Tanya Moiseiwitsch 
 
Makeup Department
Lois Richardson .... makeup supervisor
 
Art Department
Ray Freeman .... graphic designer
 
Sound Department
Alistair Houston .... sound mixer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Roger England .... camera operator: studio camera
Mike Turnbull .... camera operator
Christopher White .... studio lighting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charlotte Holdich .... associate costume designer
 
Editorial Department
Linda Anthony .... vision mixer
D.L. Heyes .... editor: video tape
Ron Swain .... editor: video tape
 
Music Department
Gordon Crosse .... conductor
Alex Dobos .... music recordist
 
Other crew
Lesley Beames .... researcher
Jo Day .... assistant stage manager
Louise Doffman .... production assistant
Ron Greenhalgh .... studio supervisor
William Hobbs .... fight arranger
Ken Jones .... studio vision
Graham Wild .... floor manager
 

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Additional Details

Runtime:
158 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Australia:G

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The last specifically made-for-television production of a Shakespeare play (to date) to have its American TV premiere on commercial network television, an occurrence that was much more common in the 1950's, '60's, and '70s. more
Quotes:
King Lear: You do me wrong to take me out of the grave. Thou art a soul in bliss. more
Movie Connections:
Version of King Lear (1948) (TV) more

FAQ

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful:-
Throw the textbook away, 22 August 2007
10/10
Author: alan-1029 from New Zealand

King Lear is a rough-hewn, majestic work of genius which addresses issues of life and family that we can all identify with, 400 years later. It is a difficult play to get right, on screen or on the stage because it demands the greatest acting from the best available actors.

And this gripping performance manages to do it. The sets are cheap, the video quality is poor and murky but the powerful work of a terrific Laurence Olivier and a faultless cast of Britain's finest Shakespearean actors shines through.

One poor performance can ruin a production like this, but every single actor rises to the occasion, and each character is well-realised and credible. There is not a single weak performance, even from those with the smallest roles.

The poetry flows, the imagery is beautiful and moving and the themes are brought into sharp relief. From the first scene, you will not need a text of the play to understand what is going on.

With Olivier gone and Branagh still several decades from being old enough to take on the role, we can expect this to be the definitive version for years to come.

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