The Tragedy Of Macbeth

Filmed on a minimally decorated stage, this live performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth is an impressive rendering of the story of the Scotsman who, after hearing the predictions of the weird sisters, killed the king, and eventually hacked and hewed his way to the top. Jeremy Brett (known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the PBS adaptations) is believable in the role of Macbeth, as he makes the long journey over from simple aspirations to power-hungry butcher. Piper Laurie (whom some of you may recall was Carne's mother) brings an earthy madness to the part of Lady Macbeth. And Simon MacCorkindale is admirably righteous as the eventual victor Macduff. One lesser scene, and a few lines have been cut from the play, but these alterations do not lessen the overall impact. The other titles in the Bard Productions series are: Antony and Cleopatra, Othello, Richard 11, and The Tempest. Although these productions are not up to the standards of Jonathan Miller's superb PBS Shakespeare's Plays, they are quite good, and much less expensive than the latter. Recommended. (Available from most distributors.)