The Merchant of Venice

Jonathan Miller's 1970 National Theatre staging of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice—considered a highly controversial work in the aftermath of the Holocaust due to its arguable anti-Semitism—was filmed for television in 1973, and while the visual quality here is hardly outstanding, the performance still shines. With staging that updates the action to the late 19th century, this production stars Sir Laurence Olivier as the Jewish moneylender Shylock, a class-conscious financier acutely aware of the indignities he suffers as a result of his religion. When approached by Bassanio (Jeremy Brett) for a loan to enable the latter to court the lovely Portia (Joan Plowright), Shylock accepts the famous bond of a pound of flesh proffered by the young man's friend Antonio (Anthony Nicholls)—and will ultimately demand payment of it, only to have the tables turned against him in court by Portia, who appears in the guise of a legal expert. Olivier is simply brilliant, producing an unforgettable howl of anguish after his final departure from the stage, and while Plowright seems a trifle matronly, her delivery is impeccable. Miller cuts some text and also makes some unusual choices—mostly successful (portraying Antonio as a world-weary older man) but occasionally not (turning Stephen Greif's Moroccan prince into a caricature). Still, Miller's sure balancing of fidelity and imagination is impressive, while the contribution of Olivier—perhaps the greatest British actor of the last century—makes this an indispensable addition to any serious drama collection. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)