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Macbeth

Macbeth

Republic Pictures (1948)
Blu-ray
NR (Not Rated)
887090601009
Drama | Special Interest
USA | English | Black & White | 01:29

Orson Welles' unique take on Shakespeare's classic tragedy.

Something wicked this way comes in Orson Welles’ cinematic retelling of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Welles stars as the titular Macbeth—a doomed Scottish lord tragically undone by his own ambition. Welles’ noir-tinged interpretation bubbles over with supernatural prophecy and murderous intrigue, effectively mixing the use of shadow and oblique camera angles to achieve an ominous sense of a land in peril. Beautifully shot by John L. Russell (Psycho) and starring Orson Welles (who also adapted, produced and directed), Jeanette Nolan (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance), Dan O’Herlihy (Robinson Crusoe), Roddy McDowall (How Green Was My Valley) and Alan Napier (TV’s Batman), Macbeth is an altogether unique interpretation of Shakespeare’s Scottish play. This special Olive Signature edition includes both the original 1948 107-minute cut, replete with affected highland accents, and the 1950 pared-down 85-minute re-release that removed most of the accented dialogue.


Cast View all

Orson Welles Macbeth
Jeanette Nolan Lady Macbeth
Dan O'Herlihy Macduff
Roddy McDowall Malcolm
Edgar Barrier Banquo
Alan Napier A Holy Father
Erskine Sanford Duncan
John Dierkes Ross
Keene Curtis Lennox
Peggy Webber Lady Macduff
Lionel Braham Siward
Archie Heugly Young Siward
Jerry Farber Fleance
Christopher Welles Macduff's Child
Morgan Farley Doctor
Lurene Tuttle Gentlewoman
Brainerd Duffield First Murderer
William Alland Second Murderer
George Chirello Seyton
Gus Schilling A Porter
Robert Alan Third Murderer
Tiny Jones Woman Holding Child
Harry Wilson Banquet Guest

Edition details

Packaging HD Case
Nr Discs 2
Screen Ratios Fullscreen (4:3)
Audio Tracks Stereo [English]
Subtitles English
Distributor Olive Films
Layers Single side, Dual layer
Edition Release Date Nov 15, 2016
Regions Region A

Personal

Watched
Quantity 1
Index 1980
Added Date Dec 31, 2017 21:57:18
Modified Date Jun 12, 2022 00:34:33

Notes

Christmas 2017 gift from Ma

New High-Definition digital restoration
Includes 1948 and 1950 versions
Audio Commentary with Welles biographer Joseph McBride
“Welles and Shakespeare” – an interview with Welles expert, Professor Michael Anderegg
“Adapting Shakespeare on Film” – a conversation with directors Carlo Carlei (Romeo & Juliet) and Billy Morrissette (Scotland, PA)
Excerpt from We Work Again, a 1937 WPA documentary containing scenes from Welles’ Federal Theatre Project production of Macbeth
“That Was Orson Welles” – an interview with Welles’ close friend and co-author, Peter Bogdanovich
“Restoring Macbeth” – an interview with former UCLA Film & Television Archive Preservation Officer Bob Gitt
“Free Republic: The Story of Herbert J. Yates and Republic Pictures”
“The Two Macbeths” – an essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum

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