Macbeth is a 2010 television film based on William Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Four on 12 December 2010. In the United States, it aired on PBS' Great Performances. It was directed by Rupert Goold from his stage adaptation for the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2007. Patrick Stewart is featured in the title role, with Kate Fleetwood as Lady Macbeth.
Premise The film is a more modern re-imagining of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. It evokes the atmosphere of Romania in the 1960s, with parallels between Ceaușescu and Macbeth in their equally brutal quests for power. The Three Witches likewise receive an update in keeping with the 20th century aesthetics, appearing as hospital nurses. Their presence is pervasive throughout the film, punctuating the horror of Macbeth's murderous reign.
Cast
Principal cast:Radio Times 11–17 December 2010
Macbeth – Patrick Stewart Lady Macbeth – Kate Fleetwood Banquo – Martin Turner Macduff – Michael Feast Malcolm – Scott Handy Donalbain – Ben Carpenter Duncan / Doctor – Paul Shelley Lady Macduff – Suzanne Burden Lennox – Mark Rawlings Ross – Tim Treloar Angus – Bill Nash Old Seyward / Murderer – Christopher Knott The Porter – Christopher Patrick Nolan Fleance – Bertie Gilbert
Production The film was shot entirely on location at Welbeck Abbey.
Awards
Macbeth won a Peabody Award in 2010.COMPLETE LIST OF RECIPIENTS OF THE 70th ANNUAL PEABODY AWARDS from peabody.uga.edu In addition, Patrick Stewart was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries.
References
External links
Macbeth: About the Film and Preview The Macbeth of a lifetime London Evening Standard https://web.archive.org/web/20101211161127/http://cft.org.uk/cft-productions_details.asp?pid=71 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/patrick-stewart-how-we-filmed-macbeth-in-18-days-2152271.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8194438/Terrifying-Macbeth-shows-Shakespeare-works-on-the-small-screen.html https://www.pbs.org/video/great-performances-macbeth/