Shakespeare

Hamlet at Elsinore is a 1964 television version of the c. 1600 play by William Shakespeare. Directed by Philip Saville, with Christopher Plummer, Robert Shaw, Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Jo Maxwell. Produced by the BBC in association with Danish Radio, it was shown in the U.S. on NET. Winning wide acclaim both for its performances and for being shot entirely at Helsingør (Elsinore in English), in the castle in which the play is set. It is the only version (with sound) of the play to have actually been shot at Elsinore Castle. This programme was recorded and edited on video tape (2" quadruplex) and not 'filmed'. It was the longest version of the play telecast in one evening up to that time, running nearly three hours. The Canadian actor Christopher Plummer took the lead role as Hamlet and earned an Emmy Award nomination for his performance. In supporting roles were Robert Shaw as Claudius, Donald Sutherland as Fortinbras, Roy Kinnear as the Gravedigger and Michael Caine, in his only Shakespearean performance, as Horatio. Sutherland, Caine and Shaw were, at the time, almost completely unknown to American audiences, and just before the presentation's first U.S. telecast, Plummer began to gain popularity in the U.S. because of his appearance in the 1965 musical film The Sound of Music. The production was originated by Danish television, which lacked the financial resources to realize the project and turned to the BBC for help. Videotaped at Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, Denmark, in September 1963 by a Danish crew with the director and actors supplied by the BBC, it represents a technical milestone for the BBC as a full-length play had never been videotaped on-location before. The producer, Peter Luke, deliberately cast lesser-known actors as it was felt using major stars would prove a distraction. Plummer, Shaw and particularly Caine would become stars within a year to two of the original broadcast, and Sutherland would become a star in 1970 after the release of the film MASH. Jo Maxwell Muller, who was only 18 years old, was cast as Ophelia on the insistence of Plummer. Cast & Characters: Christopher Plummer as Hamlet Robert Shaw as Claudius, King of Denmark Alec Clunes as Polonius Michael Caine as Horatio June Tobin as Gertrude, Queen of Denmark Jo Maxwell Muller as Ophelia Dyson Lovell as Laertes Donald Sutherland as Fortinbras Roy Kinnear as the Gravedigger Horatio is, so far, the only classical role played by Michael Caine, who had never received dramatic training.

A 1979 videotaped version of Trevor Nunn's Royal Shakespeare Company production of the play by William Shakespeare. Produced by Thames Television, it features Ian McKellen as Macbeth and Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth. The TV version was directed by Philip Casson. The original stage production was performed at The Other Place, the RSC's small studio theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It had been performed in the round before small audiences, with a bare stage and simple costuming. The recording preserves this style: the actors perform on a circular set and with a mostly black background; changes of setting are indicated only by lighting changes. Cast & Characters: Ian McKellen as Macbeth Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth John Bown as Lennox Susan Dury as 3rd Witch / Lady Macduff Judith Harte as 2nd Witch / Gentlewoman Greg Hicks as Donalbain / Seyton David Howey as Sergeant / 1st Murderer / Doctor Griffith Jones as Duncan Marie Kean as 1st Witch Ian McDiarmid as The Porter / Ross Bob Peck as Macduff Duncan Preston as Angus Roger Rees as Malcolm Zak Taylor as Fleance / Messenger Stephen Warner as Young Macduff John Woodvine as Banquo

Antony and Cleopatra is a 1974 videotaped television production of William Shakespeare's 1606 play of the same name, produced by ATV, starring Richard Johnson as Mark Antony, Janet Suzman as Cleopatra, and Patrick Stewart as Enobarbus. Click on CC for English subtitles. It was directed by Jon Scoffield and is an adaptation of Trevor Nunn's Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production of the play. It features then-little-known Ben Kingsley and Tim Pigott-Smith in small roles. The major character of Sextus Pompey, who figures significantly in the plot in Act II, was excised from this production. Cast & Characters: Richard Johnson as Mark Antony Janet Suzman as Cleopatra Corin Redgrave as Octavius (Augustus Caesar) Patrick Stewart as Enobarbus Rosemary McHale as Charmian Philip Locke as Agrippa Mary Rutherford as Octavia Raymond Westwell as Lepidus Mavis Taylor Blake as Iras Darien Angadi as Alexas Sidney Livingstone as Mardian Geoffrey Hutchings as A Fig Seller Loftus Burton as Diomedes Lennard Pearce as Cleopatra's Schoolteacher Joseph Charles as Cleopatra's Messenger Tony Osoba as Cleopatra's Servant Douglas Anderson as Cleopatra's Eunuch Michael Egan as Cleopatra's Eunuch Paul Gaymon as Cleopatra's Eunuch Wendy Bailey as Servant Madelaine Bellamy as Servant Edwina Ford as Servant Amanda Knott as Servant Joe Rock as Servant Gito Santana as Servant Nicholas McArdle as King Derek Wright as King Frederick Radley as King Norman Caro as King Richard Young as King Constantine Gregory as Ventidius (as Constantin De Goguel) W. Morgan Sheppard as Scarus (as Morgan Sheppard) Joseph Marcell as Eros (as Joe Marcell) Jonathan Holt as Dercetas Chris Jenkinson as Silius (as Christopher Jenkinson) John Bott as A Soothsayer Robert Oates as 1st Watchman Arthur Whybrow as 2nd Watchman Michael Radcliffe as 3rd Watchman Geoffrey Greenhill as Soldier William Thomas as Soldier (as William Huw-Thomas) David Janes as Soldier Jeremy Pearce as Soldier Mark Sheridan as Soldier Derek Godfrey as Maecenas Ben Kingsley as Thidias Martin Milman as Dolabella Tim Pigott-Smith as Proculeius Keith Taylor as A Messenger Thomas Chesleigh as Gallus Desmond Stokes as Taurus Alan Foss as A Senator John Bardon as Demetrius Peter Godfrey as A Sentry Malcolm Kaye as A Guard

The BBC Television Shakespeare is a series of British television adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare, created by Cedric Messina and broadcast by BBC Television. Transmitted in the UK from 3 December 1978 to 27 April 1985, the series spanned seven seasons and thirty-seven episodes. Initially, the adaptations received generally negative reviews, although the reception improved somewhat as the series went on, and directors were allowed more freedom, leading to interpretations becoming more daring. Several episodes are now held in high esteem, particularly some of the traditionally lesser-known and less frequently staged plays. The BBC Television Shakespeare project was the most ambitious engagement with Shakespeare ever undertaken by either a television or film production company. So large was the project that the BBC could not finance it alone, requiring a North American partner who could guarantee access to the United States market, deemed essential for the series to recoup its costs. By the end of its run, the series had proved both a ratings and a financial success. The complete set is a popular collection, and several episodes represent the only non-theatrical production of the particular play currently available on DVD. Season 1 - Romeo and Juliet Directed by Alvin Rakoff Produced by Cedric Messina Taping dates: 31 January-5 February 1978 First transmitted in the UK: 3 December 1978 First transmitted in the US: 14 March 1979 English subtitles: Click on CC Cast & Characters: Patrick Ryecart as Romeo Rebecca Saire as Juliet Celia Johnson as Nurse Michael Hordern as Capulet John Gielgud as Chorus Joseph O'Conor as Friar Laurence Laurence Naismith as Prince Escalus Anthony Andrews as Mercutio Alan Rickman as Tybalt Jacqueline Hill as Lady Capulet Christopher Strauli as Benvolio Christopher Northey as Paris Paul Henry as Peter Roger Davidson as Balthasar John Paul as Montague Zulema Dene as Lady Montague Esmond Knight as Old Capulet David Sibley as Sampson Jack Carr as Gregory Bunny Reed as Abraham Vernon Dobtcheff as Apothecary John Savident as Friar John Danny Schiller as Musician Jeremy Young as 1st Watch Jeffrey Chiswick as 2nd Watch Gary Taylor as Potpan Mark Arden as Page Robert Burbage as Page Alan Bowerman as 1st Citizen Episode 2: https://rumble.com/v6p3r4o-the-shakespeare-collection-king-richard-the-second-s01e02-bbc-1978.html

Directed by David Giles Produced by Cedric Messina Taping dates: 12–17 April 1978 First transmitted in the UK: 10 December 1978 First transmitted in the US: 28 March 1979 English subtitles: Click on CC Cast & Characters: Derek Jacobi as King Richard John Gielgud as John of Gaunt Jon Finch as Henry Bolingbroke Wendy Hiller as Duchess of York Charles Gray as Duke of York Mary Morris as Duchess of Gloucester David Swift as Duke of Northumberland Clifford Rose as Bishop of Carlisle Charles Keating as Duke of Aumerle Richard Owens as Thomas Mowbray Janet Maw as Queen Jeffrey Holland as Duke of Surrey Jeremy Bulloch as Henry Percy Robin Sachs as Bushy Damien Thomas as Bagot Alan Dalton as Green David Dodimead as Lord Ross John Flint as Lord Willoughby Carl Oatley as Earl Berkeley William Whymper as Sir Stephen Scroop John Barcroft as Earl of Salisbury David Garfield as Welsh Captain Desmond Adams as Sir Pierce of Exton Joe Ritchie as Groom Paddy Ward as Keeper Bruno Barnabe as Abbot of Westminster Jonathan Adams as Gardener Alan Collins as Gardener's Man John Curless as Lord Fitzwater Terry Wright as Murderer Ronald Fernee as Servant Tim Brown as Herald Mike Lewin as Herald Phillida Sewell as Queen's Lady Sandra Frieze as Queen's Lady Episode 3: https://rumble.com/v6phwyu-the-shakespeare-collection-as-you-like-it-s01e03-bbc-1978.html

Directed by Basil Coleman Produced by Cedric Messina Taping dates: 30 May-16 June 1978 First transmitted in the UK: 17 December 1978 First transmitted in the US: 28 February 1979 English subtitles: Click on CC Cast & Characters: Helen Mirren as Rosalind Brian Stirner as Orlando Richard Pasco as Jaques Angharad Rees as Celia James Bolam as Touchstone Clive Francis as Oliver Richard Easton as Duke Frederick Tony Church as Banished Duke John Quentin as Le Beau Maynard Williams as Silvius Victoria Plucknett as Phebe Marilyn Le Conte as Audrey Tom McDonnell as Amiens David Lloyd Meredith as Corin Arthur Hewlett as Adam Jeffrey Holland as William Timothy Bateson as Sir Oliver Martext David Prowse as Charles John Moulder-Brown as Hymen Paul Bentall as Jacques de Boys Peter Tullo as Palace Lord Mike Lewin as Palace Lord Carl Forgione as Banished Duke's Lord Max Harvey as Banished Duke's Lord Chris Sullivan as Dennis Paul Phoenix as Page Barry Holden as Page The production was shot at Glamis Castle in Scotland, one of only two productions shot on location, with the other being The Famous History of the Life of Henry the Eight. The location shooting received a lukewarm response from both critics and the BBC's own people, however, with the general consensus being that the natural world in the episode overwhelmed the actors and the story. Director Basil Coleman initially felt that the play should be filmed over the course of a year, with the change in seasons from winter to summer marking the ideological change in the characters, but he was forced to shoot entirely in May, even though the play begins in winter. This, in turn, meant the harshness of the forest described in the text was replaced by lush greenery, which was distinctly unthreatening, with the characters' "time in the forest appear[ing] to be more an upscale camping expedition rather than exile." Episode 4: https://rumble.com/v6pupja-the-shakespeare-collection-julius-caesar-s01e04-bbc-1979.html

Directed by Herbert Wise Produced by Cedric Messina Taping dates: 26–31 July 1978 First transmitted in UK: 11 February 1979 First transmitted in the US: 14 February 1979 English subtitles: Optional (click on CC) Cast & Characters: Richard Pasco as Marcus Brutus Charles Gray as Julius Caesar Keith Michell as Marcus Antonius David Collings as Cassius Virginia McKenna as Portia Elizabeth Spriggs as Calphurnia Sam Dastor as Casca Jon Laurimore as Flavius John Sterland as Marullus Garrick Hagon as Octavius Caesar Brian Coburn as Messala Leonard Preston as Titinius Alexander Davion as Decius Brutus Darien Angadi as Cinna Andrew Hilton as Lucilius Anthony Dawes as Ligarius Roger Bizley as Metellus Manning Wilson as Cicero Ronald Forfar as Soothsayer Patrick Marley as Artemidorus William Simons as Trebonius John Tordoff as Cinna the Poet Philip York as Young Cato Christopher Good as Clitus Robert Oates as Pindarus Alan Thompson as 1st Citizen/1st Plebeian Leo Dolan as 2nd Citizen/2nd Plebeian Johnny Wade as 3rd Plebeian/1st Soldier David Henry as 4th Plebeian/2nd Soldier Jonathan Scott-Taylor as Lucius Tom Kelly as Claudius Jack Eliott as Octavius' Servant Michael Cogan as Caesar's Servant Reginald Jessup as Poet Maurice Thorogood as Strato Michael Greatorex as Varro Nicholas Gecks as Volumnius Michael Jenkinson as Dardanius Roy Spencer as Lepidus Terence Conoley as Popilius Noel Johnson as Publius Director Herbert Wise felt that Julius Caesar should be set in the Elizabethan era, but as per the emphasis on realism, he instead set it in a Roman milieu. Episode 5: https://rumble.com/v6pw418-the-shakespeare-collection-measure-for-measure-s01e05-bbc-1979.html

Directed by Desmond Davis Produced by Cedric Messina Taping dates: 17–22 May 1978 First transmitted in the UK: 18 February 1979 First transmitted in the US: 11 April 1979 English subtitles: Optional (click on CC) Cast & characters: Kenneth Colley as Duke Kate Nelligan as Isabella Tim Pigott-Smith as Angelo Christopher Strauli as Claudio John McEnery as Lucio Jacqueline Pearce as Mariana Frank Middlemass as Pompey Alun Armstrong as Provost Adrienne Corri as Mistress Overdone Ellis Jones as Elbow John Clegg as Froth William Sleigh as Barnardine Neil McCarthy as Abhorson Yolande Palfrey as Juliet Eileen Page as Francisca Kevin Stoney as Escalus Godfrey Jackman as Friar Thomas Alan Tucker as First Gentleman John Abbott as Second Gentleman David Browning as A Justice Geoffrey Cousins as Servant David King Lassman as Pageboy

Directed by Kevin Billington Produced by Cedric Messina Taping dates: 27 November 1978 – 7 January 1979 First transmitted in UK: 25 February 1979 First transmitted in the US: 25 April 1979 English subtitles: Optional (click on CC) Cast & Characters: Tony Church as Prologue John Stride as Henry VIII Julian Glover as Duke of Buckingham Jeremy Kemp as Duke of Norfolk David Rintoul as Lord Abergavenny Timothy West as Cardinal Wolsey John Rowe as Cromwell Lewis Fiander as Duke of Suffolk Alan Leith as Sergeant-at-Arms Claire Bloom as Katharine of Aragon John Bailey as Griffith, Gentleman-Usher David Troughton as A Surveyor John Nettleton as Lord Chamberlain Charles Lloyd-Pack as Lord Sandys Nigel Lambert as Sir Thomas Lovell Barbara Kellerman as Anne Bullen Adam Bareham as Sir Henry Guildford Jeffrey Daunton as A Servant John Cater as 1st Gentleman Roger Lloyd-Pack as 2nd Gentleman Jack McKenzie as Sir Nicholas Vaux Michael Poole as Cardinal Campeius Peter Vaughan as Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester Sylvia Coleridge as Old Lady, Anne Bullen's friend Michael Gaunt as A Crier Ronald Pickup as Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury David Dodimead as Bishop of Lincoln Emma Kirkby as Singer Sally Home as Patience Oliver Cotton as Earl of Surrey Michael Walker as A Messenger John Rhys-Davies as Capucius, Ambassador from Emperor Charles V Timothy Barker as Page to Gardiner Brian Osborne as Door-keeper of the Council Chamber John Rogan as Dr. Butts Jack May as Lord Chancellor The second of only two episodes shot on location, after As You Like It. Whereas the location shooting in that episode was heavily criticised as taking away from the play, here, the location work was celebrated. The episode was shot at Leeds Castle, Penshurst Place and Hever Castle, in the actual rooms in which some of the real events took place. Shooting on location had several benefits; the camera could be set up in such a way as to show ceilings, which cannot be done when shooting in a TV studio, as rooms are ceilingless to facilitate lighting. The episode was shot in winter, and on occasions, characters' breath can be seen, which was also impossible to achieve in studio. However, because of the cost, logistics and planning required for shooting on location, Messina decided that all subsequent productions would be done in-studio, a decision which did not go down well with several of the directors lined up for work on the second season. This episode was not originally supposed to be part of the first season, but was moved forward in the schedule to replace the abandoned production of Much Ado About Nothing.