Cinema legend Orson Welles ("Citizen Kane") brought a prestige film to low-budget outfit Republic Pictures with this appropriately dark & moody adaptation of the legendary William Shakespeare tragedy. Welles plays the title character, a doomed Scottish lord undone by his own ambition and his even more ruthless wife (Jeanette Nolan, "The Big Heat").
A top-notch supporting cast and incredible atmosphere are heavy assets in this effective interpretation of the oft-filmed tale. Welles himself is quite properly intense as Macbeth, with Nolan a standout. But the talent assembled here is excellent right down the line: Dan O'Herlihy ("Robinson Crusoe") as the vengeful Macduff, Roddy McDowall ("Planet of the Apes") as Malcolm, Edgar Barrier ("Cyrano de Bergerac") as Banquo, Alan Napier ('Batman') as the Holy Father, Erskine Sanford ("Citizen Kane") as Duncan, John Dierkes ("Shane") as Ross, Keene Curtis ('Cheers') as Lennox, Peggy Webber ("The Wrong Man") as Lady Macduff, and Lurene Tuttle ("Psycho") as the Gentlewoman.
The poetry & power of Shakespeares' dialogue comes through well thanks to this group of actors, and I found the fact that most of the story here takes place at night quite suitable. Particularly effective are the monologues by Macbeth and his wife, who are all too believably troubled by their own actions, although we won't see evidence of this with her until the film is almost over.
It does indeed look like Welles was working within budgetary limits, but he and co-star O'Herlihy create some pretty enjoyable impressionist sets. The music by Jacques Ibert also really helps to set the mood.
While NOT a hit in its day (at least in English-speaking countries), over time people have come to appreciate this stylized and dreamlike approach to the material. It's available in two versions: the complete 108 minute version with the actors affecting Scottish accents, and an abridged version shortened by about 20 minutes.
Eight out of 10.
A top-notch supporting cast and incredible atmosphere are heavy assets in this effective interpretation of the oft-filmed tale. Welles himself is quite properly intense as Macbeth, with Nolan a standout. But the talent assembled here is excellent right down the line: Dan O'Herlihy ("Robinson Crusoe") as the vengeful Macduff, Roddy McDowall ("Planet of the Apes") as Malcolm, Edgar Barrier ("Cyrano de Bergerac") as Banquo, Alan Napier ('Batman') as the Holy Father, Erskine Sanford ("Citizen Kane") as Duncan, John Dierkes ("Shane") as Ross, Keene Curtis ('Cheers') as Lennox, Peggy Webber ("The Wrong Man") as Lady Macduff, and Lurene Tuttle ("Psycho") as the Gentlewoman.
The poetry & power of Shakespeares' dialogue comes through well thanks to this group of actors, and I found the fact that most of the story here takes place at night quite suitable. Particularly effective are the monologues by Macbeth and his wife, who are all too believably troubled by their own actions, although we won't see evidence of this with her until the film is almost over.
It does indeed look like Welles was working within budgetary limits, but he and co-star O'Herlihy create some pretty enjoyable impressionist sets. The music by Jacques Ibert also really helps to set the mood.
While NOT a hit in its day (at least in English-speaking countries), over time people have come to appreciate this stylized and dreamlike approach to the material. It's available in two versions: the complete 108 minute version with the actors affecting Scottish accents, and an abridged version shortened by about 20 minutes.
Eight out of 10.