King Lear (1953 film)
1953 live television adaptation by Peter Brook
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King Lear is a 1953 live television adaptation of the Shakespeare play staged by Peter Brook and starring Orson Welles.[1] Preserved on kinescope, it aired October 18, 1953, as part of the CBS television series Omnibus, hosted by Alistair Cooke. The cast includes Micheál Mac Liammóir and Alan Badel.[2]
- William Shakespeare (play)
- Peter Brook (adaptation)
| King Lear | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genre | Tragedy |
| Based on | King Lear |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Andrew McCullough |
| Starring | Orson Welles |
| Theme music composer | Virgil Thomson |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 73 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | 18 October 1953 |
Production
A heavily abridged version of the play,[3] this production condensed the play by eliminating the characters of Edgar and Edmund.[4] To compensate for their absence, the role of Oswald is expanded to take Edmund's part in the play's climax, and "Poor Tom" is included not as a disguised Edgar but as an actual madman.[5]
Welles returned to America to star in this presentation. He was guarded by IRS agents, prohibited to leave his hotel room when not at the studio, prevented from making any purchases, and the entire sum (less expenses) he earned went to his tax bill. Welles returned to England after the broadcast.
Cast
- Orson Welles as King Lear
- Natasha Parry as Cordelia
- Arnold Moss as Duke of Albany
- Bramwell Fletcher as Earl of Kent
- David J. Stewart as Oswald
- Margaret Phillips as Regan
- Beatrice Straight as Goneril
- Alan Badel as Fool
- Micheál Mac Liammóir as Poor Tom
- Frederick Worlock as Earl of Gloucester
- Scott Forbes as Duke of Cornwall
- Wesley Addy as King of France
- Fred Sadoff as Duke of Burgundy
Home media
- 2010 E1 Entertainment, Region 1 DVD, February 9, 2010 ISBN 978-1-4172-3287-1[6]
