It’s been called a “historical epic” and “a film which is as contemporary and as relevant as The Godfather”. But while Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster classic will forever be known as one of the greatest films of all time, this one is largely forgotten, despite a strong cast and world-famous director.
The film in question is Roman Polanski’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. It was released in 1971 and has been streaming since 2010. It’s currently available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV and Sky Store.
It stars Jon Finch as Macbeth, Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth and Martin Shaw as Banquo and it’s loved by viewers, with one saying: “This version is one of the best I’ve ever seen, filmed in a wonderful setting and well-acted, with Finch taking Macbeth from a likeable, reasonable human being to a seething, greedy creature goaded by his avaricious wife.”
Another called it “the perfect rendition of Macbeth” and a third said: “This is a wonderful adaptation of a timeless tragedy that so many other filmmakers have fumbled.”
Macbeth, or The Tragedy of Macbeth to give it its full name, is widely considered to be one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, alongside the likes of Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. It was first performed in 1606.
It centres on Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman who is told by a group of witches that he will become the King of Scotland, despite the fact that the King of Scotland is alive and well. Consumed by ambition and encouraged by his wife, Macbeth decides to kill the King and take the throne. Then, wracked with guilt and paranoia, he kills again and again to protect himself.
It is considered to have some of Shakespeare’s greatest lines, such as “tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time”.
Macbeth is a real historical figure, as are the play’s other central characters, but the play’s version bears little resemblance to the real 11th century Scottish king.
Mac Bethad mac Findláich (Macbeth) was born in around 1005. In August 1040, he killed the ruling king, Duncan I, in battle near Elgin and became king himself. He married Kenneth III’s granddaughter, Gruoch, and strengthened his claim to the throne, then in 1045 he defeated and killed Duncan I’s father, Crinan, at Dunkeld.
The BBC reports: “For 14 years, Macbeth seems to have ruled equably, imposing law and order and encouraging Christianity. In 1050, he is known to have travelled to Rome for a papal jubilee. He was also a brave leader and made successful forays over the border into Northumbria, England.”
But in 1054, Macbeth was challenged by Siward, Earl of Northumbria, who was attempting to return Duncan’s son Malcolm Canmore, who was his nephew, to the throne. In August 1057, Macbeth was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire by Malcolm Canmore (later Malcolm III).
The 1971 version of Macbeth is one of several different versions on both stage and screen. The character of Macbeth has been played by some of the biggest names in theatre and cinema like David Tennant, Denzel Washington, Michael Fassbender, Kenneth Branagh, Ian McKellen, Peter O’Toole, Patrick Stewart, Liev Schrieber, Ethan Hawke, James McAvoy and Orson Welles. And for some viewers, the 1971 version is the best.
Perry Stewart, writing in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, said: “Without a shred of ‘modernisation’, Polanski has created a film which is as contemporary and as relevant as The Godfather.”
Yasser Messina, writing in Cinefilia, says it is “at times… a historical epic in which Polanski maintains an atmospheric and violent tone” but he adds that “frankly, there is almost no power in the Shakespearean soliloquies and the characters are often as flat as a sword blade”.
Les Bridges in the Chicago Tribune says: “In the end, [Jon Finch] has charged the role with a brooding force that is astonishing coming from an actor of 28 years.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer says “there are excellences in this Macbeth that would be beyond tamer talents” while the New York Daily News says “this is Shakespeare translated the way we would have liked it, in bold, virile terms”.
You can stream Macbeth on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Sky Store and Google Play Movie.