The Duchess of Malfi

Summary

1972 BBC production of The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster. The production was recorded at Chastleton House, Oxfordshire.

Theatre play

The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster (c.1580-c.1634) [more information]

Play synopsis

Loosely based on events in Italy between 1508 and 1513, the play tells of a young, widowed duchess who marries again beneath her class and in the face of opposition from her brothers. When the duchess’ subterfuge is discovered after several years, the brothers exact revenge, killing the duchess but also destroying themselves.

Production history

First performed in Jacobean London at the Blackfriars Theatre in 1613-1614 and published in 1623.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 10 October 1972

Time

9.25-11.25pm

Series

Stage 2

Channel

BBC2

Production company

BBC

Credits

Director

James MacTaggart

Producer

Cedric Messina

Lighting

Tommy Thomas

Playwright

John Webster (c.1580-c.1634)

Designer

Eileen Diss

Costume Designer

John Bloomfield

Script Editor

Rosemary Hill

Cast

Cyril Appleton	Ferdinand’s Servant
Eileen Atkins	The Duchess of Malfi
Sheila Ballantine	Cariola
Gary Bond	Antonio Bologna
Nick Brimble	Fourth Madman
Michael Bryant	Daniel de Bosola
Dallas Cavell	Malfi Servant
Tim Curry	Second Madman
Roy Evans	Roderigo
Donna Fowler	Antonio’s Child
Jack Galloway	Malfi Servant
Jean Gilpin	Julia
Michael Godfrey	Marquis of Pescara
Ken Halliwell	Executioner
Robert James	Doctor
Charles Kay	Duke Ferdinand
Michael Lynch	Castruchio
T. P. McKenna	The Cardinal
Douglas Milvain	Count Malateste
Richard Pescud	Third Madman
Paul Searle	Antonio’s Child
Peter Spraggon	Cardinal’s Servant
Talfryn Thomas	First Madman
Jerome Willis	Delio
Anna Winton	Antonio’s Child

Additional details

Play tags

16th-century setting; class issues / differences; Italy, as theme or setting; Jacobean drama

Audiovisual sources

Title

The Duchess of Malfi (BBC, 1972)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 5 October 1972 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated listing, p. 39

Title

Stage 2: The Duchess of Malfi (BBC, 1972) [2012 version] (Blog article)

Author/creator

John Wyver (Author)

Reference

https://screenplaystv.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/stage-2-the-duchess-of-malfi-bbc-1972, published 28 March 2012 (accessed 12 April 2016)

Title

Stage 2: The Duchess of Malfi (BBC, 1972) [2013 version] (Blog article)

Author/creator

John Wyver (Author)

Reference

https://screenplaystv.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/stage-2-the-duchess-of-malfi-bbc-1972-2/, published 10 April 2013 (accessed 12 April 2016)

Title

Three Dames and a Duchess (Website)

Author/creator

BBC (Author)

Reference

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3kcGQYLfr4W6l5DDpGbXwgK/three-dames-and-a-duchess (accessed 12 April 2016)

Notes

This web page offers clips from three productions of The Duchess of Malfi, in which the performances of Helen Mirren, Eileen Atkins and Peggy Ashcroft in the kiss scene are contrasted.