The Merchant of Venice

Summary

1972 BBC production of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, in the Play of the Month series.

Theatre play

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare [more information]

Play synopsis

'Antonio, the merchant of Venice, lends three thousand ducats to his friend Bassanio in order to assist him in his wooing of the wealthy and beautiful Portia of Belmont, an estate some distance from Venice. But Antonio’s own money is tied up in business ventures that depend on the safe return of his ships from sea, so he borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender whom he has previously insulted for his high rates of interest. Shylock lends the money against a bond whereby failure to repay the loan on the agreed date will entitle Shylock to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Portia’s father has decreed that she will marry whichever suitor makes the correct choice when presented with three caskets, made of gold, silver and lead. Where wealthy suitors from Morocco and Aragon fail, Bassanio succeeds by choosing lead. His friend Gratiano marries Portia’s lady-in-waiting Nerissa at the same time. News arrives that Antonio’s ships have been lost; he is unable to pay his debt. Shylock’s claim to his pound of flesh is heard in the law court before the duke. Unknown to their husbands, Portia disguises herself as a young male lawyer acting on behalf of Antonio, Nerissa as a clerk. Portia’s ingenious defence is that Shylock is entitled to his pound of flesh but not to spill any of Antonio’s blood; she argues that the Jew should forfeit his life for having conspired against the life of a Venetian. The duke pardons Shylock on condition that he gives half his wealth to Antonio and half to the state. Antonio surrenders his claim on condition that Shylock converts to Christianity and leaves his property to his daughter Jessica, whom he has disinherited for running away with her Christian lover Lorenzo. Portia and Nerissa then assert their power over Bassanio and Gratiano by means of a trick involving rings that the men have promised never to part with. Finally there is good news about Antonio’s ships.' (Source: http://www.rscshakespeare.co.uk/merchantofVenice.html.)

Production history

First performed around 1600.

Date of transmission

Sunday 16 April 1972

Time

8.15-10.35pm

Series

Play of the Month

Channel

BBC1

Production company

BBC

Credits

Director

Cedric Messina

Producer

Gerald Savory (1909-1996)

Lighting

Robert Wright

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Musical Arrangements by

Anthony Rooley

Musical Arrangements by

James Tyler

Musical Direction

Anthony Rooley

Musical Direction

James Tyler

Singer

Martyn Hill (soloist)

Designer

Tony Abbott

Costume Designer

Juanita Waterson

Script Editor

Rosemary Hill

Cast

Frank Finlay	Shylock
Christopher Gable	Bassanio
Clive Graham	Salerio
Charles Gray	Antonio
Robert Harris	The Duke of Venice
John Hug	Leonardo
Nerys Hughes	Nerissa
Rolf Lefebvre	Balthazar
Charles Leno	Tubal
Ania Marson	Jessica
Bunny May	Launcelot Gobbo
John Moffat	The Prince of Arragon
Richard Morant	Solanio
Ken Parry	Old Gobbo
Edward Petherbridge	Lorenzo
Maggie Smith	Portia
David Spenser	The Prince of Morocco
Malcolm Stoddard	Gratiano
Alan Tucker	Stephano

Additional details

Vision original

Colour

Audiovisual sources

Title

The Merchant of Venice (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, 13 April 1972 (Magazine)

Linking notes

cover image (of actor Maggie Smith, who played Portia; listing, p. 24; article, pp. 56-58