The Merchant of Venice

Summary

1974 Associated Television’s presentation of the National Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, set in the 19th century.

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 10 February 1974

Time

9.45pm

Channel

ITV

Production company

Associated Television (ATV, 1955-1982)

Credits

Director

John Sichel

Producer

Cecil Clarke

Theatre Director

Jonathan Miller

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Composer

Carl Davis

Designer

Tony Abbott

Art Director

Julia Trevelyan Oman

Costumes

Beatrice Dawson

Costumes

Keith Sproul

Cast

Michael Tudor Barnes	Solanio
James Barry	Salerio
Jeremy Brett	Bassanio
Anna Carteret	Nerissa
Stephen Greif	Prince of Morocco
Alan Helm	Jailer
Michael Jayston	Gratiano
John Joyce	Balthazar
Charles Kay	Prince of Arragon
Denis Lawson	Launcelot Gobbo
Kenneth Mackintosh	Tubal
Anthony Nicholls	Antonio
Laurence Olivier	Shylock
Joan Plowright	Portia
Malcolm Reid	Lorenzo
Peter Rocca	Stephano
Benjamin Whitrow	Duke of Venice

Additional details

Notes

The full cast and credits for this production (not listed in the TV Times) are taken from the BUFVC Shakespeare database.

Print sources

Title

BUFVC Shakespeare database: Merchant of Venice, The (Website: database)

Reference

http://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/13923 (accessed 21 July 2015)

Title

TV Times, 7 February 1974 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, p. 25; listing, p.