British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Life and Death of King John, The

Alternative title
The Shakespeare Plays
Synopsis
A BBC television production with Leonard Rossiter in the title role.
Series
BBC Television Shakespeare
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
1 Feb 1984
Transmission details
24 Nov 1984 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
157 mins

Credits

Director
David Giles
Producer
Shaun Sutton
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Colin Sell
Costume
Juanita Waterson
Art Direction
Chris Pemsel
Cast
Leonard RossiterKing John
George CostiganPhilip the Bastard
Claire BloomLady Constance
John ThawHubert
Luc OwenArthur, Duke of Brittaine
Carl OatleyEnglish Herald (Herald)
Charles KayKing Philip of France
Clifford ParrishCitizen of Angers
Edward HibbertRobert Faulconbridge
Gorden KayeLimoges, Duke of Austria
Ian BarrittFrench Herald (Herald)
Janet MawBlanche
John CastleEarl of Salisbury
John FlintLord Bigot
John MorenoMelun
Jonathan CoyLouis the Dauphin
Mary MorrisQueen Eleanor
Mike LewinJames Gurney
Phyllida LawLady Faulconbridge
Richard WordsworthCardinal Pandulph
Robert Brown (2)Earl of Pembroke
William WhymperChâtillon

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Historical period
Medieval
Plays
King John
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
drama in English; performances; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items
King John
Life and Death of King John, The

Notes

Notes
The production is commercially available on DVD as part of the BBC TV SHAKESPEARE COLLECTION box set (see separate entry).
Selected video clips of the production may be viewed at the British Film Institute "Screenonline" website. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/527770/index.html
General
Leonard Rossiter (King John) made his last recorded performance in this film: he died shortly before it was broadcast.
History
This production was part of the seventh season (producer: Shaun Sutton). Recording took a week.
Textual information
Between 1978 and 1986 the BBC published individual scripts of the series. Each volume of The BBC TV Shakespeare, ed. Peter Alexander et al. (London: British Broadcasting Corporation) contains the full text of the play (the Peter Alexander edition) with accompanying notes on the scene breaks and cuts made in the production, as well as a glossary. A general introduction to the play by series literary advisor John Wilders is followed by an essay on the production of the play by Henry Fenwick. This is based on interviews with actors, directors, and designers.
Reviews
Susan Willis, The BBC Shakespeare Plays: Making the Televised Canon (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1991).

Online Availability

Online URL
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/527770/index.html

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Name

Time-Life Films Inc

Phone
0101 201 843 4545
Address
PO Box 644
NJ 07652
USA

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets

Online Retailer

Name

Moviemail

Web
https://www.simplyhe.com/3000-moviemail External site opens in new window
Phone
0844 848 2000
Address
Simply Home Entertainment
PO Box 7741
Ringwood
BH24 9FA
UK
Notes
As of December 2016 the Moviemail web presence is incorporated within the Simply Media website

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 3230 times.