British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Macbeth

Synopsis
Television production of the play filmed at Hermitage Castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Maurice Evans and Judith Anderson are the Macbeths.
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
20 Nov 1960 at 18:00 (Channel: NBC)
Duration
80 mins

Credits

Director
George Schaefer
Producer
Phil C. Samuel
Cinematographer
Freddie Young
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Richard Addinsell
Costume
Beatrice Dawson
Art Direction
Edward Carrick
Cast
Maurice EvansMacbeth
Judith AndersonLady Macbeth
Ian BannenMacduff
Jeremy BrettMalcolm
Michael HordernBanquo
Anita Sharp BolsterWitch (2nd)
April OlrichWitch (2nd)
Barry WarrenDonalbain
Brewster MasonAngus
Charles CarsonCaithness
Douglas WilmerMurderer (2nd)
Felix AylmerDoctor of Physic
George RosePorter
Malcolm KeenKing Duncan
Megs JenkinsGentlewoman
Michael RipperMurderer (1st)
Robert Brown (2)Captain
Scott FinchFleance
Simon LackMenteith
Trader FaulknerSeyton
Valerie TaylorWitch (1st)
William HuttRoss

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Macbeth
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
Budget c$1 million; the Hallmark company paid nearly half the cost.
History
Conceived as a theatrical feature MACBETH had its premiere as an NBC broadcast in the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. The full-length version (108min) as opposed to the tv version (80 min) was released theatrically in the UK in 1961. The film had a limited theatrical release in the US October 1963.
Awards
1961 Director’s Guild of America winner - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television.
Reviews
Reviewed in Monthly Film Bulletin, Vol. 28, no. 329, May 1961 p. 76, the reviewer finding the film ‘safe, tame, respectable’ believing that Evans ‘never comes within striking distance of Macbeth’s ruined greatness’.

The Birmingham Shakespeare Library holds a release script.

Production Company

Name

Grand Prize Films

Sponsor

Name

Hallmark Cards

Archive

Name

UCLA Film & Television Archive

Email
arsc@ucla.edu
Web
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/access/databases.html External site opens in new window
Phone
(310) 206 5388
Fax
(310) 206 5392
Address
Individual Access
Archive Study and Research Center
46 Powell Library
302 East Melnitz
Los Angeles
CA90095-1323
USA

Record Stats

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