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King Lear

  • Episode aired Feb 20, 1974
  • TV-G
  • 2h 55m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
145
YOUR RATING
King Lear (1971)
ComedyDramaMusicMusical

King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly fl... Read allKing Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remain... Read allKing Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his... Read all

  • Director
    • Edwin Sherin
  • Writer
    • William Shakespeare
  • Stars
    • Douglass Watson
    • Paul Sorvino
    • Raul Julia
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.6/10
    145
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edwin Sherin
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare
    • Stars
      • Douglass Watson
      • Paul Sorvino
      • Raul Julia
    • 7User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

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    Top cast33

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    Douglass Watson
    Douglass Watson
    • Kent
    Paul Sorvino
    Paul Sorvino
    • Gloucester
    Raul Julia
    Raul Julia
    • Edmund
    • (as Raúl Juliá)
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • King Lear
    Rosalind Cash
    Rosalind Cash
    • Goneril
    Lee Chamberlin
    Lee Chamberlin
    • Cordelia
    Ellen Holly
    • Regan
    Robert Stattel
    • Albany
    Robert Lanchester
    • Cornwall
    Lou Quinones
    • Burgundy
    • (as Louis Quinones)
    Jean-Pierre Stewart
    • France
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Edgar
    Frederick Coffin
    Frederick Coffin
    • Oswald
    Tom Aldredge
    Tom Aldredge
    • Fool
    George Dzundza
    George Dzundza
    • Gentleman
    John R. Tobinski
    • Curan
    James Harper
    James Harper
    • First servant to Cornwall
    • (as J.W. Harper)
    Anthony Chisholm
    Anthony Chisholm
    • Servant to Cornwall
    • Director
      • Edwin Sherin
    • Writer
      • William Shakespeare
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    8.6145
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    Featured reviews

    8brainmeatjuice

    A generally fine production

    Jones is good, it's true. He delivers a satisfactory performance in Acts I and I, but he really makes the role his own when he appears, his wits completely "turned," in Act IV Scene vi. I've seen many Lears who can spew curses and invoke the elements. Few can really pull off "Lear mad," and this, to me, is what makes Jones's performance special.

    Cordelia sucked.

    Regan sucked.

    Goneril was decent.

    Kent was decent, but Kent is an easy part.

    Albany was good.

    I thought Edmund was actually pretty convincing. His "astrology" in Act II Scene I was hilarious.

    Edgar. Hm. I think a lot of people are wowed by actors who do a lot of jumping around and shouting. It's true that his physical acting is impressive on stage, but it's not an interpretation of the role I agree with. I live in San Francisco, and I see homeless lunatics every day. That's not how they act. They just don't have the energy for all that jumping around. They're half-present, and they mumble as much as they shout. This Edgar followed a fairly standard interpretation, but for me, I doesn't work.

    Sorvino was excellent as Gloucester. He imbued the role with a touch of vulnerability that did so much. Gloucester's actions are rash and belligerent. But Sorvino makes his rashness believable, by showing his weakness and perhaps his own self doubt.

    I am always disappointed with film productions of Shakespeare, because they always de-emphasize or even cut out the best lines. In this case, they chopped out the messenger's speech in IV.iii, which is simply the Bard's best stuff, and they downplayed Gloucester's beautiful lines in IV.i, where he hires Poor Tom to lead him to his death. Shakespeare had a way of "hiding" the real poetry in the play. When he chose to really use his poetic talent, he would often put the poetry in the mouth of a slave, a messenger, or some unimportant character. Sadly, these lines are frequently lost or hurried through, and that is the case with this production.

    When I saw the cover, which shows Jones and a black Cordelia in bonds, I was afraid they were going to make _Lear_ into a race play, by having black actors play all the good characters and white actors play all the bad ones. Fortunately, they didn't stoop to that. There were plenty of black actors and white actors on both sides of the tragedy. It does make you wonder what the producers were going for. Cordelia is portrayed by a black actress. Goneril is definitely part black, but light-skinned, like Jones. Regan is played by a dark-complected but probably not black actress. Edmund has a darkish complexion. Presumably if the daughters were all white, it would color Lear's threat in II.iv differently:

    I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepulchring an adultress.
    ivan-22

    Beware of old age?

    I can never understand Shakespeare. What's he trying to say, if anything? That old age is a misfortune that ruins everyone's life? I can discern no other message in this pretentious jumble. They say the Bard is often quoted. The only thing in this play I've heard quoted is "more sinned against than sinning". Brilliant! Let's quote it again: "more sinned against than sinning"! Once more: "more sinned against than sinning". So good! Bob Hope has more quotable one-liners than the Bard, and I think Henny Youngman is wittier than Bob Hope. I will keep trying to give the Bard a chance to impress me, but this is reputed to be his greatest play.
    10brzeczyk

    Three words: James Earl Jones

    I have always *felt* that James Earl Jones is a great actor. Unfortunately, I've only seen him in a handful fairly unimpressive movies, I've also known his voice-over work. However, I always had a feeling that this actor is capable of much more than he normally has a chance to show. I have bought the DVD of this production of King Lear because of James Earl Jones although I was not entirely sure what to expect.

    Mr Jones' performance surpassed my bravest expectations! James Earl Jones is born for the role of King Lear! I get goosebumps when he delivers the monologues, like the one from Act II scene IV: "You think I'll weep. No, I'll not weep: I have full cause of weeping; but this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!" I have been watching this phenomenal performance for many times now and I can't get enough! I am so grateful that this unique New York open-air performance has been taped and released on DVD. Otherwise, one of the most impressive and moving theatrical performances given by an extremely gifted but underrated actor would get lost.

    B.
    timbasa77

    Viewable because of Jones.

    Not an altogether excellent production. Many cast members don't seem 100% suited to their character or particularly invested. The Fool just sort of spouts his lines, which is unfortunate because his character is so integral to the play's message, Raul Julia as Edmund seems bored with his character or striving too hard for deadpan, and the daughters are just bad across the board. But James Earl Jones' Lear is an absolute revelation. It's difficult to believe this is a live performance, because he hits every dramatic note so precisely and throws himself so recklessly into the role that you can scarcely believe it when he's able to do it again in the next scene. He gets totally lost in the character and when watching this performance we forget he is the vigorous, majestic, noble James Earl Jones and totally accept him as the belligerent, feeble, arrogant King Lear.
    10ruthmorrisson

    Man, was this good!

    Saw this years ago on TV. And to my mind James Earl Jones IS King Lear, bringing all the gravitas to the role it deserves. And I loved Rene Auberjonois and Raul Julia as well. So happy to see brzeczyk's review, saying that it was available on DVD because I would happily own a copy if I could find it. Guess I'm adding that to my Amazon wishlist now....

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    Music
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Paul Sorvino's TV debut.
    • Connections
      Features King Lear (2008)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 20, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • New York Shakespeare Festival
      • Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 55m(175 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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