When Orson Welles wanted to test the waters of live TV he jumped into the deep end with this fascinating recreation of the Shakespearean classic. Trimmed down to a running time of under 80-minutes (host Alistair Cooke explains that all the unnecessary subplots have been cut out), Welles gives a compact, compelling performance that conquers the technical difficulties of 1953 TV (he never seems to know where the cameras are) to tear at our hearts. The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly Margaret Phillips and Beatrice Straight as his thankless daughters, Goneril and Regan.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Omnibus: King Lear
When Orson Welles wanted to test the waters of live TV he jumped into the deep end with this fascinating recreation of the Shakespearean classic. Trimmed down to a running time of under 80-minutes (host Alistair Cooke explains that all the unnecessary subplots have been cut out), Welles gives a compact, compelling performance that conquers the technical difficulties of 1953 TV (he never seems to know where the cameras are) to tear at our hearts. The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly Margaret Phillips and Beatrice Straight as his thankless daughters, Goneril and Regan.
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