Macbeth [blu-ray] / Columbia Pictures presents a Playboy production of Roman Polanski's film ; screenplay by Roman Polanski & Kenneth Tynan ; produced by Andrew Braunsberg ; directed by Roman Polanski.
Originally released as a motion picture in 1971. Based on the play by William Shakespeare. Special features: New documentary about the making of the film, featuring interviews with director Roman Polanski, producer Andrew Braunsberg, assistant executive producer Victor Lownes, and stars Francesca Annis and Martin Shaw; Polanski meets Macbeth, a 1971 documentary by Frank Simon featuring rare footage of the film's cast and crew at work; theatrical trailers; An essay by critic Terrence Rafferty. Jon Finch (Macbeth), Francesca Annis (Lady Macbeth), Martin Shaw (Banquo), Terence Bayler (Macduff), John Stride (Ross), Nicholas Selby (Duncan), Stephan Chase (Malcolm), Paul Shelley (Donalbain).
Summary:
Roman Polanski imbues his unflinchingly violent adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy of ruthless ambition and murder in medieval Scotland with grit and dramatic intensity. Jon Finch and Francesca Annis star as a decorated warrior rising in the ranks and his driven wife, scheming together to take the throne by any means. In this story of murder, witchcraft, and revenge, Macbeth, driven by overwhelming ambition and an unscrupulous wife murders the King of Scotland and claims the throne for himself. He begins a violent reign of terror and execution in a desperate attempt to maintain his power. Haunted by ghosts and vexed by witches, he and his wife rapidly descend into the depths of madness and paranoia as the weight of their crimes proves their undoing.
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