King Lear (1974) - DaaVeeDee

King Lear (1974) (DVD) (*)

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Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
180 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
2-DVD Set
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1974 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Edwin Sherin

Written By:
William Shakespeare

Actors:
Douglass Watson ..... Kent
Paul Sorvino ..... Gloucester
Raul Julia ..... Edmund (as Raúl Juliá)
James Earl Jones ..... King Lear
Rosalind Cash ..... Goneril
Lee Chamberlin ..... Cordelia
Ellen Holly ..... Regan
Robert Stattel ..... Albany
Robert Lanchester ..... Cornwall
Lou Quinones ..... Burgundy (as Louis Quinones)
Jean-Pierre Stewart ..... France
Rene Auberjonois ..... Edgar
Frederick Coffin ..... Oswald
Tom Aldredge ..... Fool
George Dzundza ..... Gentleman
John R. Tobinski ..... Curan
James Harper ..... First servant to Cornwall (as J.W. Harper)
Anthony Chisholm ..... Servant to Cornwall
Franklyn Seales ..... Servant to Cornwall (as Frank Seales)
Charles Pegues ..... Old man
Redvers Jeanmarie ..... Messenger
William Hart ..... Doctor
Gregory Mosher ..... Messenger
Frankie Faison ..... Captain
George Addison ..... Herald
James West III ..... Gentleman
Jose Machado ..... Attendant
Simpson Markson ..... Attendant
Kevin Maung ..... Attendant
John Salat ..... Attendant (as John W. Salat)

Synopsis:

Brilliant performances from an amazing cast highlight this piece of modern theater history. James Earl Jones stars as Lear in this digitally remastered recording of a live performance in the park. (If you've ever wished you could see one of Joseph Papp's legendary New York Shakespeare Festival productions, this is your chance.) The crowd reactions add a layer to the play by helping to bring the excellent production to life. The direction is vibrant, keeping both a reverence for Shakespeare's work and the importance of entertaining a crowd in mind. The astonishing supporting cast includes Rosalind Cash, Paul Sorvino, Rene Auberjonois, and Raul Julia, and a remarkable performance by Douglass Watson as Kent.

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 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 power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 10 November, 2011.