"A Performance of Macbeth" (1979)

Conception (and sometimes version attributed to) Trevor Nunn
Director:  Philip Casson [The Royal Shakespeare Company Production]
Starring Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench


Performed with no set, dark/minimal lighting, minimal props, and in current/modern dress of the day (when it was filmed).  Even the costumes used are limited to the spectrum of white to black.  Almost done as theater-in-the-round.  Almost.

It is a performance that focuses on the acting of the lines, on the actor, as opposed to a grand staging of the story.  It strips the story to the core of the story itself--the words, and with this ensemble engages a group as a story teller of old would sit around the proverbial fire and spin a yarn to capture the ears of the listeners solely on the words of the story, the story itself, and the art of the storytelling.

This version captures well the growing crazy, increasing guilt, the change in character, and the change in relationship especially to each other of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  This Macbeth is played as truly gone mad (crazy).

This Macduff seems to despair more for his country.
Cut from the production:  The scene at the end where Siward hears of his son's death.