King Lear

King Lear (1971)

Genres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Tragedy  |   Release Date - Feb 4, 1971 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 137 min.  |   Countries - Denmark, United Kingdom  |   MPAA Rating - PG
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

In director Peter Brook's King Lear, Paul Scofield portrays the title character, a senile old ruler, whose susceptibility to flattery proves his undoing. The premise involves Lear's ill-fated attempts to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters -- a goal that ultimately leads to tragedy. The stark terrain of Denmark stands in for England in this version, adding a brooding visual texture to the picture that exists alongside the traditional Shakespearean dialogue. Lear's daughters are played by Irene Worth (Goneril), Susan Engel (Regan), and Anne-Lise Gabold (Cordelia); others in the cast are Alan Webb (Gloucester), Cyril Cusack (Albany), Patrick Magee (Cornwall), and Jack MacGowran (the Fool). Younger viewers and those faint at heart be warned: King Lear is one of Shakespeare's most graphically violent works, and director Brook takes every opportunity to emphasize the carnage and gore.

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Keywords

banishment, daughter, king, kingdom, monarch, political-unrest, ruler, retirement