King Lear (1971)
Directed by Peter Brook
Genres - Drama | Sub-Genres - Tragedy | Release Date - Feb 4, 1971 (USA - Unknown) | Run Time - 136 min. | Countries - Denmark |Share on
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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Themes
Keywords
banishment, daughter, king, kingdom, monarch, political-unrest, ruler, retirement