The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: King Lear (1982)

The Two Michaels

I agree that this is a marvelous production of "Lear," especially given the rather somber approach to the sets that is characteristic of nearly all the BBC productions in this series. Robert Shaw was originally intended as the lead, and that would certainly have been interesting, but Michael Hordern was born to play this role, and he makes complete sense of Lear's descent into madness and consequent return to majesty. I am also fond of Michael Kitchen's Edmund. Here is an actor who is at turns charming and chilling, but always fascinating. Anyone who knows Kitchen only from his more recent work (such as "Foyle's War") will be surprised and surely pleased to see him take on this villainous role, perhaps second only to Iago in insouciant malignity. I also like the fool, whom I found somewhat off-putting at first; Miller's decision to place him behind Cordelia in the rejection scene speaks volumes about this character's later place in the play. All of the actors are perfection, but, to return to Michael Hordern--he of the bumbling delivery--here is an actor who picks up on every subtle nuance in the Bard's play. When he stumbles over words in this context, it is because they have come back to haunt him ("Nothing will come of nothing"!). The recognition scene with Cordelia is as moving as anything you're likely to see on film. I first saw this version when it aired on PBS in the early '80s; I have never forgotten it. Equally remarkable is Hordern's Prospero in the BBC production of "The Tempest," which features a divinely inhuman Warren Clarke as Caliban. Shakespeare's plays are too often muted and closeted in these televised plays, as if the director is afraid to distract from the beauty of the language (which, as Zeffirelli proved in "Romeo and Juliet," will shine through on its own), but a good cast, anchored by a commanding lead, can yield sublime results, as it clearly does here. April 27, 2008

Sterling performance

A sterling performance of King Lear, a lesser known gem but still a must see.
Michael Hordern delivers just the right balance in his role as King Lear, a proud once mighty king, yet capricious and haughty, degenerating into pathos and madness.
Gillian Barge and Penelope Wilton give an extra sinister dimension to the deliciously evil Goneril and Regan. Notweworthy is the evil and mocking laughter of Wilton's Regan after her husband the Duke of Cornwall (Julian Curry)has gouged out Earl of Gloucester's (Norman Rodway)eyes.

The plotting of Edmund (Michael Kitchen) adds an interesting dimension and Anton Lesser brillinatly portrays Edgar in his moments of madness and his tender concern for his father and Lear.
While John Shrapnel delivers a strong, loyal, and courageous Earl of Kent.

Dramatic scenes of madness and mayhem where King Lear is caught in the rain with Kent and his Fool (Frank Middlemass), and the cruel torture and blinding of the Earl of Gloucester as well as the tender moments of Lear's reunion with Cordelia (Brenda Blethyn).
The set and costuming is classic Shakespearian era.
February 14, 2008

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