King Lear (1998)

Synopsis: Masterpiece Theatre presents this adaptation of one of Shakespeare's greatest tradgedies, KING LEAR. Ian Holm, in the performance of a lifetime, stars as Lear, the king who, near the end of his... Masterpiece Theatre presents this adaptation of one of Shakespeare's greatest tradgedies, KING LEAR. Ian Holm, in the performance of a lifetime, stars as Lear, the king who, near the end of his life, begins to become psychologically unraveled, a process aided by the scheming of two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan. Thankfully, this Royal National Theatre production preserves both the often omitted character of the fool, Lear's shadow, and the parallel plot of Gloucester and his two sons, Edmund and Edgar. Dark, pessimistic, poetic, and intensely moving, KING LEAR has always been one of Shakespeare's most thrilling and emotionally intense plays, but, unfortunately, has never been produced appropriately on either television or film. Thankfully, Masterpiece Theatre has preserved a Lear for the ages that not only offers a slew of great performances, but an original staging of the action that reaches its apex with the powerful and unsettling storm scene (Act III, Scene IV) that, once seen, is not easily forgotten. [More]

Starring: Ian Holm, Barbara Flynn, Amanda Redman, Timothy West

Starring: Ian Holm, Barbara Flynn, Amanda Redman, Timothy West, Paul Rhys, Victoria Hamilton

Director: Richard Eyre

Director: Richard Eyre
Producer: Sue Birtwistle

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