{"id":80395,"date":"2022-01-17T11:15:04","date_gmt":"2022-01-17T18:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80395"},"modified":"2022-01-17T11:46:49","modified_gmt":"2022-01-17T18:46:49","slug":"macbeth-1948","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80395","title":{"rendered":"Macbeth (1948)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Your face, my lord, is as a book where men may read strange matters.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster-210x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster-210x300.png 210w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster-716x1024.png 716w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster-89x128.png 89w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster-768x1099.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster-189x270.png 189w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Poster.png 771w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a trio of witches prophesize that an 11th century <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dictionary.com\/browse\/thane\">thane<\/a> named Macbeth (Orson Welles) will become king of Scotland, Macbeth &#8212; with support from his ambitious wife (Jeanette Nolan) &#8212; murders the king and takes over the crown, but the couple is soon consumed with paranoia over their newfound power.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Orson Welles Films <\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<li>Plot to Murder<\/li>\n<li>Roddy McDowell Films<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Shakespeare<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;dark, stylized adaptation of Shakespeare by Orson Welles&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;filmed on &#8216;B&#8217; western sets at Republic Studios&#8221; &#8212; features &#8220;surrealistic and expressionistic flourishes,&#8221; and &#8220;can easily be seen as a visualization of Macbeth&#8217;s worst nightmare.&#8221; The fact that &#8220;Welles alters Shakespeare&#8217;s concept of the three witches and has them prophesy Macbeth&#8217;s initial success and ultimate downfall:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Witches-Holding.png 1243w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; confirms that Welles wanted his Macbeth to be as out of control of his destiny as he&#8217;d be if he were in a dream.&#8221; Peary argues that while the &#8220;picture gets off to a marvelous start,&#8221; Welles &#8220;cannot sustain the early power,&#8221; and &#8220;for some reason, listening to the speeches becomes difficult.&#8221; (He adds, &#8220;I think it would have worked much better as a silent film.&#8221;) However, while he believes &#8220;this is not a great Welles film, it does allow him to play the mammoth personality from whom many of his other characterizations developed&#8221; &#8212;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8-360x270.png 360w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Welles8.png 1241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; &#8220;a man of conceit who achieves a lofty position, tremendous power, and (historical) significance by relinquishing his idealism and morality and committing &#8216;crimes&#8217; (for which he feels guilt) against humanity.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Perhaps inevitably, Welles&#8217; adaptation was roundly criticized upon its release, for myriad reasons &#8212; ranging from the attempted Scottish accents of his cast (which were dubbed in response, then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellesnet.com\/uclas-robert-gitt-on-the-restoration-of-macbeth\/\">restored again in 1980<\/a>), to the low-budget, intentionally stylized sets and costumes, to the many shifts and cuts made to the original play itself. These days, however, it stands out as a typically ambitious outing by Welles, who made good use of limited shooting days and funding, and infused his film with atmospheric dread throughout: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo-1024x764.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo-1024x764.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Banquo.png 1245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While it&#8217;s almost certainly not the &#8220;best&#8221; or most &#8220;authentic&#8221; <em>Macbeth<\/em> adaptation out there (I have yet to revisit Polanski&#8217;s 1971 version), I think film fanatics will appreciate seeing this iteration by one of America&#8217;s most innovative auteurs. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Look for Roddy McDowall as Malcolm:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers-1024x757.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers-1024x757.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers-768x568.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Soldiers.png 1257w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Dan O&#8217;Herlihy (of <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1249\"><em>Robinson Crusoe<\/em><\/a> fame) as Macduff:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3-1024x770.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3-1024x770.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-OHerlihy3.png 1243w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Welles&#8217; daughter Christopher as Macduff&#8217;s son: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-1024x766.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-1024x766.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets.png 1253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>John L. Russell&#8217;s atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Crown.png 1255w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Effectively stylized sets and costumes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes-1024x756.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes-1024x756.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Sets-Costumes.png 1269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jeanette Nolan as Lady Macbeth<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Macbeth-Still6.png 1251w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a fine low-budget adaptation by a master director. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0040558\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/82236\/macbeth#articles-reviews?articleId=191917\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=4583&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1950\/12\/28\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-orson-welles-interpretation-of-shakespeares.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3971macb.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Your face, my lord, is as a book where men may read strange matters.&#8221; Synopsis: When a trio of witches prophesize that an 11th century thane named Macbeth (Orson Welles) will become king of Scotland, Macbeth &#8212; with support from his ambitious wife (Jeanette Nolan) &#8212; murders the king and takes over the crown, but the couple is soon consumed with paranoia over their newfound power. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Orson Welles Films Play Adaptation Plot to Murder Roddy&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80395\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80395"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80423,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80395\/revisions\/80423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}