King Lear (1984 film)

Infobox_Film
name = King Lear


caption =
imdb_id = 0087561
amg_id =
director = Michael Elliott
writer = Play:
William Shakespeare
starring = Laurence Olivier
producer = David Plowright
music = Gordon Crosse
editing = D.L. Heyes
Ron Swain
distributor = Granada Television
released = 3 April 1983, GB,
26 January 1984, US| runtime = 158 min.
language = English
followed_by =

"King Lear" is a 1983 videotaped production that was directed by Michael Elliott. It is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name. It was shown on British television in 1983 and in the U.S. in 1984.

Elliott set his "Lear" in a Stonehenge-like environment, although no location filming was used. The somewhat out-of-focus effect that one sees at certain moments is because mist pervades the setting in several scenes.

Laurence Olivier played Lear in this production to great acclaim, winning an Emmy for his performance. It was the last of Olivier's appearances in a Shakespeare play. At 75, he was one of the oldest actors to take on this enormously demanding role. (He had previously played it in 1946 at the Old Vic, without much success.)

A notable cast was assembled for this production, including, in addition to Olivier, John Hurt, Diana Rigg, Leo McKern, Dorothy Tutin, Anna Calder-Marshall, and Colin Blakely. It was telecast in syndication in the United States, and is available on DVD.