Macbeth 1971

Jon Finch and Martin Shaw in Macbeth (1971)

Scene 6 Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle and Lady Macbeth very eagerly welcomes them despite her plans

Jon Finch Polanski's Macbeth

On set for Roman Polanki's The Tragedy of Macbeth. 1971.

"Besides, this Duncan, Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off;" (1.7.16-20). Macbeth is stating that Duncan is a loyal king and does not deserve to die. Duncan has not done anything wrong and Macbeth is unsure if he should kill Duncan or not. This picture is right before Macbeth kills Duncan and it looks like he is still unsure about killing him.

Jon Finch, Francesca Annis and Terence Bayler in Polanski's Macbeth. 1971

Roman Polanski imbues his unflinchingly violent adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy of ruthless ambition and murder in medieval Scotland with grit and dramatic intensity. Jon Finch and Francesca Annis give performances charged with fury and sex appeal as a decorated warrior rising through the ranks and his driven wife, scheming together to take the throne by any means. Coadapted by Polanski and the great theater critic and dramaturge Kenneth Tynan, and shot against a series of…

Macbeth has been done many times on stage, and many times on the silver screen. Polanski's 1971 Macbeth movie broke the mold when it first came out in term of

Francesca Annis. Macbeth 1971

And then there are those times, in our darkest moments, when we seek narrative to give meaning and purpose to our lives. Understandable, therefore, that some film critics assumed hidden significance in Roman Polanski's decision to film The Tragedy of Macbeth after the senseless murder of his wife Sharon Tate...