From my favorite movies..

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Macbeth (1948) *** (out of 4)Macbeth (Orson Welles) is told by three witches that he will rise to become the King of Scotland. His wife Lady Macbeth (Jeanette Nolan) talks him into killing the King to gain control.It should come as no shocked that Orson Welles' MACBETH hit theaters to a loud crash meaning that it was a a flop at the box office. The film was re-edited and re-dubbed when it debuted in America but thankfully the complete 107-minute print turned up and is now available for viewing. With that said, this certainly isn't my favorite Welles film and it's certainly not one of the best Shakespeare adaptations out there but at the same time the director did very well considering what he had to work with.You can tell that there really wasn't much of a budget but that doesn't prevent Welles for turning in a beautiful looking film. There are some terrific shots to be found here but what I enjoyed the most was the atmosphere that the director created. There's some very dark scenes and some fog that really packs a nice punch throughout the picture. It also helps that you've got a great cast turning in great performances. Of course, the star is Welles and he manages to work some true magic in the role of Macbeth.I wouldn't call the film great because there really wasn't much momentum anywhere in the picture. I'd say that the film is a bit too stagy at times and I'd argue that a tad bit more energy would have helped things. Still, if you're a fan of Welles then this is certainly a must see.

I keep reading about the shoestring that this movie was made on. Orson Welles is a cryptic figure and director. We all know the story of the Thane of Cawdor who listens to some witches, who predict he will be king. Of course, his decisions after that direct his life and affect the lives of others. Lady Macbeth is instrumental in his decision making (she introduces peer pressure into Shakespeare), and when he kills the current King, there is no going back. Welles, himself, has that dark quality about him. His piercing eyes glare at his opponents. Of course, after the death of Banquo, he begins to exhibit some odd, suspicious behavior. There are so many Macbeth's to choose from (I've always liked the Polanski), but as a curiosity, this is worth the effort, even though it drags at times and there's the brogue.

Orson Welles plays and directs splendidly the story about the tragic king who receives a mysterious prophecy from a trio of witches . Shakespeare's classic tragedy is interpreted with celebrated lead performances , being today highly regarded in English-speaking countries . This Macbeth (1948) was magnificently acted , directed by Orson Welles with great cast as Jeanette Nolan , Dan O'Herlihy , Roddy McDowall , Robert Coote , John Dierkes , among others , all of them speaking with authentic Scot accents . This is a low-budgeted retelling with cheap sets , a three-week shooting schedule and an attempt at Scottish accent . Macbeth (Welles) , the Thane of Glamis , and his underling Banquo (Edgar Barrier) have put down a rebellion and are to be rewarded by their overlord , King Duncan (Sanford) . On their way to their castle they meet three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will soon rule , but his kingdom will be short . They are dismissed as crazies but their prophesies come to pass . Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his astute spouse , his equally murderous woman (film debut of Jeanette Nolan) , Lady Macbeth (she is often referred to as "Lady M") , intriguing Macbeth subsequently murders his king and takes the throne for himself . The young Scots nobleman lusting for power , driven onward by crazed Lady and prophecies , all of them lead him to disasters , deaths and destructions . Notorious as well as low-budgeted -about 700.000 dollars- moody adaptation of the Shakespearean classic marked by unflinching happenings , expressionist production design and fatalistic atmosphere . Great example of movie adaptation , thanks to portentous interpretations , intense as well as tragic drama and magnificent filmmaking . A highly stylized and surrealistic approach Orson Welles took to the play . Interesting movie-making within a time frame of 3 weeks , filmed according to a screenplay by Welles . Shot entirely on strange interiors , as the inexpensive bizarre sets were designed by Orson Welles and Dan O'Herlihy , that deliberately emphasize its theatricality . A magnificent recounting of Shakespeare's Macbeth in which all the fire , doom , vengeance and ambition of his text come brilliantly to life . Although Shakespeare's Macbeth has little to do with Macbeth , the King , the real Macbeth was one of Scotland's better kings . Very well made film that contains stunning fight scenes , lots of mood , grisly killings , fine acting , breathtaking battles and being compellingly set in a barbaric society . Realized in cold and thought-provoking style that it bears remarkable resemblance to the Shakespearean original . However , some aspects differ from the original source material . This gripping and fabulous movie is an incredibly detailed vision in its own right . Main cast offers awesome performance and everybody speaks with a Scottish accent . Orson Welles gives a top-drawer acting as a demonic leader receives a prophecy from a trio of women that foretell one day he will become King of Scotland , being driven to self-destruction . Extraordinary support cast , such as Edgar Barrier as Banquo , Dan O'Herlihy as Macduff , Alan Napier as Holy Father , John Dierkes and Roddy MacDowall , who was already a veteran film player , as Malcolm , though he is out of his element . Gloomy as well as evocative cinematography , though very dark and plenty of lights and shades . This grim but compelling motion picture was well directed by Orson Welles who brought the Bard to Republic Pictures and Mercury Theatre , being filmed in 23 days on a very low budget . Although the film was a critical and commercial disaster in both the USA and England, it was a huge success in many non-English speaking countries, especially France, where critics could not understand how the American and British press failed to appreciate it . Most revival , remastering , and new editions now show Orson Welles's original version which runs 105 minutes and it has the cast playing in Scot language . ¨Macbeth¨ (1948) results to be , in fact , the classic rendition , being a followed by worthy continuations based upon Shakespearean classic play , these are the followings : Macbeth (1976) with Eric Porter , Janet Suzman ; Macbeth (1990) with Michael Jayston , Leigh Hunt , being produced as part of HBO's Thames collection ; Macbeth (1971) by Roman Polanski with John Finch , Francesca Annis , Martin Shaw , being first movie made by ¨Playboy Enterprises¨ , commissioned and underwritten by its President , publisher Hugh Hephner , it was torn apart by critics and originally rated X ; this storytelling is not for everyone and it packs some images that make it objectionable for kiddies or squeamish adults . Furthermore , a Japanese adaptation : Throne of Blood (1957) by Akira Kurosawa with Toshiro Mifune , Yamada , Shimura , this is Kurosawa's masterful rendition that transports the story to medieval Japan and the world of the samurai . And recent version (2015) with Michael Fassbender , Marion Cotillard , Sean Harris , Paddy Considine , David Thewlis , among others .

This 1948 Republic Production polarizes viewers but pleases theater and Shakespeare purists it seems. An almost direct visual transfer from a nightmarish muddy staged play, Republic's Orson Welles' MACBETH has been soundly criticized as a 'movie' but applauded as a 'film'. The whole film is like a nightmare sequence from another film, except here it runs 107 minutes and is the the entire look of the movie. If you have seen the fantasy horror of the Salvador Dali sequence from SPELLBOUND, then you might be prepared for the spiky dark landscape of MACBETH with Welles a dark knight/king haunting its wet cold pits and crags. Like a grimy silent movie from the Russian film studios of the 20s or as one critic said "a riot in a coal mine" MACBETH according to the stark icy black desert presents the viewer with an unrelenting grim mad world of fog witches and vicious tone. It is a nightmare for sure but a stark solid one which will either grab you because of its sparseness or repel you for the same reason. Theatre lovers will get it and those seeking a bit of Errol Flynn style derring doo will run.... Its reputation has grown over the years, and I do believe rightly so.