The Tragedy of Macbeth - Roman Polanski

If you are going to watch one filmed version of Macbeth, and only one that uses the original language, and is adapted from the play - I think the Roman Polanski would be the best choice. There are other filmed stage presentations that might be better, and there are two adaptations that I know of that do not use the original language which are also very good. While this film does not always stay with the script, as some lines are skipped and others are re-arranged, it is probably the most true version. 

It is set in a specific time and place having been filmed in Wales and the North of England so the visual setting is stunning. Dark, and atmospheric once it gets indoors, but the exterior shots are great. Polanski said he made a point of setting it in the time the story would have taken place instead of the time the play was written. Because of that the natural setting looks very Scotland, moors, ocean, rain, hills...gorgeous. With that setting, he also made sure that it was violent and bloody as it would have been. Polanski doesn't shy away from showing violence, but it doesn't seem gratuitous like a Tarantino does. 

Sidebar - one strange aspect of this film is that it was Polanski's first film after his wife Sharon Tate was killed by the Manson Family. Some people did not understand why he showed so much violence (including a visual that, from tales told, is exactly how Tate was found), while some folks felt that he needed to do this to help him process the violence. 

Back to the film. It is an adaptation. Some of the lines are skipped, others are rearranged. For example, the first scene we meet Lady Macbeth is where she receives the letter telling her of the prophecy. In this version, she reads the last few lines about him becoming king at this point. However later towards the end, she reads the first portion of the letter. The film also opens with the three weird sisters digging and burying something in the sand - which to me implies that they are putting a curse on Macbeth which leads toward the body of the film. As stated, being that the film is set in the timeframe of the story - there are some scenes that trouble me. There is a bear, and they show bits of bear baiting. Later on they are dragging the bear and some dead dogs down a corridor. They look quite realistic and due to the time the film was made, and the place - I'm not sure if this was handled humanely. I know that there are stories of Polanski wanting a live bear, and getting one tranquilized a bit so that they could film it. Then there are stories of Polanski putting an actor into a bear costume for some of the dog attack moments.

The setting of the castle is really the perfect location. It is up on a hill, looking out over everything and is quite impressive. All the interiors of the castle were done in studio, but the exteriors were on location. As stated previously, the exteriors are stunning and exactly what you would expect from a wild Northern Scotland. The interiors are all stone, wood, covered in hay and are quite nice. They are filmed in a dark 70's way, with muted colors. The acting is very good, though most of the actors were unknown at the time - or at least are not as well known now. Most of the monologues are done in voice over which works well. The film was produced by Hugh Hefner and Playboy. This may be a small reason, along with the larger historical reason that people slept in the nude, that the sleepwalking scene is done in the nude. Though I often find that even with the historical research backing up that choice, there is rarely any male nudity in films from this time period. The second witch scene, with all the apparitions, is also done with a large group of older nude women - gathering around the cauldron. This is another example of Macbeth being drugged by the contents of the cauldron, and the way the apparitions are done is really amazing visually. And the ending...

Overall, this is a great film adaptation of the play. I watched the Criterion Collection edition (spine 726), which has some good special features, as well as a digitally restored film. If you were to watch one filmed adaptation, I think this would be the one to watch.