On TCM March 2008
Rejoice! Uncut and Letterbox!
http://www.tcm.com/schedule/month/?cid=N&timezone=EST&oid=3/1/2008
I've never gotten to see this, but I hear it's one of the best versions. Also showing Welles' MACBETH the same night. I love TCM!
Saw it. Scofield was wonderful. The movie however from the standpoint of communicating to the audience is chaotic and is often very hard to follow.
For a movie based on the Shakespeare story which is much superior as a film, I recommend the Japanese interpretation, Ran.
it's just in my humble opinion - imho -
Absolutely. Scofield is fantastic. (I'm going to have to check out more of his work. He was the best thing in Gibson's Hamlet as The Ghost, and I remember being impressed with him in Henry V, but that's all I've seen.)
The film certainly assumes that the viewer is familiar with the play, doesn't it? I really would have liked to see more of the text in the film, but that's my usual complaint. The film has definitely earned its reputation as the bleakest Lear!
I really like Ran, too. It really keeps the sprit of the play even without the language. The DVD I find myself watching the most is the James Earl Jones production from 1974. I wish there were more productions taped in front of audiences. I think it really inspires the actors.