"The BBC Television Shakespeare" Measure for Measure (TV Episode 1979)

Measure for Measure: Directed by Desmond Davis. With Kenneth Colley, Kate Nelligan, Tim Pigott-Smith, Christopher Strauli. When the Duke of Vienna takes a mysterious leave of absence and leaves the strict Angelo in charge, things couldn’t be worse for Claudio, who is sentenced to death for premarital sex. His sister, Isabella (a nun-in-training), however, is a very persuasive pleader. She goes to Angelo, but instead of freeing her brother, she gets an offer from Angelo to save Claudio’s life if Isabella sleeps with him. The only sympathetic friend Isabella has is a priest who, in actuality, is the Duke in disguise…and he has a plan.

“If you want to see a straight, rigorously faithful adaptation of this not often read or studied play, please watch this version. The play itself is one of the best kept secrets in the Shakespeare cannon. The costumes are colorful and interesting and the sets (though the budget was clearly not hugely substantial) really flesh out aspects of the play you typically miss when reading it. The acting is fine, particularly from Lucio, Pompey (the clown), and the Provost. I will admit that the actor who played the Duke could have put more emotion behind what he was saying, though he did a good job. As a side note, he played Admiral Piett in Star Wars Ep. V u0026amp; VI (I just thought that was interesting and funny). True this is a kind of no frills version, but, in my opinion, many of the modern u0026#39;adaptationsu0026#39; of Shakespeareu0026#39;s plays are weak because people of our age forget the unequivocally beautiful and startlingly profound language that Shakespeare abounded in. He truly offers metaphors that are profound and universal; if you wish to hear this powerful language spoken in a convincing and effective manner, please watch Measure for Measure.”