Today, we’ll jump into Macbeth.Following the comeback success of The Stranger (1946), Orson Welles set his sights on one of his most ambitious projects. Welles had previously encountered William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth when he directed an all-black version of the play called Voodoo Macbeth for the Federal Theatre Project in New York City in 1936. Flashforward a decade later, Welles got the blessing of Republic Pictures head Herbert J. Yates to bring the Bard’s tale of treachery and deceit in the Scottish Highlands to cinematic life. Previously released on Blu-ray by Olive Films, Kino has licensed the movie from Paramount Pictures (the current rights holder) for its return to Blu-ray.
The Production: 4.5/5
In Scotland during the Middle Ages, Macbeth (Orson Welles) – the Thane of Glamis – is greeted by three witches who proclaim him to be the future King of Scotland. Though dismissive at first, Macbeth starts to believe in the prophecy when he is proclaimed the Thane of Cawdor after a battle; spurred on by wife Lady Macbeth (Jeanette Nolan), Macbeth murders Duncan (Erskine Sanford) – the current King of Scotland – to claim the throne for himself. As he begins to assert himself on Scotland’s throne, the three witches appear again with one more prophecy: one that foretells the end of Macbeth himself!
One of the best adaptations of the Shakespeare play, Orson Welles’ rendition of Macbeth is chock full of atmosphere and character. For this adaptation, Welles made some alterations to the text (some out of necessity to avoid issues with the Production Code) while presenting the soliloquies in an internal narration – something that Roman Polanski would also do in his 1971 film adaptation – to present that characters’ inner state of mind; the decision to have the dialogue spoken in authentic Scottish burrs also adds texture and flavor to the proceedings as well. While the set design is intentionally theatrical by design, the German Expressionistic themed and inspired art direction by Fred Ritter is a striking visual component of this film version, along with John L. Russell’s shadowy and moody cinematography; amazingly – according to IMDB – both Welles and co-star Dan O’Herlihy (in his first American film) assisted in the film’s set design! Best of all, Welles gets spirited performances from the cast to bring the Bard’s tragedy to vivid life. There’s not much to complain about here, except for the fact that for many years the film existed in its truncated 1950 re-release version, which removed the Scottish accents and reordered certain scenes while adding an opening narration from Welles; that version is presented here alongside the original 1948 version, which was restored in 1980 and presented here with the original overture and exit music bookending the film. In the end, Macbeth represents one of the most visually amazing adaptations of Shakespeare’s works and the first time – but not the last – Orson Welles would turn to the Bard for cinematic storytelling.
Welles is the main draw here with his commanding performance as Macbeth, but it would be remiss to not mention the contributions of his supporting cast. Making her film debut here, Jeanette Nolan makes a very fiercely determined Lady Macbeth; later in her career she would be one of the actresses who provided the voice for Norman Bates’ mother in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). Making his American film debut here after attracting notice for making his overall film debut in Carol Reed’s Odd Man Out (1947), Dan O’Herlihy casts a memorable impression as Macduff, who emerges as Macbeth’s main antagonist; later, he would be nominated for his only Oscar for playing the titular character in The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1954), cast after director Luis Buñuel saw O’Herlihy in this film. In one of his first adult roles, former child actor Roddy McDowall has one of his best roles here as Malcolm, the son of the rightful king Malcolm; later, McDowall narrowly missed getting his only Oscar nomination for playing Octavius in the epic Cleopatra (1963), due to his candidacy erroneously being filed under the Best Actor category instead of the Best Supporting Actor category. Completing the cast here are Edgar Barrier as Banquo, Alan Napier as a Holy Father (a role created for this version), Erskine Sanford as the ill-fated Duncan, John Dierkes as Ross, Jerry Farber as Banquo’s son Fleance, Brainerd Duffield, Lurene Tuttle and Peggy Webber as the three witches (they also played – respectively – the first murderer, a gentlewoman and Lady Macduff), William Alland as a second murderer (he was also the film’s dialogue director), Gus Schilling as the porter, an uncredited Harry Wilson as one of the guests at the banquet and Christopher Welles (Orson’s daughter) in her only film appearance as Macduff’s son.
Video: 4/5
3D Rating: NA
Both the original 119-minute release version (complete with overture and exit music as well as the original Scottish accents) and the 85-minute 1950 re-release version are presented in their original 1:37:1 aspect ratios, taken from HD transfers created in 2022 by Paramount Pictures from 4K scans. Both versions exhibit a faithful presentation of film grain, gray scale and fine details with minor cases of scratches, tears and dirt present; there are some cases of damage in a few scenes, particularly ones in the original version, but nothing that would be considered too distracting. Overall, this release is likely the best both versions of the movie will ever look on home video and surpasses the previous Olive Signature Blu-ray release.
Audio: 5/5
The original mono soundtrack for both versions of the film are presented on DTS-HD Master Audio tracks for this release. Dialogue, sound mix and Jacques Ibert’s music score are presented faithfully with minimal cases of distortion like crackling, popping, clicking and hissing on both tracks for both versions of the film. Overall, this release is likely the best the movie will ever sound on home video and bests the previous Olive Signature Blu-ray.
Special Features: 4.5/5
Disc 1 – Original 1948 release version
Commentary by novelist/critic/film historian Tim Lucas – Newly recorded for this release, Lucas goes into great detail about the films productions as well as the differences between this version and other notable film adaptations of Shakespeare’s play.
Commentary by Orson Welles biographer Joseph McBride – Carried over from the Olive Signature Blu-ray, McBride details Welles’ association with the works of Shakespeare prior to, during and after this film as well as some anecdotes that overlap with the new Lucas commentary for this release.
Disc 2 – 1950 re-release version
Welles and Shakespeare (11:56) – Film historian Michael Anderegg talks about the interconnections between Welles and his adaptations of Shakespeare’s works – including this film – in this archival interview carried over from the Olive Signature Blu-ray.
That Was Orson Welles (9:49) – Noted filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich reflects on his association with Welles and co-writing his memoir This is Orson Welles in this archival interview from the Olive Signature Blu-ray.
Restoring Macbeth (8:22) – Longtime UCLA archivist Robert Gitt talks about how the original version of Welles’ film was saved from deteriorating in this archival interview from the Olive Signature Blu-ray.
Free Republic: Herbert J. Yates and the Story of Republic Pictures (6:32) – Archivist Marc Wanamaker gives a brief insight into Republic Pictures and the man behind the studio in this archival interview from the Olive Signature Blu-ray.
Bonus KLSC Trailers – The Stranger, The Lady from Shanghai, Touch of Evil & Man in the Shadow
Overall: 4/5
Misunderstood and dismissed by both critics and audiences upon first release here in America – though filmmakers Jean Cocteau and Robert Bresson were among its most ardent defenders – Macbeth is still an important work in the career of Orson Welles and among one of his best works overall. Kino has done a great job of bringing the movie back into print, with decent HD transfers of both versions of the movie as well as carrying over the legacy special features from the Olive Signature Blu-ray while adding a brand new commentary track for this release. Very highly recommended and absolutely worth upgrading from previous home video editions of the movie.
Mychal has been on the Home Theater Forum’s reviewing staff since 2018, with reviews numbering close to 300. During this time, he has also been working as an assistant manager at The Cotton Patch – his family’s fabric and quilting supplies business in Keizer, Oregon. When not working at reviewing movies or working at the family business, he enjoys exploring the Oregon Coast, playing video games and watching baseball in addition to his expansive collection of movies on DVD, Blu-ray and UHD, totalling over 3,000 movies.
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