This movie used a three hundred sixty-degree set which allowed actors and actresses to move from the beach to the cliff to the orchard without cutting.
Part of the long running BBC Television Shakespeare project which ran between 1978 and 1985.
Sir Alec Guinness was offered the role of Prospero, but withdrew after the producers balked at his concept of basing his characterization on the aging Lev Tolstoy.
Sir John Gielgud was cast as Prospero, but backed out after disagreements over the production concept.
The orchard was composed of real apple trees.