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The Tempest

  • TV Movie
  • 1960
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
201
YOUR RATING
The Tempest (1960)
Drama

Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, who lives in exile on a remote island as a sorcerer, uses his powers to shipwreck his usurper brother on the island.Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, who lives in exile on a remote island as a sorcerer, uses his powers to shipwreck his usurper brother on the island.Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, who lives in exile on a remote island as a sorcerer, uses his powers to shipwreck his usurper brother on the island.

  • Director
    • George Schaefer
  • Writers
    • John Edward Friend
    • William Shakespeare
  • Stars
    • Maurice Evans
    • Richard Burton
    • Roddy McDowall
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    201
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Schaefer
    • Writers
      • John Edward Friend
      • William Shakespeare
    • Stars
      • Maurice Evans
      • Richard Burton
      • Roddy McDowall
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos4

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    Top cast12

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    Maurice Evans
    Maurice Evans
    • Prospero
    Richard Burton
    Richard Burton
    • Caliban
    Roddy McDowall
    Roddy McDowall
    • Ariel
    Tom Poston
    Tom Poston
    • Trinculo
    Liam Redmond
    Liam Redmond
    • Gonzalo
    William Bassett
    William Bassett
    • Ferdinand
    • (as William H. Bassett)
    Lee Remick
    Lee Remick
    • Miranda
    Ronald Radd
    Ronald Radd
    • Stephano
    Geoffrey Lumb
    • Alonso
    William LeMassena
    William LeMassena
    • Antonio
    Paul Ballantyne
    • Sebastian
    Chris Gampel
    Chris Gampel
    • The Boatswain
    • Director
      • George Schaefer
    • Writers
      • John Edward Friend
      • William Shakespeare
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    6.9201
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    Featured reviews

    6eparis2

    The Tempest

    The reality of Schaefer's Tempest is so much less than its possibilities that it seems more tragedy than romance. Running time is seventy-six minutes, which means more slashing rather than cutting. For instance, the first scene is replaced with narration, the masque of the goddesses is gone, and Prospero's speech from 4.1 that begins "Our revels now are ended" is transplanted to the end of the play, where it replaces the epilogue.

    The costumes are eclectic, with Ferdinand in an embarrassingly skimpy gladiatorial outfit.

    On the other hand, the best actors in the film, Richard Burton as Caliban and Roddy McDowall as Ariel, are so completely covered either by fabric or makeup that their facial expressions are largely concealed. Still, their voices are memorable, and Lee Remick makes a beautiful and effective Miranda.

    Maurice Evans as Prospero is disappointing. He ranges from underplaying to posturing, only occasionally getting the truly magical verse right.
    RubyJ29

    Personal experience

    I saw this on TV when it came out. I would have been 6 years old. I was enchanted, and to this day, The Tempest is still my favorite Shakespeare play, which I credit to this production. No, you wouldn't want it to be your only experience of the play, as the previous post points out. But if you get a chance to see it, give it a look. It's a good introduction, and a good way to "get your feet wet" if you feel challenged (as I confess I often do) by more authentic presentations of Elizabethan drama.
    10rsternesq

    me too or is it three?

    Count me in too. I saw this as a kid and still recall with great pleasure that it was my introduction to Shakespeare and has lead to a lifetime love. As was the case for several other films of plays, the clever camera work was a definite plus. Loved making Ariel a sprite by playing with size. Having him ride on Prosperos shoulder certainly worked for me. What a lovely conceit! It made the scenes between them as magical as they were meant to be. Calaban is a bit of a monster but one with Burton's voice. All in all, even thinking about it and the wonderful cast brings a smile to my face. I visited the site and wasn't surprised to see the high rating and generally positive reviews. I feel exactly the same way. Well done all around and a wonderful introduction for kids that lingers on the mind and in the heart as well.
    7HotToastyRag

    Great version of The Tempest

    Everyone knows Lee Remick is beautiful. If you watch Days of Wine and Roses, it's clear she can act, too. Lots of people don't know this, but she can also sing and dance, as seen during her Broadway stint of Anyone Can Whistle and her role in the concert version of Follies. But did you know she can speak Shakespeare, too? I didn't, and when I saw her name in the opening credits of The Tempest, I decided not to hold my breath for a believable performance. She was absolutely lovely. Her hair in tendrils, and dressed in a typical white toga, she looked like she just popped out of the forest from A Midsummer Night's Dream. And not only did she look the part, but she delivered her lines beautifully. Very few actors can make me pay attention during Shakespearian plays, and Lee has just joined that list.

    I'll admit I consulted Marcia Williams's Tales of Shakespeare before watching this taped live performance. I didn't know the plot, and Marcia helped me out immensely. The Tempest is the story of a father and daughter, isolated on an island. The father has the power to conjure storms, or tempests, and to force sprites to do his bidding. One storm shipwrecks a young man to the island, and sparks fly between the visitor and the daughter. I like this story, and this version was very fun to watch. The costumes were pretty, and all the actors knew their way around the difficult prose. This play walks the fine line between comedy and tragedy, so for those who like their Shakespeare without blood and guts, this one's good for you.
    7jcolyer1229

    The Tempest

    Hollywood has never done justice to William Shakespeare's The Tempest, and it is this 1960 TV version which I recommend to this day. It is short, to the point and has an amateurishness about it although the cast is superb. The lovely Lee Remick is in the role of Prospero's daughter, Miranda. Richard Burton plays the evil Caliban. If it were up to me, I would have cast Burton as Prospero. Burton was a heavyweight and would have brought a dignity to the character which is otherwise lacking. Roddy McDowell fits the part of Ariel. He prances around like one of Arnold's "girlie-men." The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's most likable plays. There is something comforting about its island setting, the storm and an old man working his magic to ensure his daughter's future. We know beforehand that good will triumph over evil.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Surprisingly, Richard Burton is billed second to Maurice Evans.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
    • Soundtracks
      Come Unto These Yellow Sands
      Music by Lehman Engel

      Lyrics by William Shakespeare

      Sung by Roddy McDowall

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 3, 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • arabuloku.com
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • George Schaefer's Showcase Theatre: The Tempest
    • Production companies
      • Compass Productions
      • George Schaefer's Showcase Theater
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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