The Winter's Tale

TV Movie
1981
2h 53m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

King Leontes of Bohemia suspects his wife, Hermione, and his friend, Polixenes, of betraying him. When he forces Polixenes to flee for his life, Leontes sets in motion a chain of events that... Read allKing Leontes of Bohemia suspects his wife, Hermione, and his friend, Polixenes, of betraying him. When he forces Polixenes to flee for his life, Leontes sets in motion a chain of events that lead to death, a ferocious bear, an infant left in the snow, young love, and a statue com... Read allKing Leontes of Bohemia suspects his wife, Hermione, and his friend, Polixenes, of betraying him. When he forces Polixenes to flee for his life, Leontes sets in motion a chain of events that lead to death, a ferocious bear, an infant left in the snow, young love, and a statue coming to life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

163

YOUR RATING

8User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
As with all of Jane Howell's productions, this episode was performed on a single set. The change of the seasons, so critical to the movement of the play, is indicated by a lone tree whose leaves change colour as the year moves on, with the background a monochromatic cycloramic curtain, which changed colour in tune with the changing colour of the leaves.

Connections
Referenced in Grizzly Man (2005)

User reviews8

Review

Featured review

5/10

Not one of the better BBC Television Shakespeare adaptations. Very dry and dusty. Watch the 2021 version instead (available on player)

Unfortunately there are so few versions of The Winters Tale available to watch on screen. It seems to have fallen out of favour in modern times, shunned by other more obviously engaging Shakespeare plays. This version of the unabridged play was done as part of BBC Television Shakespeare in the 80s where they adapted all of Shakespeare's plays. Some of those versions are brilliant. For example Derek Jacobi's Hamlet remains my favourite Hamlet and I have seen many. This version of The Winter's Tale is very dry and dusty. The first 2 acts are lacking in the emotional intensity of the jealousy and tragedy, and the 2nd half lacking in the joviality and comedy of the feast and wedding. The final act of redemption is done very well and Anna Calder Marshall may be my favourite Hermione, I really enjoyed her performance.

Other than that this was very slow. There was a 2021 version performed by the RSC and which is available on BBC player and will be until at least April 2022. I recommend that one unreservedly over this 1981 version.