Below are two film versions of the famous sleepwalking scene. The first is the Roman Polanski version (1972) and the second version is a TV version starring Dame Judi Dench (1979). Which edition do you prefer and why?
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I prefer the second edition made in 1979 because it captures more of the moment that was in the actual play. It seems as if it is a direct reference from the play, and gives the reader a better understanding of the events that took place in Macbeth. While reading the play you understand what is happening but don't have a concrete image of the actual event. This video resolves that problem and portrays the massage Shakespeare was trying to get across when he wrote it.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer the second one done in 1979 because it captures the overall atmosphere better then the one done in 1972. The first video does not have as much detail and too bright for a castle at night what they did with the second one was they made it just like an actual castle and just gave them candles to see this helps the effect because you would associate sadness or unpleasantness with a dark setting, almost like when someone dies, It shows that Lady Macbeth's strength is also dying.
ReplyDelete-R Bennett
I liked the one from Polanski's film, as it seems she is in more removed, and less aware of her surroundings. She seems more traumatised by what she has seen and much more likely to commit suicide.
ReplyDeleteIt shows a broken spirit, and you can tell by her face and state she is not what she used to be.
Polanski's film has more of a focus on the detail of the surroundings, while the 1979 video focuses on the detail of the actual acting and play. One is good to get an image of the atmosphere of the event and the other captures the moment of the play. If both were combined it would be the ideal situation because it would have the proper essential's to create what I would think as a perfect concrete image of this scene in the play.
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ReplyDeleteI think the second version (1979) is much better than the first version. The first version almost completely cuts out the conversation between the Gentlewoman and the Doctor, and only has Lady Macbeth speaking. I think that the conversation between the two is very crucial for the reader because it gives background information on the scene and stays true to Shakespeare's original story.
ReplyDeleteI liked the set and the surroundings that were in the first version, but i think that the actor in the second version who played Lady Macbeth really captured her emotions in this scene of the play. Her eyes were all glazed over and she really seemed to look like she was not aware of her surrounings whick made the sleep walking thing more believable. I liked the second version better then the first because the emotions of Lady Macbeth were more intense and truly believable.
ReplyDeleteEmily K.
There are aspects of both that I liked, and didn't like. But if I had to choose one of them, it would be the 1972 version. In the 1972 version, I liked how there was a set, and we could see all the details of the room. In the 1979, it was a dark place. I couldn't see any detail, so I felt a little lost. As for the acting, I think that the first one doesn't portray the feeling of remorse and regret that the second one does. However, I thought that the actors eyes in the second one were moving around too much, looking all over the place at times which killed the sleepwalking effect for me. But I found that both looked straight at the doctor too much giving it a feeling of knowing their surroundings.
ReplyDeletePeter S
I agree, the 1972 version definitly focused more on the detail of the set of Lady Macbeth's room therefore there was more to look at and it wasn't just a black dark backround like the one in 1979. I didn't like how it was just dark and you couldn't see anything. The actor who played Lady Macbeth however in '79 put more emotion into it and you could get the feeling that she could potentially kill herself. I found you didn't get the same vibe fromn the actor in '72.
ReplyDeleteEmily K.
There are different aspects that I prefer in both. I agree with Emily in the sense is that I enjoy the set of mis-en-scene of the Roman Polanski version better. It sets a great mood with the background. I don't understand why the director would choose for Lady Macbeth to be nude. I guess in some ways I understand it , that it makes the viewer uncomfortable to watch it. Just like it would be hard for you to watch a women sleepwalk in such horror. In the second version however Dame Judy Dench does an excellent job in portraying the pain and anguish that Lady Macbeth must have experienced with holding so much guilt in her heart.
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