Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 21, 2024

Orson Welles' "Macbeth" (1948) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by novelist and critic Tim Lucas; archival audio commentary by Orson Welles biographer Joseph McBride; archival program with Peter Bogdanovich; archival program with former UCLA Film & Television Archive Preservation Officer Robert Gitt; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Region-A "locked".

Orson Welles’ adaptation of William Shakespeare's iconic play has little in common with the one Roman Polanski directed in 1971. The latter is a cold, graphic and unapologetically brutal film following closely Shakespeare's text, while the former is very much a low-budget chamber piece at best offering a loose interpretation of it.

The key events from the play are unchanged, but there are added fictional characters and embellishments that alter their significance. More importantly, in Welles’ film, Macbeth is portrayed as a brittle man who prefers to stay in the shadows, seemingly content to suffer alone while pondering his fate.

The oddities, however, are easily lost in the thick fog that routinely creeps up between the camera and the actors. It is this dark and bleak world of Macbeth that the film is most interested in, the uncertainty and fear that thrive in it. Here, as strange as it may sound, Shakespeare’s words seem almost irrelevant.

This borderline surrealistic world is the very reason why some viewers praise this film and others dismiss it. Its bleakness overwhelms the story and gives it an entirely new identity -- one half of it possibly inspired by the work of the German expressionists, the other favoring the stylistic characteristics associated with film noir.

Welles is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the film, but admittedly the camera is too fond of him. There are sequences where simple close-ups are unnecessarily prolonged, while elsewhere panoramic vistas are repeatedly seen from his point of view.

The supporting cast is very good. Janet Nolan, who made her acting debut in this film, is very convincing as Lady Macbeth. There are different sequences in which she carefully manipulates the future king that are great. Dan O'Herlihy is impressive as Macduff. A very young Roddy McDowall plays is the rather naïve Malcolm. Alan Napier leaves a lasting impression as the Holy Father.

Welles shot Macbeth at CBS Studio Center with cinematographer John L. Russell, who in 1960 would go on to assist Alfred Hitchcock on the legendary Psycho. The film’s score was created by the great French composer Jacques Ibert.

*This new two-disc set presents two versions of the film which have been remastered in 4K by Paramount Pictures in 2022. On Disc One, you will find the original 1948 Version, which is approximately 107 minutes long, while on Disc Two you will find the 1950 Version, which is approximately 85 minutes long.

**In 2016, Olive Films released this two-disc set with the same versions of the film. However, on this release the two versions have different running times. On Disc One, you will find the 1948 Version which is approximately 107 minutes long, while on Disc Two, you will find the 1950 Version which is approximately 99 minutes long. There are discrepancies because the Kino Lorber release includes overture/exit music.

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Macbeth arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces recent 4K remasters of two versions of Macbeth, the original 1948 Version and the 1950 re-release Version. According to the back cover of the release, these remasters were completed at Paramount Pictures in 2022.

I have two other releases of Macbeth in my library. The first is this French release from local label Carlotta Films. The second is this American release from local label Olive Films. I did some comparisons with both.

The original, longer version of Macbeth is usually the one I screen at home because I tend to like it a bit more, but I do not dismiss the shorter re-release version. The other night, I viewed the original, longer version again. Its overall quality is good -- all visuals have fine organic qualities. However, because there are so many inherited source limitations -- all visible on every presentation from each release -- there are plenty of notable fluctuations in terms of delineation, clarity, and depth. On my system, this release gives the original longer version a slightly softer appearance, with some more pronounced fluctuations in select darker areas. However, it produces visuals that have marginally more attractive organic appearance than those from the other releases I have. The grayscale is good. Yes, in select darker areas some visuals still reveal shadows that could appear too thick, but this is how these shadows look on all releases. The lack of proper delineation and clarity, or at least what may appear as a lack of proper delineation and clarity, is a combination of source limitations and stylistic preferences. The French release, in particular, produces slightly sharper and occasionally brighter visuals, but it does not reveal better delineation. On this release, a lot of visuals reveal more pronounced surface imperfections, but there are plenty on the other two releases as well. Virtually all of these imperfections are source-related, too.

So, which of the three releases offers the best presentation of the original, longer version of Macbeth? They are all fine. I do not think that there is a clear winner because of the nature of the source limitations and fluctuations that exist on all three. However, despite producing slightly softer visuals, a case can be made that they are the most attractive organic visuals. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both versions of Macbeth are presented with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for both versions of the film as well.

The Kino Lorber release includes overture/exit music presents the original, longer version of Macbeth with overture/exit music that sounds pretty good. The dialog is fine too, but because of the heavy accents, most viewers will likely end up using the optional subtitles. Dynamic contrasts are unimpressive, but this is one of the most obvious source limitation on all presentations of Macbeth, including on the shorter, re-release version.

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE - ORIGINAL 1948 VERSION

• Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, Orson Welles biographer Joseph McBride discusses in great detail the production history of Macbeth, the different versions of the film, its reception in the United States and abroad, the film's unique visual style and atmosphere, the use of music, etc. The commentary first appeared on Olive Films' release of Macbeth.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by novelist and critic Tim Lucas.

BLU-RAY DISC TWO - RE-RELEASE 1950 VERSION

• Welles and Shakespeare - in this archival program, Professor Michael Anderegg, author of Orson Welles, Shakespeare and Popular Culture, discusses Orson Welles' long and quite fascinating relationship with William Shakespeare's work, his time at Republic Pictures, and the filming of Macbeth (with some very interesting comments about the Christian elements that were introduced in the film). Also addressed are the productions of Othello and Chimes at Midnight. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• That Was Orson Welles - in this archival program, director/writer Peter Bogdanovich recalls his first encounter with Orson Welles in Los Angeles and discusses their rather fascinating relationship during the years. There are additional comments about Orson Welles' legacy, working methods, and the visual style and structure of Macbeth. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Restoring Macbeth - in this archival program, former UCLA Film & Television Archive Preservation Officer Robert Gitt addresses some of the dilemmas he faced during the restoration and reconstruction of Orson Welles' original version of Macbeth. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Free Republic: Herber J. Yates and the Story of Republic Pictures - in this archival program, archivist Marc Wanamaker discusses the fascinating history of Republic Pictures, some of its biggest hits and stars, and the filming of Macbeth. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Cover - reversible cover.

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Do you need Kino Lorber's two-disc set if you already have in your library this two-disc set that Olive Films produced in 2016? Kino Lorber's two-disc set gives you two versions of the film with overture and exit music, both newly remastered in 4K at Paramount Pictures. While there are still plenty of source limitations on both versions of the film, I think that on this release they have the most attractive organic appearance. Admittedly, the difference is quite small, but it is something that purists will appreciate. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.