Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 16, 2014

Orson Welles' "Macbeth" (1948) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films. The supplemental features on the disc include a presentation and analysis of the film by actor Denis Lavant; video interviews with Orson Welles specialist Jean-Pierre Berthomé; selected-scenes commentary by stage director Stuart Seide; film analysis by Orson Welles specialist François Thomas; and a lot more. In English, with optional French subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

"I feel now the future..."

Orson Welles' Macbeth is available individually and as part of a four-disc box set, which also includes the newly restored Othello. Pictures of the box set are included with this review as well as with our review of Othello, which can be accessed here.

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.

French label Carlotta Films’ new Blu-ray release of Welles’ Macbeth contains the long 119-minute version of the film. This version of the film features overture and exit (epilogue) music, as well as extended footage (including the notorious long single take). The 119-minute version reincorporates the Scottish-accented soundtrack as well. Also included is the shorter 86-minute theatrical version of Macbeth.

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Orson Welles' Macbeth arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French label Carlotta Films.

Please note that the screencaptures included with our review appear in the following order:

1. Screencaptures #1-20: Macbeth 119-minute version.
2. Screencaptures #22-30: Macbeth 86-minute version.
3. Screencaptures #31-37: Orson Welles' Macbeth is available individually and as part of a four-disc box set, which also includes the newly restored Othello. Pictures of the box set are included with this review.

Because this longer version of Macbeth incorporates footage from different sources, there are areas of the film with some density fluctuations. Most close-ups, however, convey very pleasing depth, making it rather easy to see even exceptionally small details (see screencapture #10). Some of the larger and very atmospheric panoramic shots also impress with good fluidity (see screencapture #17). Color saturation and stability are very good -- the blacks do not appear artificially boosted and the grays and whites are well balanced. Grain is visible throughout the entire film. However, grain exposure does fluctuate as some of the footage is obviously of varying quality (compare screencaptures #1 and #7 with screencapture #9). In other words, there are some sporadic shifts in terms of sharpness, but overall the image quality remains quite stable. (For this specific high-definition transfer degraining corrections were not performed by Carlotta Films). Lastly, it is very easy to tell that large debris, cuts, damage marks, and stains have been carefully removed as the film looks notably clean. All in all, excluding the inconsistencies mentioned above, this is indeed a very good technical presentation of the 119-minute version of Macbeth. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. For the record, Carlotta Films have provided optional French subtitles for the main feature.

Depth and clarity are very good. There are no sudden spikes or drops in dynamic activity either. The dialog is well balanced with Jacques Ibert dramatic score. There is no distracting background hiss, audio dropouts, digital distortions to report in this review.

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• "Macbeth" maudit/Macbeth Cursed - presentation and analysis of Macbeth by actor Denis Lavant (Mauvais Sang, Holy Motors). The video program was produced by Allerton Films. In French, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Les deux "Macbeth" d'Orson Welles - film analysis by Orson Welles specialist François Thomas. In French not subtitled. The program was produced by Wild Side Films. (27 min).

• Welles et Shakespeare - in this video program, Orson Welles specialist Jean-Pierre Berthomé discusses the adaptation and production history of Macbeth. The program was produced by Wild Side Video. In French, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Le chateau et la lande... - an in-depth look at the film's decors by Jean-Pierre Berthomé. With original sketches and illustrations by Orson Welles. The program was produced by Wild Side Video. In French, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Sequences thematiques commentees - selected-scene commentary by stage director Stuart Seide. In French, not subtitled.
  
  1. Image (3 min)
  2. Music and Sound (4 min)

• Le bruit et la fureur - in this video interview, stage director Stuart Seide discusses the theatrical qualities of Macbeth, some of the unique socio-political overtones in Orson Welles' adaptation of the classic play, and the film's visual style. The program was produced by Wild Side Video. In French, not subtitled. (14 min).

• "Macbeth Vaudou" - "Macbeth Voodoo" was filmed by Orson Welles in 1936 with African-American actors. Presented on the Blu-ray with an introduction by François Thomas (9 min). The introduction is in French, without optional subtitles. The segment from "Macbeth Voodoo" is in English, with optional French subtitles. (9 min).

• "Macbeth": enregistrement discographique - this recording of Macbeth was released by Orson Welles in 1940 with his Mercury Theater players. Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (78 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Macbeth Theatrical Version (1950) - presented here is the shorter 1950 theatrical version of Orson Welles' Macbeth. This version of the film runs at approximately 86 minutes (01.24.59). In English, with optional French subtitles. (1080p/English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0).

Macbeth Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I like Carlotta Films' presentation of Orson Welles' Macbeth a lot. Obviously, in an ideal world the film could look better on Blu-ray, but this would mean that all existing elements are in terrific condition and are easily accessible. Considering what has been previously done by other parties and what makes sense financially, I think that the end result is very good -- this new two-disc set features the longer 119-minute reconstructed version of Macbeth and the shorter 86-minute theatrical version of the film. There are also some excellent supplemental features, but unfortunately they are not subtitled in English. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.