Shakespeare The Collection [DVD]

Five feature adaptations of the classic plays by Shakespeare. Director ‏ : ‎ Tony Richardson, Kenneth Branagh, Roman Polanski, Peter Brook, Franco Zeffirelli Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, German, Danish, Turkish, Arabic, Hindi, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Dutch, French, Icelandic, Finnish, Czech, Swedish, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Hebrew, Norwegian Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, 'The Taming of the Shrew' (1967) stars Elizabeth Taylor as Katharina and Richard Burton as Petruchio in Shakespeare's tale about shy Bianca (Natasha Pyne), who cannot marry until her mean-spirited sister Katharina is married first. In Peter Brook's adaptation of 'King Lear' (1971), Paul Scofield plays the tortured king, driven to madness by the machinations of his daughter Regan (Susan Engel), and saved only by the love of his other daughter Cordelia (Anne-Lise Gabold). In Roman Polanski's version of 'Macbeth' (1971), the murderous Scottish king is played by Jon Finch, while his scheming wife is played by Francesca Annis. After seizing the throne, Macbeth's bloody reign is brought to an end by Macduff (Terence Bayler), the dead king's avenging son. In Kenneth Branagh's version of 'Henry V' (1989), the director takes the title role of the young English king, embarking on a campaign to retake France that culminates in the bloody battle of Agincourt. Brian Blessed, Ian Holm and Derek Jacobi also star. Finally, in 'Hamlet' (1969), directed by Tony Richardson, Nicol Williamson plays the philosophical Danish prince, seeking to avenge his father's murder by his uncle Claudius (Anthony Hopkins), who has married his mother Gertrude (Judy Parfitt)