Watch Polanski's version

Probably like many parents one of my children is studying Macbeth for GCSE this year so I thought I would get her a film version to watch. Seeing the long list it was hard to decide which to choose so I had three versions sent through and for those interested these are my thoughts.

I chose the versions with lead men Jason Connery (Jeremy Freeston director), Jon Finch (Roman Polanski director) and Orson Welles (who did both). Without doubt the most complete and truthful adaptation was the Polanski version. Once you get over the dated look of the film (and dreadful soundtrack) it is a very good adaptation of the play and gives a true account.

Finch is very good as Macbeth, playing him as an increasingly malevolent force as opposed to Connery who spends the film appearing as a lost soul. Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth is excellent and overshadows Helen Baxendale (an actress for whom I normally have a great deal of time).

The sound in the Connery/Freeston film is absolutely dreadful making it almost impossible at times to hear the dialogue – something fairly important with Shakespeare. The film is also incredibly boring and I did have trouble getting through to the end. Polanski however has managed to make Macbeth a thoroughly enjoyable film and, although by now I know the story, had me hooked to the end. Do not be put off, as I was, by the talk of it being a Playboy financed film with the attendant expectant nudity. Apart from one (brilliant) scene where the three witches are joined by a coven of naked women (the majority at an age when they would not normally remove their clothes in public) and a glimpse of Annis’ buttocks in the dream sequence, there was no nudity and only the most prim could possibly find any offence with this. I sat with my daughter and watched the Connery/Freeston film first as I was concerned about the Playboy tag with the Polanski and really wish I had not bothered.

As for Orson Welles – he alters the play completely, gives lines to characters that in the original play do not have the lines, adds characters who do not exist in Shakespeare’s original and hams it up brilliantly – but then I suppose that was Hollywood in 1948.

A definite thumbs up to Polanski for creating a very good film which sticks as closely to the original play as possible and my recommendation for the one to watch for children studying Macbeth for GCSE.