Shakespeare "King Lear"- Laurence Olivier: end of play

[sageSPH]

There is King Lear, and then there is Laurence Olivier's King Lear. William Shakespeare would be proud.

[0davus]

**That's why Lear is cursing everyone at the end, "You are men of stone." What he means is none of you care, you will wait till it is too late then clean up the mess. As Lear himself does, executing the executioner. Justice is 'right' but it does no 'good,' it is just an endless march of punishment, because justice is lifeless. Without life there is no meaningful justice for good or bad. But without care there is no life. Lear's greatness is his heart, though he finds it very late.

[rigstula]

@0davus The ending of 'King Lear' was perceived to be so bleak that Nahum Tate's version featuring a happy ending dominated the stage from the Restoration until the 1830's. Truth is, no other Shakespeare tragedy ends on on a more pessimistic note. In 'Antony and Cleopatra', for instance, there is a sense of glory in the noble suicides of the two titular characters as well as the notion of Rome's future golden age under Augustus. 'King Lear' ends with a gloomy observation of the play's events.

[MacWillyFortunes]

They left out my favorite line!

"Yet Edmund was beloved

The one the other poisoned for my sake,

And after slew herself."

[rigstula]

I find 'King Lear' to be Shakespeare's crowning achievement, and the ending is easily one of the most haunting and heartbreaking moments in both literature and theatre. As Samuel Johnson said, the death of Cordelia goes against every sense of justice and the hope of the reader. All other Shakespearean tragedies end with at least a small glimmer of justice and/or hope for the future. 'King Lear', however, leaves an impression of pure despair.

[0davus]

Actually Edgar almost saves Cordelia, after Edmund's repentance (cut out of this vid) he is running to save her. Lear kills the hangman as well - too late.

Shakespeare's comment on the nature of justice is more "too late" than it doesn't exist at all.

Another example is Cornwall's servant who doesn't lift a finger until after one of Gloster's eyes is put out.

It raises the question, not of whether life or existence is fair, but whether fairness/justice matters as we think it does.

[rigstula]

@0davus There is much truth in what you state. Despite this, the fact that justice arrives too late does not diminish the injustice of what happens. On the contrary, the fact that the play presents such a sense of hope through the actions of the good characters contributes to make the ending seem even bleaker and more unjust. The price Lear pays for his folly in many ways seems too harsh, but that is what makes it such a powerful tragedy.

[rosetintworld]

lots of heavy breathing

I keep expecting a major movie kiss

[austpom333]

Why would he ware chain mail on his head only

[unclebreezybum]

@austpom333 he was hiding his identity

[alanjewels]

By the way, that's Frank Gallagher (from shameless) playing Edgar.

[chasen47]

I love Olivier's version because out of all the Lear's, it is the saddest. The quitness and pure desolation he brings is quite heartbreaking.

[magenchild]

This is my favourite of any I've seen because he shows weakness, his voice gets high pitched and squeaky. We've seen the assertiveness of a king degrade into the testiness of an old man who has trouble controlling his own body now. There's just a hair between the two earlier on -you see him go over the line. Some people just keep a rounded tone, right to the end. He really looks and sounds as if he's losing it . He knows this play is all about power.

[stephen1988LFC]

You Know I'm A Big Fan Of Shakespeare And Laurence Olivier.... but i think this is version is so dull and boring.......... i was disappointed considering the cast

[marius478]

I always cry at that. "Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, and now... no breath at all...?"

[UnfamiliarPlace]

And thou no breath at all

[JustLovie]

@marius478 It's actually "and thou no breath at all?" but yeah that part is sad.

[gilbertgodlyddd]

@marius478 Agreed my friend, although it is THOU and not NOW..

[kendosendo]

@marius478 it is good isnt it!!

[wickedgal27]

its BEN HARPER FROM MY FAMILY!!!!

[boxingglovelove]

Astounding. Bravo Sir Laurence and brilliant cast.

[Google0002]

such a poignant moment when lear enters burdened by cordelia. Olivier pulls of the animalism of 'howl' perfectly, but he is no mckellen.

albany is also well-played. very commanding when talking to the "unnatural hag" gonerill

[tenmilefarm]

my god. the set, acting and direction are seriously bad.

[babacanosh2]

they are

[colostomywithers]

That fourth "never" is astonishing.

[starrbeatlesqueen]

though i like shakespeare and i like laurence olivier, it was too hard to watch this play.

[HighBrowMarxistWays]

Wow. Very young looking David Threlfall! FRAAAAAAANK!!

[watri]

o man thanx for the video...am actually doing a review on this same film for english class. am suppose to be a movie critic so over all i gave it some negative views but the acting was awesome and made up for the past arts when compared with those of 2day but the effects and setting could have been done better

[DeathWishMonkey]

Bravo! For the play, I remember, pleas'd not the million, 'twas cavairy to the general.

[LindaLaCagnina]

Sir Laurence is King Lear. There will never be another actor as good at it.

[nextren]

I thought Edgar was going to be kissed at 1:00.

And Olivier is like a woman here! Yikes!

Without that 'cello going, this would be rather poor.

[sweethoneyb7]

LMAO!!!!!

[Birdieupon]

I prefer the later Olivier stuff like this, when he'd calmed down a little. Incredible acting.

[Turk3ylips]

sweeeet. thanks for posting it.