Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (Ian McKellen) "Tomorrow and Tomo...

[DearestCaitsie]

I FUCKING LOVE IAN MCKELLEN. HE CAN DO NO WRONG. NO. WRONG.

[megashani1991]

I THINK HE SOUNDED THE SAME AT THE TIME OF HIS BIRTH MAN what an epic voice

[Pahjx]

He sounds the same as he does now.

[pjcasabuena]

I got a perfect score on a recited test because of this. Bravo Ian McKellen!

[Mursilia]

Gandalf is.. is.. is that you?!

[notedown1010]

00:12

[jjm121]

I can't understand half the word's he's saying... I mean, I just can't HEAR them.

[dakessi1]

Ian McKellen is a one in a trillion ... I just love him.

[Geezyk]

amazing performance

[1993DaVinci]

out, out brief candle

he is so awesome

[shenvalley25]

Performing this for the National Shakespeare Competition...

[ThePaulHackett]

Let's face it - Shakespear is pretty awesome when done correctly

[cooliocarla1]

omg my english teaacher made the whole class say the tomorrow and tommorrow part i noe it by heart now !!!

[13MarioA]

@cooliocarla1 haha me too

[DemoraX]

so his voice has ALWAYS BEEN THAT AWESOME?! :O

[Omatusano]

Billy Madison

[Rumpio]

Bob Peck should have been a HUGE star. Thank god we at least have Edge of Darkness.

[cholpankapov]

if I were in that audience, my jaw could never be repaired for having it hanging down for such a long time

[TomValedro]

wtf is this? LORD OF THE RINGS BETTAR! U SHALL NOT PASS SO EPIC!

[theINCONVENIENCER]

at 2:34 I couldn't help but think of him yelling "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

[MsTruNorth]

How old was McKellen here? Sheesh, how powerful.  Absolutely jaw-dropping. Thanks for making this available.

[BenMAugust]

Very nicely done. It's amazing to think that Edward de Vere could portray this depth at such a young age. facebook/TrueShakespeare

[hanshotfirst1138]

There's a GREAT bit with McKellen talking about this and acting Shakespeare and making the speech sound natural like you don't already know the words. With Google video shutting down, someone should upload it here! I would if I knew how.

[butterfly1995ful]

bellissimo

[imgonnagetbanned]

EVERYONE LISTEN TO GANDALF

[TheUnbreakableOtaku]

As far as I'm concerned, this is the greatest portrayal of Macbeth in history.

[steerpike66]

Polanski's version has some visual flair but the acting is strictly bog-standard: Lady Macbeth is a teenage nonentity.

[NewMediaRep]

one of my favorite british actors

[seamus136]

@03:31 is that Ian McDiarmid? :X

[steerpike66]

@seamus136 Sure is. Great porter scene. Funny, then very scary.

[nyboy76]

@seamus136 Yes it is, Emperor Palpatine himself. I wonder if this was before the Star Wars Trilogy?

[ghomonica]

Excellent

[DarkSloopy]

Best performance of Macbeth's monologue!

[2red2z]

nigel killa aka red wuz here--aproved 100%

[libville]

That guy can act.

[khawajaarslanahmed]

stupid fucking actor...go watch finch's version

[VirtuosoGuy]

He acts as if it is the first time he's said those words. He is Macbeth.

[borimirtheboring]

Goosebumps

[sadguyfoundout1]

Ian seems so good looking!

[adolfolicious]

his face looks like it was delicately chiseled out of the marble foyer from space mountain

[peppercornbtbij]

he played the title role in the critical hit Richard III, which transported the setting 400 years into the future in 1930s fascist England

[Bolenderable]

I find it puzzling that a play about the supernatural contains such an atheistic monologue. It's not an outright contradiction, but it isn't expected. Changing the topic a bit, I'm afraid I don't like McKellen's delivery too much. It seems unnatural to me, like he's trying too hard to make it sound thought through.

[Jitpring]

@Bolenderable I've read much commentary on Shakespeare, and much of it proves Hazlitt's dictum that if we wish to see the force of human genius, read Shakespeare; but if we wish to see the futility of human learning, read his commentators. The brightest, most sublime, most glorious exception to this rule is Harold Goddard. Read about Macbeth in vol. 2 of his The Meaning of Shakespeare. He mines the depths of this play to the fullest.

[Jitpring]

@Bolenderable Also, the best performance of Macbeth I've yet seen is part of vol. 2 of the BBC/Time Life DVD set of Shaky's tragedies. Nicol Williamson delivers a devastating performance as Macbeth, making what we see here seem merely perfunctory.

[khawajaarslanahmed]

@Jitpring

go watch roman polanski's version

[docterphreak]

@Bolenderable That's the naturalism you're describing, and it's one of the things Shakespearean actors have to watch that they don't get too much into. You can watch "Playing Shakespeare" with John Barton and the RSC for more info.

[polymath7]

I must ask again: Is there a good reason you post only fragments of certain performances? I certainly don't mean to sound ungrateful but it's most frustrating.

Is it a copyright issue?

[Candystripedshredder]

Emperor Palpatine @ 9:45 !!!

Love the theatrical work of both Ians.

McDiarmid's was the only decent performance in Episode III. I can't help but think this was because Lucas respected him enough to give him free reign with his lines. He just sat back and let him work.

McGregor, Portman, Jackson etc are all excellent actors, yet were painfully bland and wooden. *cough* MISDIRECTION *cough*

[incongra]

How come Malcolm is wearing a woolen polo-neck sweater and what appears to be an army surplus greatcoat

[sondano]

OMG he already sounded like Gandalf

[NakedCreep]

The brightness and contrast in this is tingling my photoshoppy senses.

[BiqqMacc1111]

This line is amazing and the tomorrows are made to be monotanous

[kiasmus]

I'm sorry to break the spell, but I don't like it. I mean, the overall conception of the character. He is too refined, too mannered, too self-conscious -besides being too young, but that was not his fault. This approach would be great to Hamlet, because the prince is in fact all that and much more, but here it simply doesn't work. Macbeth's crimes are the crimes of a primitive man from the dark ages, and here Sir Ian depicts him as Calligula's best friend.

[Raius1]

@kiasmus Just because you're sophisticated doesn't mean you're not capable of primitive barbarism, fear, insecurity, doubt, and obsession.

[leonheeroyue]

great actor he is

[ssarahalisonn]

Guh! So fucking good. McKellen is just so fucking good. And such a gentleman. Ah I could gush all day about him! xxx

[blueanimal]

Fair is foul and foul is fair

[vanderbilt887]

McKellen bears a striking resemblance to my grandfather :-D

[badgerlord87]

emo

[israelmonrroy]

very very very good, there is a man feeling word by word feeling

[threestoogesfan2]

Wow, if I didn't love Ian McKellen before, I certainly do after seeing this.

He could read from the phone book and it would sound poetic and awesome.

[0bjectivist]

hey i just saw this in 9th grade english

[ruizj2006]

I member seeing this in 9th grade english

[morganfolz]

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

[workingclassbum]

its only a curse if your in a play and it has to be spoken aloud!

[heliotropezzz333]

I saw him do Hamlet on the stage when he was even younger (1972). It was brilliant - a Wednesday matinee of schoolgirls - I was one- and they would not stop clapping. He and the rest of the company, took at least 8 encores. Sadly it was never recorded on camera.

[SagatProductions]

He looks like a vampire lol

[DulBeat]

I think this version is as good as it gets. Usually you have either the loud and powerful (or pissed) Macbeth, the whispery and sympathetic Macbeth that's trying not to break down and cry, or the twitchy and paranoid Macbeth. I like how he combines them. It makes for one hell of an eerie villain.

[Gardena380]

"All our yesterdays" and "The way to dusty death", one a Star Trek spisode, the other a mediocre novel/movie by Alistar Maclean, I see now where they "borrowed" their titles from :)

[UnclaimedTreasure]

Damn! Ian McKellan was so handsome then!

[alanbalfe]

and he's not now :0

[DesmondMyersvids]

Holy Crap he IS Macbeth. Amazing preformance

[mastshke]

its supposed to be. because its dramatic irony. if this was in real life, he would have been talking to the audience.

[today20080523]

ahh.....why is he looking straight at me? the camera?? its kinda awkward and creepy.

[ged424]

I think that's the point. A prevailing theme in most of Shakespeare's tragedies is that of unnatural occurrences. Thus, breaking the fourth wall makes sense to make this utterly apparent.

[MikadoOkami]

because hes speeking his thoughts to the audiance directly and not twords another character

[myhamsterable]

me too kalie77katy

[kuzeryukotsu]

holy shit, Ian McKellen looked bloody handsome back then. I'd totally hit it.

[Dragon1813]

He looks freakishly like Jason Isaak here.

[missgreeneyes56]

At last it makes sense. Wonderful actor.

[Kalie77Katy]

we just had to recite this for englishh

[sixfouimpala]

same here lol

[Kalie77Katy]

haha

[manderzluvsyou91]

OMG I love it I love it I love it! I am in love with (this) Ian McKellan lol if only he were that young again heehee

[mikech78]

I hate to break your heart, but Ian McKellen is gayer than a bagful of rainbows. Seriously.

[blancgab]

You say all this under the assumption manderzluvsyou91 is a girl. He could be a gay guy, in that way, it makes perfect sense.

[charrogent]

lol

[sirtinycreep]

I love this. It's the only bit of Shakespeare I know word for word! :)

[josianneRHCPinlove]

I love his voice, its deep and strong.

Sir Ian Mckellen is AWESOME!

[LIVVOFAUSBF]

Absolutely fantastic!

[happynesiscatching]

This is one of the reasons Ian Mckellen became Sir Ian Mckellen, and I'm glad he did

[laideebyrd]

This performance of macbeth is legendary - get a grip guys..

[ROWANV1]

..this performance of Macbeth is an embarrassment!

[Xs3v3n3l3v3nX]

Is that really Gandolf!!!???

[IIDragonflyII]

No, it's not Gandolf.... It's Gandalf! :)

[canvasbags1]

oh gosh, that's not a good version. utterly dead with no underlying feeling.

[Kittkat88]

I believe that's the point.

[MattRichards711]

I'm auditioning for MacBeth Thursday using the "Tomorrow" speech. This is exactly the way I won't do it.

[bealof]

@MattRichards711 ......so, how'd that work for you, Matt?

[manatorn]

That is the tragedy and the heart of the Tomorrow monologue. Hell is repetition, and this is what Macbeth faces in this moment - the horrific desperation of an continuation with no change and no end. In this moment of clarity he sees the path forward in the light of his life and, subconsciously if not directly, chooses to end that life, preferring death over the hell of existence.

[MasterLizzong]

wait a minute is the emperor palpatine at 8:13

[ghunderstank]

yea it is palpatine.

[s0d00]

gandolffff

[SayntAce]

holy shit that is Gandolf!!!!

[metteholm75]

This is the most painful, chilling,frightening,horrifyin­g, sickening Macbeth-performance, I ever saw, and it might be a while before I watch it again (Just bought the DVD). My deepest respect for Ian McKellen and Judy Dench.

[Dinarrra84]

Brilliant!!!! Facial expressions and the genius of his voice! Every word!

[CymbalRush]

all you see is one of the greatest shakespearean stage performers of all time. BUT, gandalf is wonderful in his own right

[elessar2k49]

all i see is Gandalf

[NatashaNabokov]

Such talent, and what a voice!

[jazzy1260]

Ian McKellen may be the most talented actor alive. How can you beat that voice, that inflection?

[terroristen]

Pure brilliance, well not Shakespeare but McKellen!

[NonSvankmajer]

"Pure brilliance, well not Shakespeare but McKellen!"

No, the opposite of that.

[shandylass87]

This is just spellbinding! I love Ian McKellen as Macbeth! I don't think I've ever seen anyone say this speech as well as he did here...

[yamejanakaratoprak]

He´s gay- gay actors cant be tragic - dungbeetles ...

(mind you, before i knew, i liked the scene)

[Iride]

He's gay. SO? First of all he's a great actor and a very handsome man.

[baldrick7]

you are a disgusting person,

he happens to be one of the best actors of our time and his sexuality should have no affect on that

i would hate it if people hated my work just because they knew i was gay,

you really need to get a life and open your mind

[Gruffturnip]

You know not all gay people, like anal sex?

There are other things, they don't necessarily have anal sex, they do the things other couples do like hold hands, kiss, cuddle. it's not as if they all like jamming their dick in an arse. Besides, even if they did, what difference does it make to a performance. The whole point of acting is taking on a character, even if you find homosexuality offensive, they can act as a straight man, like a straight man can act as a gay man.

[baneofnewbs]

Best MacBeth I've ever seen!

[scoot3663]

Wow... just wow. I can't say much more than that. Simply spellbinding.

[melikabozorgi3]

this was a good one

[Diamantenglanz]

Ian Mckellen is sooooooo different from Sean Connery and John Finch... Most of the development of the play happens in his mind... You can see that in his face... He's an amazing actor! Absolutely brilliant!

[MugsMcClain]

The beginning of this is completely hyonotic. I can't imagine anyone else reciting those lines with so much conviction.

[meganmurphy1212]

Macbeth: ...I bear a charmed life, which must not yield

To one of woman born. Macduff: ... Macduff was from his mother's womb

Untimely ripp'd.

Oops!!! The jig is up, I'd say.

This is truly a grand and compelling performance. Thank you ever so much for providing it here!!!

~Megan

[NoSubstitute]

Meh. I wasn't sold on this.

[drsigh]

The genius of Sir Ian is that he deconstructs the poetry, in order to foreground the thought of the speech.

[AT0061]

Love it! Bob Peck and Sir Ian McKellen my two fave stars on stage! Hail king!

[mikemckv]

The Citizens Theatre came to do Macbeth at my school in the 1960s. Lady Macbeth stole the show with her hip length (real) jet black hair and 60s model figure. It was a boys school and we all reached puberty at once. It was as good as this brilliant performance. Really.

[DesmondMyersvids]

hahaha thats a great story

[lenegan]

Awesome!!!!! Beautiful acting!