MACBETH

1948

CAST: Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy, Roddy McDowall, Edgar Barrier

Directed by Orson Welles

Written by William Shakespeare, adapted by Orson Welles

Republic Pictures

MACBETH is a 1948 film adaptation by Orson Welles of William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. Welles successfully convinced Herbert Yates, the founder and president of Republic Pictures to create a film version of Macbeth. Republic Pictures was known for B-westerns and earned its greatest reputation for its numerous serials. Yates wanted to raise that level of reputation for his studio and having the creative genius of Welles at the studio would help him achieve that goal. Yates gave Welles the artistic freedom to bring his vision of this haunted Shakespeare play to the motion picture screen.

From Marc Wanamaker: Orson Welles plays Macbeth, a lord who becomes a victim of his own vanity with the prodding of his ruthless wife, Lady Macbeth played by Jeanette Nolan in her film debut. He commits murder in order to secure his kingdom but finds no pleasure in his reign. Roddy McDowall, a long time Studio City resident, was cast in the role of Malcolm. 

Welles cast his daughter Chrisopher Welles in the role of Macduff's son and would be her first and only acting appearance in a film.

Macbeth was filmed on location at Republic Pictures where CBS Studio Center is now located.

Tile #18 on the Studio City Walk of Fame

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For more information, please visit the SCIA website Walk of Fame pages.