King Lear
Seen it?1974 | 175 min | Drama, TV Movie
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
People are still talking about it, though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 55 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 2 hr 55 min.
- Made in 1974: an older pace and style.
James Earl Jones delivers a riveting performance as paranoid patriarch King Lear, an aging monarch who insists that his three daughters prove their love for him, only to learn he's exalted the two who seek to destroy him. This live performance recording of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival production deftly envisions the bard's haunting tragedy with a fine supporting cast, including Raul Julia, Paul Sorvino and Rene Auberjonois.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 505K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Edwin Sherin
- James Earl JonesKing Lear
- Douglass WatsonKent
- Paul SorvinoGloucester
- Raúl JuliáEdmund
- Rosalind CashGoneril
- Lee ChamberlinCordelia
- Ellen HollyRegan
- Robert StattelAlbany
- Robert LanchesterCornwall
- Lou QuinonesBurgundy