Macbeth Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A Scottish dude hears some goth girls say he’ll be king, so he and his wife commit career suicide by killing everyone in sight until a tree army shows up to ruin their day.

🍿 Macbeth: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Prophecy

The film opens with the three witches casting a spell, setting a dark and ominous tone. Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, returns victorious from battle. He and Banquo encounter the witches, who prophesize that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. Banquo is told that his descendants will be kings.

The Murder of King Duncan

News arrives that Macbeth has indeed been named Thane of Cawdor, fulfilling the first part of the prophecy. Lady Macbeth, ambitious and ruthless, convinces Macbeth to murder King Duncan, who is visiting their castle. Macbeth initially hesitates, but Lady Macbeth questions his manhood and persuades him to commit the deed while Duncan is asleep.

Macbeth’s Reign of Terror

After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth becomes king. Paranoid and consumed by guilt, he orders the murder of Banquo and his son Fleance to prevent the second part of the prophecy from coming true. Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes. Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost at a banquet, further fueling his madness.

The Witches’ Second Prophecy

Macbeth seeks out the witches again. They show him apparitions and deliver a new set of prophecies: he should beware Macduff, but he cannot be harmed by any man born of woman, and he will not be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth feels invincible, but his actions lead to further tyranny.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Macbeth (Orson Welles): A Scottish nobleman who murders his king to seize the throne after receiving a prophecy from three witches.
• Lady Macbeth (Jeanette Nolan): Macbeth’s ambitious wife who manipulates him into committing regicide and fuels his tyrannical reign.
• Macduff (Dan O’Herlihy): A Scottish nobleman who becomes Macbeth’s nemesis and ultimately avenges the murder of his family.
• Malcolm (Roddy McDowall): The son of King Duncan, who flees after his father’s murder and later returns to reclaim the throne.
• Banquo (Edgar Barrier): Macbeth’s friend and fellow general, whose descendants are prophesied to become kings, leading to his murder at Macbeth’s order.
• Duncan (Erskine Sanford): The King of Scotland, who is murdered by Macbeth to usurp the throne.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Macbeth: “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day; to the last syllable of recorded time…” – Macbeth’s iconic soliloquy reflects on the futility of life after learning of Lady Macbeth’s death.
• Macbeth: “…Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.” – Continuing his soliloquy, Macbeth describes life as meaningless, a brief performance with no lasting impact.
• Macbeth: “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” – Concluding his thoughts, Macbeth delivers a bleak assessment of life as a senseless and chaotic story.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $900,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Macbeth Reviews

Personal Review

I have a soft spot for Welles’ Macbeth. It’s moody, dark, and the visual style perfectly fits the atmosphere of the play. While the low budget is evident, it adds to the film’s surreal and nightmarish quality. The witches are genuinely creepy, and Welles’ performance is both commanding and tragic. I was especially captivated by the banquet scene with Banquo’s ghost, it’s so intense. This movie really stuck with me.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Shakespearean tragedies”
  • “Those interested in Orson Welles’ filmography”
  • “Viewers who appreciate visually stylized films”
  • “People interested in dark and atmospheric dramas”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and murder”
  • “Themes of ambition, guilt, and madness”
  • “Supernatural elements”
  • “Brief scenes of horror”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “Welles captures the eerie mood, creating an unrelentingly dark and often uncomfortable experience. While the Scottish accents are a nice touch, the extra running time actually robs the film of some momentum. Welles did wonders with the cheap Republic sets; the film is a masterpiece of expressionist set design.
• Film Fanatic: “This 40s Macbeth is a Shakespeare adaptation with mixed results, created by and starring Orson Welles and released through Poverty Row studio Republic. The costumes are Scandinavian but the accents are definitely Scottish.

Audience Reactions

The darkness and dampness really gave a gritty appeal to this film.: Viewers enjoyed the film’s moody atmosphere and Orson Welles’ performance.

Welles creates a world where Macbeth is pawn of the supernatural: Applauded for its unique interpretation of the play.

Overall Consensus: A visually striking, albeit flawed, adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, praised for its atmosphere and Welles’ performance but criticized for its low budget and sometimes uneven acting.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Orson Welles shot the film in just 23 days on a very low budget at Republic Studios, known primarily for Westerns.”
• “The film was initially criticized for the actors’ broad Scottish accents, leading to a re-dubbed version with ‘normal’ accents, which was later restored to Welles’s original vision.”
• “Welles redesigned sets and reassigned dialog to various characters, creating a new character called ‘A Holy Father’ played by Alan Napier.”
• “Laurence Olivier planned his Macbeth film. However, he changed it to Hamlet due to Orson Welles’s film being released first.”

🖥️ How to Watch Macbeth?

Orson Welles’ 1948 adaptation of Macbeth is currently difficult to find on major streaming platforms. Availability changes frequently, so check services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Hulu for rental or purchase options. It is also often available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray through online retailers like Amazon. Look for restored versions to see Welles’ original vision.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Macbeth, you might like these similar films:

• Throne of Blood (1957): Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of Macbeth set in feudal Japan, sharing similar themes of ambition and fate.
• The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971): Roman Polanski’s version of Macbeth offering a darker and more visceral interpretation of the story.
• Citizen Kane (1941): Also directed by Orson Welles, it explores themes of ambition, power, and the corrupting influence of wealth, similar to Macbeth’s lust for the throne.

🛒 Macbeth Related Products

• Macbeth (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A meticulously restored edition of Welles’ visionary adaptation, featuring insightful commentary and behind-the-scenes content. This Criterion Collection edition offers the best possible viewing experience and makes for a standout addition to any film library.
• Macbeth (No Fear Shakespeare): A simplified version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with modern English translations to help understand the original language. It helps readers grasp the nuances of the play and improve their understanding of Shakespeare.
• Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Library): An authoritative edition of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, complete with detailed annotations, essays, and historical context. It offers comprehensive notes and background information to enhance your understanding of the play.
• Macbeth (Shakespeare at the BBC): This version of Macbeth comes straight from one of the most respected sources of Shakespearean plays; the BBC. The BBC made a series of all of the original plays of William Shakespeare, which allows the watcher to learn more about the source material of the Welles Macbeth film.

🎧 Soundtrack

Macbeth features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Macbeth: Main Title” – performed by Jacques Ibert
• “Macbeth: Incantation des Sorcieres” – performed by Jacques Ibert

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Macbeth (Shakespeare) – Thug Notes Summary and Analysis

Yo, need a breakdown of Macbeth that’s both hilarious and insightful? Thug Notes breaks down the plot, themes, and characters in a way you’ve never seen before. Trust me, it’s way more entertaining than your high school English class!

Free Will, Witches, Murder, and Macbeth, Part 1: Crash Course Literature 409

Ever wonder if Macbeth was destined for his fate or if he made his own choices? Crash Course dives deep into the play’s biggest themes in a way that’s super easy to follow. Plus, there’s a Yoda cameo – what’s not to love?

Shakespeare in Seven Minutes: Macbeth Summary #macbeth #shakespeare #gcseenglish

Need a quick refresher on Macbeth? This animated summary covers the entire play in just seven minutes! It’s perfect if you’re studying for a test or just want a fast recap. Honestly, it’s so well done, you’ll actually enjoy it.

Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s Macbeth summary

Struggling to keep all the characters and plot points of Macbeth straight? SparkNotes is here to save the day! This video summary is a great way to quickly get all the key information. It’s basically the cliff notes but in video format, and honestly, who doesn’t love that?!

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