The Tempest (1979)
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
95 min
Prospero, a potent magician, lives on a desolate isle with his virginal daughter, Miranda. He's in exile, banished from his duchy by his usurping brother and the King of Naples. Providence brings these enemies near; aided by his vassal the spirit Ariel, Prospero conjures a tempest to wreck the Italian ship. The king's son, thinking all others lost, becomes Prospero's prisoner, falling in love with Miranda and she with him. Prospero's brother and the king wander the island, as do a drunken cook and sailor, who conspire with Caliban, Prospero's beastly slave, to murder Prospero. Prospero wants reason to triumph, Ariel wants his freedom, Miranda a husband; the sailors want to dance.
- Release date
- August 25, 1979
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
Where to watch
Free
Hoopla
Kanopy
Free with ads
Tubi TV
Trailer
Cast
- Heathcote Williams as Prospero - The Right Duke of Milan
- Toyah Willcox as Miranda, his daughter
- Karl Johnson as Ariel, an airy spirit
- Jack Birkett as Caliban, a savage and deformed slave
- Peter Bull as Alonso - The King of Naples
- David Meyer as Ferdinand, his son
- Richard Warwick as Antonio, his brother
- Christopher Biggins as Stephano, a drunken mariner
- Peter Turner as Trinculo, his friend
- Ken Campbell as Gonzalo, an honest councillor
- Claire Davenport as Sycorax
- Neil Cunningham as Sebastian, his brother
Crew
- Derek Jarman · Director
- William Shakespeare · Writer
- Derek Jarman · Writer
- Guy Ford · Producer
- Mordecai Shreiber · Producer
- Brian Hodgson · Composer
- John Lewis · Composer
- Peter Middleton · Cinematographer
- Lesley Walker · Editor
- Yolanda Sonnabend · Production designer