THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (1983)

BBC Release

Details

• DVD Region: 2+4 PAL (UK & Europe)
• Certificate: PG
• Running Time: Approx. 108 minutes
• Type: Fullscreen
• Originally Transmitted: 24th December 1983
• DVD Release Date: 2005
• Released By: BBC Worldwide Ltd.
• Distributed By: DD Home Entertainment
• Format: Colour DVD PAL
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Audio: Mono
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3

© BBC Television in association with Time-Life
All Rights Reserved

A COMEDIE

In 1978, the BBC set itself the task of filming all of William Shakespeare’s plays for television. The resulting productions, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilised the best theatrical and television directors and brought great performances from leading contemporary actors.

“O villain, thou hast stol’n both mine office and my name!
The one ne’er got me credit, the other mickle blame.”

The arrival and arrest of Egeon in Ephesus brings a family crisis into focus. Elsewhere, his son Antipholus and his slave Dromio seek their respective twins, lost to them 25 years earlier in a shipwreck. Mistaken identities and whimsical machinations ensue, while Egeon has just 24 hours to find a thousand-mark ransom to save his life.

This BBC production is one of Shakespeare’s most vibrant and sparkling comedies, full of mistaken identity, assumed personas, and hilarious family relationships.

Cast

First billed only

• Cyril Cusack ... Aegeon
• Charles Gray ... Solinus, Duke of Ephesus
• Nicolas Chagrin ... Master of the Mime
• Nick Burnell ... Mime Troupe Member
• Graham Christopher ... Mime Troupe Member
• Ross Davidson ... Mime Troupe Member
• Howard Lee ... Mime Troupe Member
• Daniel Rovai ... Mime Troupe Member
• Paul Springer ... Mime Troupe Member
• Jenny Weston ... Mime Troupe Member
• Bunny Reed ... Gaoler
• Michael Kitchen ... The Antipholi
• Roger Daltrey ... The Dromios
• Noel Johnson ... First Merchant
• Suzanne Bertish ... Adriana
• Joanne Pearce ... Luciana
• Marsha Fitzalan ... Luce
• Sam Dastor ... Angelo
• David Kelly ... Balthazar
• Alfred Hoffman ... Second Merchant
• Frank Williams ... Officer
• Ingrid Pitt ... Courtesan
• Geoffrey Rose ... Pinch
• Wendy Hiller ... Aemilia
• Peter Mackriel ... Messenger

• Director: James Cellan Jones
• Produced: Shaun Sutton
• Adapted: William Shakespeare’s original play