Review of Throne of Blood (1957) by Jorge L — 26 Apr 2009

I recall that the three witches were replaced by a single one on a spinning wheel singing riddles; very eerie and I think more effective than the Scottish play (some argue that it was Middleton who penned the witch scenes, at least with Hecate, or of some collaboration). Also, the film lacked the apology for the British army marching into Scotland and taking over, hail Brittania, as required by the Scottish play. But Lady Macbeth is quite formidable on stage, where in the film Toshiro Mifune dominates her even in his weakness, she is an extension of him where Lady Macbeth is an incarnation of something more substantial onstage.

Can it be said to be a tragedy? Many have observed that the Scottish play is not by Aristotle's definition, as it is long on terror and short on pity: Macbeth regains himself and his sense of duty but only at the very bitter end, as in the film, a realization that is too little too late.