The Dance of Death *** (1969, Laurence Olivier, Geraldine McEwan, Robert Lang) – Classic Movie Review 11,644

Director David Giles’s 1969 drama The Dance of Death is a welcome film of the British National Theatre production of August Strindberg’s downbeat play Dödsdansen, with Laurence Olivier outstanding as the sick and malevolent artillery captain Edgar, living unhappily on an island with Alice (Geraldine McEwan), the venomous wife he abuses in relentless battles in their isolated island fortress off the coast of Sweden.

Alice lures her cousin and would-be lover Kurt (Robert Lang) into the illusion of a passionate assignation and recruits him in a plot to destroy Edgar.

A theatre triumph emerges solid rather than spectacular as a film, not helped by director David Giles’s generally static camera. It is an important film as a record of one of Olivier’s greatest stage performances, though McEwan, while good, seems less impressive.

Also in the cast are Janina Faye as Judith, Malcolm Reynolds as Allan, Jeanne Watts as Old Woman, Peter Penry-Jones as a Lieutenant, Maggie Riley as Karen, Carolyn Jones as Jenny, Frederick Pyne as Sentry, Barry James as Sentry, David Ryall as Sentry.

Olivier and McEwan both re-create their stage roles, but Robert Lang replaces Robert Stephens as Kurt.

Screenplay by C D Locock (translation).

Olivier became ill during the stage run and was replaced by the young Anthony Hopkins, praised by critics and Olivier.

Other filmed National Theatre productions include Uncle Vanya (1963) and Othello (1965).

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,644

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