Product Details

• Actors: Tim Curry
• Directors: Mark Cullingham;Robert Knights
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: December 16, 2008
• Run Time: 303 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000A2VNEU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,738 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Will Shakespeare" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Emmy Award-winner Tim Curry (The Hunt for Red October, Clue) and Golden Globe-winner Ian McShane (Deadwood, Sexy Beast) star in the riveting story about the great Bard's rise to fame.

Set in the sixteenth century, WILL SHAKESPEARE begins with the lesser known story of Shakespeare's humble beginnings and youthful obscurity in Avon. As he struggles to survive as a playwright, Shakespeare faces multiple obstacles, including the black plague and various personal tragedies, but defeats all obstacles to achieve unprecedented success in London.

Written by John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey, Tea with Mussolini), this engrossing six-part miniseries renders the sights and sounds of Elizabethan England in exquisite detail. Rich in both tragedy and deliciously cheeky humor, this series moves through Shakespeare's untold story with dramatic flair.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, May 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: William Shakespeare - His Life & Times [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Tim Curry is truly wonderful in his portrayal of William Shakespeare. The 6 tape set focuses on the life of Shakespeare, from his humble beginning being from a poor family in Stratford Upon Avon; to going to London (and seems to be hiding from his wife and children), to a talented playwrite. On his way to being famous, he is befriended by the Earl of Southampton, lives through the black plague, some personal tragedies, and writes some of the best plays and poems of all time. Tim does age in this from a handsome young and middle age Shakespeare to the balding Shakespeare that we have all seen depicted in our English Literature books in High School.

This movie is extremely hard to find and quite expensive, but well worth the time put into finding it and the money spent to buy it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's the DVD?, November 30, 2007

By	J. Arena (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: William Shakespeare - His Life & Times [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This production is a masterpiece, and Tim Curry is as good an actor as ... well... Tim Curry can only be!

Brilliantly written and acted, with marvelous costumes, this is a must for any lover of history, the stage ... and, in case I didn't mention -- Tim Curry!

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will Shakespeare, wonderful!, January 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: William Shakespeare - His Life & Times [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This 6 part video set is truly a master peice! Tim Curry in the role of a young Shakespeare (he does age in this, by the way) is magnificent. The scenery and a co-actors are wonderful and truly real life. I highly recommend buying this, though it is expensive . . . :( Ah well, 6 tapes, each an hour long full of Tim and everything is grand!