King Lear
Synopsis
King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Michael Hordern
King Lear
Sarah Badel
Goneril
Penelope Wilton
Regan
Angela Down
Cordelia
Frank Middlemass
Fool
Anthony Nicholls
Earl of Gloucester
Michael Jayston
Edmund
Ronald Pickup
Edgar
Ewan Hooper
Earl of Kent
Benjamin Whitrow
Duke of Albany
John Shrapnel
Duke of Cornwall
Donald Gee
Oswald
David Horovitch
Duke of Burgundy
David Neal
King of France
George Merritt
Old Man
Mike Hayward
First Servant
Roger Elliott
Second Servant
Geoffrey Collins
Third Servant
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jonathan Miller
- Screenplay & Story
- Alan Shallcross
- Original Title
- King Lear
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 0m
- Production Studios
- BBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jonathan Miller
Alan Shallcross
Cedric Messina
Department Leadership Roster
Cedric Messina
Producer
Vic Symonds
Production Design
Jonathan Miller
Director
Juanita Waterson
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for King Lear.
Similar Titles to King Lear
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.0
7.0
6.4
6.8
6.8
6.4
6.8
7.2
6.6
5.5
7.3
7.9
5.8
6.9
10.0
7.3
More Like King Lear
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About King Lear
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is King Lear about?
King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.
Who directed King Lear?
King Lear was directed by Jonathan Miller.
Who stars in King Lear?
The principal cast of King Lear includes Michael Hordern, Sarah Badel, Penelope Wilton, Angela Down, Frank Middlemass.
When was King Lear released and how long is it?
King Lear was released in 1975 with a total runtime of 2h 0m.