Prospero's Books
“A magician's spell, the innocence of young love and a dream of revenge unite to create a tempest.”
Synopsis
An exiled magician finds an opportunity for revenge against his enemies muted when his daughter and the son of his chief enemy fall in love in this uniquely structured retelling of the 'The Tempest'.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Prospero's Books 1991 Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-08-18
Top Cast
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John Gielgud
Prospero
Michael Clark
Caliban
Michel Blanc
Alonso
Erland Josephson
Gonzalo
Isabelle Pasco
Miranda
Tom Bell
Antonio
Kenneth Cranham
Sebastian
Mark Rylance
Ferdinand
Marie Angel
Iris
Ute Lemper
Ceres
Deborah Conway
Juno
Paul Russell
Ariel
Gerard Thoolen
Adrian
Pierre Bokma
Francisco
Jim van der Woude
Trinculo
Michiel Romeyn
Stephano
Orpheo
Ariel
James Thierrée
Ariel
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 15, 1991
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 1993
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.7M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.01x
+$25K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Greenaway
- Screenplay & Story
- Peter Greenaway
- Original Score
- Michael Nyman
- Original Title
- Prospero's Books
- Country of Origin
- Japan, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Italy
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 6m
- Production Budget
- $1.7M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.8M
- Production Studios
- Camera One, Allarts, Cinéa
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, William Shakespeare
Michael Nyman
Sacha Vierny
Marina Bodbijl
Kees Kasander
Department Leadership Roster
Sacha Vierny
Director of Photography
Peter Greenaway
Director
Michael Nyman
Original Music Composer
Kees Kasander
Producer
Marina Bodbijl
Editor
Ben van Os
Production Design
Ellen Lens
Costume Design
Peter Greenaway
Screenplay
Jan Roelfs
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Prospero's Books.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Prospero's Books.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Prospero's Books
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Prospero's Books about?
An exiled magician finds an opportunity for revenge against his enemies muted when his daughter and the son of his chief enemy fall in love in this uniquely structured retelling of the 'The Tempest'.
Who directed Prospero's Books?
Prospero's Books was directed by Peter Greenaway.
Who stars in Prospero's Books?
The principal cast of Prospero's Books includes John Gielgud, Michael Clark, Michel Blanc, Erland Josephson, Isabelle Pasco.
When was Prospero's Books released and how long is it?
Prospero's Books was released in 1991 with a total runtime of 2h 6m.
What was the box office and production budget of Prospero's Books?
Prospero's Books had a reported production budget of $1.7M and grossed $1.8M at the worldwide box office (1.01 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Prospero's Books?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Prospero's Books was composed by Michael Nyman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Prospero's Books?
Prospero's Books holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).