John Dexter’s production of Othello at the National Theatre stands today as a masterpiece among film presentations of theatre productions. Shakespeare’s tragic story of how a great man’s vanity is manipulated by a jealous aide to bring about his downfall has never been more movingly nor dramatically portrayed. Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Frank Finlay and Joyce Redman all received both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for their performances. A screen classic in every sense.

Olivier stars in the Emmy Award winning production King Lear, with a brilliant cast that includes John Hurt and Diana Rigg. Lear is an aging King who wants to retire by abdicating to his three daughters. However, in an act of petty ego stroking, he asks them who among them loves him most. While two daughters eagerly toady to him, his one loving daughter, Cordelia, refuses to play along with this foolish charade. In a rage, Lear exiles her along with his one loyal aide who dares to stick up for her.