Young William Shatner surprised me with the poignancy of his performance as the unfortunate Billy Budd. He was only in his early 20s. Easy to see why he was frequently cast in various roles during this time in his career. His versatility is undeniable and in this role, he underplays nicely as befits the Bully character. His accent is reasonably convincing and conveys his character's intensity and innocence. I had to get past his blonde wig which I didn't think suited him but superficial details aside, this was a well told story.
Of course Shatner was beautifully supported by Basil Rathbone and Patrick MacNee in mature, well nuanced performances. This compact and efficient portrayal of the Herman Melville classic is worth viewing. Thanks to GM theatre for filming these great stories. The print I saw was not great quality but I didn't once consider turning it off.
Of course Shatner was beautifully supported by Basil Rathbone and Patrick MacNee in mature, well nuanced performances. This compact and efficient portrayal of the Herman Melville classic is worth viewing. Thanks to GM theatre for filming these great stories. The print I saw was not great quality but I didn't once consider turning it off.