SHAKESPEARE PLAYS, THE: TITUS ANDRONICUS (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's late 16th-century revenge play "Titus Andronicus." The story begins as Titus, a general, returns to Rome after defeating the Goths, bringing along a number of prisoners. His eldest son Lucius requests to kill one of the hostages to send a message, and though Tamora, queen of the Goths, begs for her own son's life, Titus allows Lucius to kill her eldest, Alarbus, and his brothers Demetrius and Chiron swear revenge. Titus bids a solemn farewell to his many dead soldiers in their tomb, joined by his daughter, Lavinia. The dead emperor's sons, Bassianus and Saturninus, argue over the throne, but Titus' brother Marcus, a tribune, states that Titus has been chosen thanks to his war victories. Titus declines the position, however, not wanting to rule, and he names elder son Saturninus the new emperor. Saturninus accepts and announces that he shall marry Lavinia, and Titus hands Tamora over to Saturninus as well, who promises not to treat her badly. Bassianus then declares that he himself is engaged to Lavinia and refuses to give her up, and a fight breaks out in which Titus kills one of his own sons, Mutius. Saturninus, appalled at his actions, renounces his claim on Lavinia and opts to marry Tamora instead. Titus refuses to allow Mutius a proper burial, feeling that he behaved treasonously, but Quintus and Lucius convince him.
Tamora convinces Saturninus to pardon Titus, though she privately declares that she will destroy Titus for killing Alarbus. Elsewhere, Chiron and Demetrius argue over Lavinia, and Aaron, Tamora's secret lover and a Moor, convinces them to work together and assault her in secret in the woods. Titus prepares for a royal hunt with Saturninus and the others as Chiron and Demetrius prepare to stalk their own "dainty doe," and Aaron hides a bag of gold in the woods and tells Tamora that Bassianus is to die that day. Tamora finds Bassianus and Lavinia in the forest and, when her sons appear, claims that the duo intended to kill her. They kill Bassianus and throw him into a pit, and though Lavinia begs Tamora to save her, she allows her sons to drag her off. Quintus and Martius soon find Bassianus' body in the pit, and Saturninus soon joins them and hears the news. Tamora produces a forged letter framing Quintus and Martius for the murder, and Aaron "finds" the bag of gold as further proof. Quintus and Martius are arrested despite Titus' pleas, while elsewhere Marcus is devastated to discover that Lavinia has been raped and had her hands and tongue removed to prevent her identifying her attackers. Titus pleads for his sons' lives, and Lucius is banished when he tries to defend his brothers. Marcus then brings Lavinia to Titus, who is horrified to see her condition and tries to comfort her.
Aaron then arrives and declares that Quintus and Martius will be released if his family submits one of their hands as ransom, and Titus immediately agrees and allows Aaron to cut off his hand. A messenger soon brings the hand back, however, along with Quintus and Martius' heads, and Titus is outraged at the deception. He, Marcus and Lucius decide to raise an army of Goths to defeat their enemies, and Titus is consumed with thoughts of revenge even over dinner as he attempts to interpret Lavinia's gestures and lambasts Marcus for killing a fly, saying that it reminds him of the Moor. Lavinia desperately chases Lucius' son and tries to use his books to communicate her message, and eventually Marcus aids her in using a stick to write in the dirt. They finally realize that Chiron and Demetrius are to blame, and decide that their punishments must be more than simply death. Young Lucius visits Aaron, Chiron and Demetrius, pretending to offer a gift of weapons from Titus, though Aaron sees through the ruse. A nurse then enters with a mixed-race baby, clearly Tamora's son by Aaron, and Chiron and Demetrius immediately plan to kill the child to protect their mother's reputation. Aaron refuses to allow it, however, and quickly kills the nurse before declaring that he will switch the child with a white infant and escape with his son.
Titus, seemingly growing madder, enlists his sons' help in shooting arrows wrapped with letters addressed to the gods into the sky. A clown arrives and Titus gives him a message for Saturninus, who is later annoyed to find the arrows scattered around his courtyard, worried that the letters will reveal his crimes. Tamora assures him that Titus is simply mad with grief, and when the clown delivers Titus' letter, she immediately has him hanged. Saturninus is alarmed to read that the Goths are coming to attack, led by Lucius, but Tamora states that she can calm Titus and put a stop to the war. Elsewhere, the Goths vow revenge on Tamora for betraying them, and Aaron is caught fleeing the city with the baby. Lucius orders him tied up, and Aaron confesses the entire revenge plot in order to save himself and the child, naming Chiron and Demetrius as the rapists. At the same time, Tamora and her two sons disguise themselves as the spirits of Revenge, Rape and Murder and visit Titus, planning to convince him to invite Lucius to a banquet, where they will cause further mayhem. Titus plays along and asks the "spirits" for help in killing his enemies, sending Marcus off to find Lucius. Left alone with Chiron and Demetrius, Titus summons Lavinia and Marcus' son Publius, and they tie up the brothers. Titus announces that he intends to kill them and feed them to their mother for their crimes, and he cuts their throats as Lavinia holds a basin for the blood.
At the feast, Marcus assures Tamora and Saturninus that Titus wants peace with them. Titus acts as a servant and asks Saturninus if, hypothetically, he should kill his daughter if she is raped to preserve her "honor." Saturninus states that he should, and is shocked when Titus slays Lavinia in front of them. Titus then declares that Tamora's own sons were the rapists and that they are now in the pie which she has just eaten, and he fatally stabs her, causing Saturninus to kill him in turn and Lucius to kill Saturninus. Later, Marcus laments the tragedy and vows to repair Rome, and Lucius explains how he was banished for defending his brothers, who were in fact framed by Tamora's villainous sons. Lucius is named emperor and decides to give Aaron a "direful slaughtering death" in which he is buried to his chest and left to the elements, and Lucius and Marcus say their goodbyes to Titus in his tomb. Saturninus is given a proper burial, though Tamora is thrown to the wild animals, and young Lucius is left gazing sadly at the coffin containing Aaron's child. Commercials deleted.
Asset also contains a short film entitled "Sandsong," in which artist G. Augustine Lynas creates elaborate sand sculptures on the beach, then allowing them to be washed away by the tide.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: April 19, 1985 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:57:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:05570
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1985
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- Shaun Sutton … Producer
- Yvonne Smith … Series Producer
- Jane Howell … Director
- William Shakespeare … Writer
- Dudley Simpson … Music by
- Paul Davies-Prowles … Cast, Young Lucius
- Edward Hardwicke … Cast, Marcus
- Walter Brown … Cast, Aemilius
- Brian Protheroe … Cast, Saturninus
- Nicholas Gecks … Cast, Bassianus
- Derek Fuke … Cast, Captain, 3rd Goth, Sempronius
- Eileen Atkins … Cast, Tamora
- Neil McCaul … Cast, Demetrius
- Michael Crompton … Cast, Chiron
- Gavin Richards … Cast, Lucius
- Crispin Redman … Cast, Quintus
- Tom Hunsinger … Cast, Martius
- Peter Searles … Cast, Alarbus, 4th Goth, Valentine
- Michael Packer … Cast, Mutius
- Hugh Quarshie … Cast, Aaron
- Trevor Peacock … Cast, Titus
- Anna Calder-Marshall … Cast, Lavinia
- Paul Kelly … Cast, Publius, 2nd Goth
- John Benfield … Cast, Messenger
- Deddie Davies … Cast, Nurse
- Tim Potter … Cast, Clown
- John Benfield … Cast, 1st Goth, Caius
- For "Sandsong":
- Stuart A. Goldman … Producer, Director
- G. Augustine Lynas