Edward II
(1969/BBC DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B- Telefilm: B-
In recent
years, Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II
has not only gained momentum in the face of Gay Civil Rights against the
Neo-Conservative era, but in Derek Jarman’s amazing 1992 film of the play. However, there are other interpretations and
the landmark 1969 BBC version with Ian McKellan in the title role is finally
out on DVD and it more than holds its own against the Jarman version by simply
remaining powerful and by more than just offering the first man-on-man kiss in
the history of the network and British TV overall.
The story
is about the title ruler over 400 years ago who has a queen, but really longs
for his male lover Galveston (James Laurenson from the TV version of State Of Play), but haters behind the
scenes plot his fall and will use everything from lies to homophobia to achieve
it. The results are a grim torture and
infamous murder that still resonates and was even truncated in Mel Gibson’s
problematic Braveheart, but we’ll leave that for you to discover.
The 1.33
X 1 image is shot on analog PAL videotape and looks good for its age, though
there are flaws, but the production has some fine costumes and stage design
that also hold up better than expected.
Considering the age of the tape, it looks good. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound is also good
for its age, though slightly distorted here and there. The combination is very watchable. The only extra is a very interesting program
called The Marlowe Inquest about how
the author of the play died a supposed barroom brawl, but there may be
something more to it because his authorship of this very play may have cost him
his life. It runs 90 minutes.
- Nicholas Sheffo
