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Film Versions of The Tempest
Adaptations of Shakespeare's plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films and/or videos world-wide. That makes Shakespeare the most filmed playwright of all time! Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of The Tempest that can help you study and better understand the play.
The Tempest
1980
Director: John Gorrie
Not Rated
A standard BBC version of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Set design and costumes are quirky, in a mod 70s kind of way. The film offers a serviceable rendering of the play for students or others interested in getting a taste of the original work.
The Tempest
1998
Director: Jack Bender
Rating: PG-13
A modern adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest set in the Mississippi Bayou during the Civil War. The film stars Peter Fonda as Gideon Prosper, a magical sorcerer who is forced to retreat to an island in the swamps with his lovely daughter Miranda, and a slave named Ariel. Peter Fonda won the Best Actor Golden Globe for his performance.