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The Beggar's Opera

Play trailer Poster for The Beggar's Opera Released Aug 24, 1953 1h 34m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Based on John Gray's ballad opera, this film finds philandering highwayman Captain MacHeath (Laurence Olivier) precariously balancing the affections of two young maids (Dorothy Tutin, Daphne Anderson). This earns MacHeath a pair of powerful enemies in the girls' fathers: the vengeful Peachum (George Devine) and the dishonorable constable Lockit (Stanley Holloway). They plot to imprison MacHeath. But even as his death sentence nears, the dashing cad discovers an unexpected key to salvation.

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The Beggar's Opera

Critics Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Uneven but entertaining musical satire of Italian operas. Rated: B- Sep 9, 2020 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Sir Laurence Olivier does his own singing - in a pleasant but ohso-tentative and timid baritone - in this colorful, tuneful British screen version of John Gay's eighteenth-century opus. On the whole an enjoyable production. Nov 13, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Frances H A fun musical version in glorious technicolor with the great Sir Larry, Hugh Griffith and Sterling Holloway, with lots of vin and verve. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/04/20 Full Review Audience Member Colorful, cinematic version of John Gay's 1728 musical, which was the basis for Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera; Laurence Olivier does his own singing as The Beggar, and is supported by a good ensemble cast. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member just ok UK classic and Olivier's singing debut Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Peter Brook

Director

Laurence Olivier

Captain MacHeath

Stanley Holloway

Mr. Lockit

Dorothy Tutin

Polly Peachum

George Devine

Peachum

Mary Clare

Mrs. Peachum
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The Beggar's Opera

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on John Gray's ballad opera, this film finds philandering highwayman Captain MacHeath (Laurence Olivier) precariously balancing the affections of two young maids (Dorothy Tutin, Daphne Anderson). This earns MacHeath a pair of powerful enemies in the girls' fathers: the vengeful Peachum (George Devine) and the dishonorable constable Lockit (Stanley Holloway). They plot to imprison MacHeath. But even as his death sentence nears, the dashing cad discovers an unexpected key to salvation.
Director
Peter Brook
Producer
Laurence Olivier, Herbert Wilcox
Production Co
Herbert Wilcox Productions
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 24, 1953, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 34m
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