Joe MacBeth

Date: 1955
Director: Ken Hughes
Production Company: Frankovich Productions

Stars: Paul Douglas, Ruth Roman, Bonar Colleano
Location(s): California, Surrey

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth set in the US criminal underworld of the 1930s.

Additional Information:

Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson

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After assassinating Tommy at his club, trigger man Joe MacBeth and Banky report back to gang boss "Duke" Duca. Is that a glimpse of Shepperton Studio's buildings through the roller shutter door?

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Now promoted to the Duke's second in command, MacBeth is given the keys to Tommy's former home on Lakeview Drive. Upper Court on Portsmouth Road, Esher in Surrey, which can also be seen in 'Game for Three Losers', 'Man at the Carlton Tower', 'Hell is Sold Out', 'The House of Blackmail' and 'A Place of One's Own'.

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Armed with machine guns, Joe MacBeth (Paul Douglas), Banky (Sid James) and Lennie (Bonar Colleano) arrive outside Dutch's Club.

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Alerted that his club has been attacked and burnt down, Big Dutch is driven from the city, followed by MacBeth, Banky and Marty. To keep the USA setting alive, the production includes several stock shots, mostly very dark, including this one of the Pacific Electric Subway Terminal in Los Angeles, California.

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The following morning the Duke is taken by MacBeth to see the damage caused by Big Dutch's Gang in retaliation. A set at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.

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One night, Lily MacBeth (Ruth Roman) follows her Husband from the house to the lake where he walks along a jetty towards the water before swimming out to the Duke as he sits on a pontoon. A real, but dark, waterside location.

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After MacBeth's rise to become kingpin following the murders of the Duke and Big Dutch, Banky pays a visit to his son Lennie to tell him that he needs to leave town for a while.

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Passing Lennie's wife Ruth (Kay Callard) on the steps, a pair of Hitmen (Alfred Mulock and George Margo) enter the building.

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At MacBeth's lakeside mansion, the Hitmen fall to the ground after being shot by Lennie. Another view of the Grade II listed Upper Court at Esher, Surrey,