Ian McKellen as Macbeth ("Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow")

The Performance of Macbeth (1976), directed by Trevor Nunn

[@SandyRiverBlue]

I freaking love KZbin. 80 years of the stage's best actors playing the same piece, all amazing, and unique, and all at my fingertips.

[@zeitgeist5134]

Yes, indeed. How I wish that I had had this resource 50 years ago when I was a teenager. I tell people...teach your children not to depend on schools to provide them an education (fat chance). Teach them to educate themselves. For self-education, KZbin is a brilliant resource (as long as one knows how to evaluate the intellectual merit of the channel).

[@RocketPropelledGuy]

Feels weird when you remember those 80 years compromise not even a quarter of the length of time Macbeth has been performed. It is believed to have been first performed in 1606. Well over 400 years ago.

[@v4v819]

Will someone please think of the children!!!

[@lindaross783]

Agree!

[@thomasjefferson1010]

Haha. There must be a catch eh?

[@scraggybeard]

I love how he adds a grain of madness and sorrow with each syllable. At the beginning of the scene, MacBeth is a mad, yet proud ruler about to go into battle. By the end, he is a sad, broken wreck of a man.

[@Schattenfaust2]

***** Yeah, but it's still well done.

[@PremierFloorCare]

You are a keen observer.

[@tappetovolanteviaggi8808]

exact. The best interpretation of this piece to me

[@rationalmuscle]

Just a stunning performance.

[@arnoldstollar5375]

scraggybeard Great

[@bailandoeres]

She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing. - Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17-28)

[@chrisr1557]

@Caleb Collier you sir, are genius

[@erik_carter_art]

I get chills at the way he says "noth-ing" at the end! Sir Ian is truly one of the most spectacular actors on Earth!

[@Beastman5K]

Reminded me of how he said "mel-lon"

[@sodarkherhair78]

If that got your attention you might want to check out Jeremy Irons' monologue in "Margin Call". There's a clip on this platform, called "Margin Call Emergency Meeting Senior Partners" , skip forward to around the 5.30 mark when Irons gets out of his seat. I have a feeling that his performance sent chivers down the spine all over the room 👍👍👍

[@byronjohnson4097]

Check out his buddy Patrick Stewart's take - that "nothing" is...everything!

[@pedrocorrea6870]

I love how he starts a bit indiferent and in each step you can see a little crack of emotion from a man who is suppose to show none.

[@frankdodd3355]

He captures it. Tommorow AND tomorrow. She died for nothing. The boring grind of life. Great stuff.

[@Jemmer1000]

I like how the first "tomorrow" is attached to the end of "there would have been a time for such a word" I really think that's how it was meant to be said.

[@frankdodd3355]

No doubt. This reading is so great, projecting life as it is (or can be): a grind. Tomorrow...and tomorrow...and tomorrow. So great. I love how he's avoiding coming to terms with her death by saying "She should have died hereafter..." and suggesting it's all meaningless anyway. Noth-ing,,,,

[@rationalmuscle]

Agreed... I noticed that and thought the same. His pace is superb.

[@marlberg2963]

@@frankdodd3355 This post is likely too long in the tooth but to me, the important word there is the conjunction. And. Watch Sir Ian's eyes as he bridges the gap between each day. Watch how his face falls becomes more open. The naked fear of continued existence plain on his countenance.

[@graxxor]

The way he delivers this with seeming aloof contempt at first followed by a brief, forlorn hint of longing at the first "tomorrow," rapidly giving way to seething anger at the third and then finally to complete, desolation by the last line is IMO as near perfection as a delivery can be.... And the death and soullessness in his eyes is absolutely terrifying. His is without a doubt my favourite of all Scottish Play performances.

[@TheSMLIFfilms]

I think this line really takes on more meaning every time it's recited. Each actor who says it gets his our upon the stage and it's just as quickly passed to the next, repeating over and over the same tired soliloquy. Signifying less and less and yet more and more.

[@iambored2006]

+TheSMLIFfilms Wow, that is a beautiful insight. Thank you.

[@DejiAdegbite]

Deep.

[@The_ZeroLine]

Once we conquer death, it’ll lose its impact.

[@facu_avm]

Yess!! What I love about this soliloquy is that every single actor has it’s own different way to do it. Look at Sean Connery, fast, rough, desperate, then compare it to Sir Ian. It amazes me how a single monologue can work in such a range of different interpretations.

[@horrorfanandy4647]

@@facu_avm Perfectly summed it up.

[@FUTABA-kg]

Just came to learn the British accent here but repeating this over and over gradually made me awe of the greatness of his acting. The difference between the 3 "tomorrow" is stunning.

[@danielwilcox419]

'Out, out, brief candle!' is in my opinion the line that offers the greatest interpretative challange to most Macbeths. Sir Ian McKellen's delivery here - drenched with contempt - stands as the best example I've seen.

[@RK-ip9zp]

it was chilling.

[@davidfernandez8515]

I disagree. Personally it's the part of the soliloquy I liked less. I think he delivered way too flatly. That line needs much more theatricality, it's the line that starts the parallel between life and the stage and it has to disrupt the previous tone of absolute despair with a certain nihilistic sarcasm. In my opinion it's Macbeth addressing the fools of the previous line, mocking them

[@C-Note93]

I had to recite this in English honors as a Senior. At the time, I was like wtf is this? As a 29 year old man, I understand. Thank you Mrs Lucille Ward. Forever my best teacher. I’ll never forget you! ♥️

[@Winglesscat]

Wow, I can hear the hidden sorrow and rage in his voice. This actor did really well

[@jeremydaly8293]

The genius of the acknowledgment that Seton has left. That he is alone. That there is no one to convince, to make cower. this is the only scene in any media I can think of where someone simply speaks to the void, and it dosent come across as cringey or overdone. Macbeths despair is so human that it's terrifying. His surrender to the meaninglessness of everything is terrifying, because he's not wrong. Everyone has felt the edging black despair that is so chillingly expressed here. Imagine seeing this in an age where religion and faith are dominant. How much this idea would be arresting and terrifying. That maybe people suffer and struggle and live and die with no real reason. No real purpose.

[@alabarjhoni9742]

i was thinking how cringey it was for him to be staring into the camera as i saw this comment about it not being cringey lol

[@fallinginthed33p]

The long dark night of the soul. Once you've felt it, yeah.

[@richardsykes9692]

Bill channeling his inner Dawkins safely through character?

[@gunnersaurus17]

Such a masterful reading. The impotent, cold fury. The hollow grief. How wonderful that such a magnificent performance was recorded for future generations.

[@ZombieKilla2008]

Just noticed that he doesn't blink once

[@nigelgibson2242]

I just thought the self same thing.

[@paveljohn4808]

This is literally the best acting piece I've ever seen in my whole life.

[@MasterWarner]

i love how there's such a since of bitterness and anger in this scene, you can hear it in his voice the disdain for life after what has happened, it's very deep

[@SecondQuantisation]

He doesn't blink through the entire monologue. He looks down once but doesn't actually blink. It's as if time has stopped for that speech and he's apart from it.

[@Kianmur]

420 years ago Shakespeare wrote this. The guy sure had a way with words- what genius

[@chrismack2677]

His words were so powerful that, they gave his wife a W.A.P!

[@levent.a.7280]

420 years ago there was no English language as we know it today, it was completely different.

[@DarthSinistris]

I love Patrick, but I think Ian owns this.

[@LifeWithLeah123]

I like Fassbender's weary version.

[@DarthSinistris]

I haven't seen that one, do you have a link?

[@honoraryanglo2929]

No Stewart was far better

[@clementinejarrett9198]

patricks was so ass

[@andeace23]

I sense the bitterness and anger more in this than regret, but his face shows the pain- a really great interpretation

[@monicabeatrizsanchez9610]

He was and ever will be the best performer of this (and surely other) speech😮

[@mindrolling24]

Watched this at school. It was mesmerising and McKellen and Dench are still two of my favourite actors.

[@matthanks1480]

Ian McKellan is a fine wine....he only becomes better and better as he becomes older.

[@Bluemayje]

He doesn't blink ONCE through that whole speech. He kind of narrows his eyes at the "poor player" part of the soliloquy but doesn't ever fully close his eyes. It's as if he's staring directly into a void that has finally stared back at him and broken the last vestiges of his will and reason.

[@furkanaydogmus96]

Sir Ian is a brilliant actor no doubt! and his voice just wow!

[@matthewmann8969]

His acting is very well done he really knows how to sell himself whether it be in theatre or in film I think this is a great example of how theatre actors are usually more professional then screen actors because stage actors and actresses do not have to get told the words cut alot in there acting performances Ian and Judy are great example of great stage actors and actresses as well as Ian Mcdiarmid and Toby Stephens.

[@mckavitt13]

Try that in literate English, good spelling & your comment might be brilliant.

[@aryaankhalid8441]

@@mckavitt13 xD

[@KidFresh71]

We witness in awe: the brilliant words and timeless wisdom of the Bard, brought to life by a powerhouse actor. Stunning performance; my favorite soliloquy. Each viewing reveals another emotive layer and deeper meaning, like peeling back the skin of an onion.

[@jodyf8443]

Make every syllable count. As a performer and a writer, that's one of the best takeaways I got from Shakespeare those performing it.

[@ogilkes1]

He puts into this the supressed anger and 'what might have been' of a man who is utterly defeated and knows it

[@mu2reviews]

That moment that Magnito and Professor X played the same character...

[@muhaminatora2163]

that moment when ian mcellenn played macbeth, but also micheal fassbender played macbeth. and they both became Magneto in x-men.......

[@NostalgiNorden]

That has happened countless times.

[@JackJames2612]

It's gonna blow your mind when you hear nearly all classically-trained British actors will have played Macbeth.

[@DarthSinistris]

@@JackJames2612 spoiler alert

[@lordxepa8190]

It's funny cause both magnetos played Macbeth xD

[@Bootmahoy88]

This speech, to me, demands a personal understanding of despair. It asks a great deal of any actor approaching it.

[@shivaranjanmenon1543]

Wow. That is amazing acting. Such depth,such meaning in every sound he made, every small twitch in his face.

[@debanjanabanerjee8422]

Just love how he delivers "tomorrow and tomorrow" With the pauses... It just makes so much more sense

[@esmewvimes2901]

In college, I got lucky for my work study and spent one year as aide to the professor that taught Shakespeare. The Professor, Ace, was an utter ass, but if afforded me many opportunities to read and watch and analyze and read what others had to say about the plays. My favorite is Much Ado About Nothing. I always wanted to find a Benedick to my Beatrice when I was young, and foolish. King Lear is my favorite tragedy, though I feel I've seen a dozen MacBeths for every other play. I just had KZbin playing whatever came along when I heard Ian - - Sir Ian McKellan's voice and came over to watch this clip. It struck me more deeply than any other performance I have seen. I must get my hands on the full performance. Anthony Hopkins did a great Lear, and Akira Kurosawa's Ran MUST be see by anyone who loves Shakespeare. Titus - that is the other Hopkins version you should see. Titus Andronicus and it is a horror beyond what most of the writers and directors of today would present. It is bloody and sick, and disgusting, and impossible not to watch. Ian Mckellan's Richard the III is very good, too.

[@suveshbhattacharyya764]

Sir Ian's words create a spine-chilling feeling in me, everytime when i hear his famous speech from Shakespeare's immortal creation Macbeth.

[@Ashnarath]

The perfect definition of breathtaking performance.

[@J.B24]

McKellen is the greatest Macbeth ever!

[@bjc2876]

that quiver at 0:30 is excellent.

[@kapitankapital6580]

SJW / Histeria group quite often quivering voice can ruin the performance of a lesser action, but it is used masterfully here

[@fatihkan2601]

The world owes him so much for giving the soul of the character of Gandalf.

[@Evilliboba]

I had to do this in front of my English class senior year. It is truly amazing to hear it from the master.

[@mikesmith4337]

Ian MeKellen is spectacular in this role

[@danielkelly7582]

that voice baby!! that unmistakable voice!!

[@christopherthorkon3997]

Flawless. A masterful interpretation.

[@mdtalhaansari1096]

I never thought that he was young once.

[@purplepoet6147]

I'm performing this scene for a school project, i needed to visualize it to help memorize it. This is sooo good. Ian Mckellen is the best!

[@NJC201285]

What an intense, precise and accurate performance

[@DerekHunterDHChaosRiddler]

There've been so many excellent productions of this great play and this one to me ranks as one of the best.

[@johnrobinson4445]

Geez, he is really good. The full mortal desperation of that speech comes out as I've never seen it.

[@malin434]

It’s weird to see him this young

[@unstopitable]

That pause between "noth" and "ing"--genius.

[@ballad2212]

His lovely voice is so recognizable

[@InternetOfGames]

Impeccable!

[@nkechi4635]

The only Shakespeare passage I can recite off the top of my head.

[@jsterninmoser]

Especially on "out, out brief candle." On another note, I LOVE his use of "no-thing."

[@phillipbrandel7932]

The way he places his pauses in the first few lines adds a whole new dimension to this soliloquy. First with the tomorrows: There would have been a time for such a word: Tomorrow, (pause) and tomorrow, (pause) and tomorrow (pause) Each "and tomorrow" is delivered as though it has only just occurred to him at that moment that there is yet another day before him which he will possibly have the misfortune of experiencing, and after his third "and tomorrow" one partially expects him to continue the pattern, really driving home his awful sense of the endlessness of time. But the pattern is in fact broken: Creeps in this petty pace from day (pause) to day (pause) to... We expect another "day" here because that is the pattern that has been established. But instead we get: ...the last syllable of recorded time. which comes as a surprise both because it breaks the pattern and because it rapidly accelerates the movement of time. We have been moving one day at a time, and suddenly we are at the end of recorded history. Of course, this acceleration is straight from Shakespeare’s pen, but McKellan’s delivery really showcases the music latent in Shakespeare’s verse.

[@jimmeh8781]

He is just amazing!!!!

[@rugbynimbus]

Elegant rage.

[@yu5bloom]

i have known these lines ever since i was 16 :D i love this play!!

[@micheleceresola267]

Who's here after the Queen death?

[@anthonylua8048]

Michael Fassbender looks great!

[@agenttheater5]

Patrick Stewart and James Mcavoy have also played Macbeth.....

[@brandonsamuels6457]

anthony lua He's prettier than Fassbender.

[@garethhanby]

He certainly is, but people like character in faces (especially males). So that is why Fassbender is an international star now and it took McKellen a while longer - when he was slightly less pretty.

[@NathanDav42]

More Ben Mendelsohn.

[@hustlerkid1065]

Sir mckellen is awesome

[@johnrobinson4445]

"There would have been a time for such a word tomorrow." This is exactly and beautifully correct. Why couldn't this news wait? Never start with the first 'tomorrow'. End with it. The speech doesn't know it is famous.

[@richardsykes9692]

No, he’s referring to ‘hereafter’ surely? There would have been a time for such a word, but not anymore, there is no future.

[@richardsykes9692]

And McKellan isn’t ending the sentence with tomorrow, there’s a space before he starts the next sentence with the first tomorrow.

[@johnrobinson4445]

@@richardsykes9692 Oh, I cannot agree (respectfully). Other actors follow the folio (which was not checked and confirmed by Shakespeare) to great destructive effect on the drama of this moment, in my opinion. Here, McKellan takes a breath...and finishes his thought. This completed thought then inspires the train that follows. That is how his version has always impressed me. "I really could use...phew... a drink! And a drink, and a drink, and then another drink." Anyway, just my two cents on an utterly masterful performance. Also: "There would have been time for such a word tomorrow." is one logical, complete sentence. Everything else is intonation. In contrast, "There would have been time for such a word." doesn't really make sense. Time when? It is not a complete thought. Again, just me thinking aloud.

[@LiaThePenguinologist]

It's weird how it almost seems like he's speaking directly to the audience. Obviously in part because he's looking directly at the camera, but especially at "It is a tale told by an idiot", It feels like he's trying to convey a message instead of just musing, which is how I usually imagine it. It's cool to be able to see his and Patrick Stewart's rendition of the speech one after another.

[@rounakdas4450]

Hit different when high. The magic of Shakespeare & Sir Ian McKellen.

[@CrowHavenBM]

WOW! I saw this in school about a year ago and had no idea it was Ian McKellen! I guess I wasn't paying attention at the time. This is just amazing!

[@pretty312]

What an extremely good looking man!!!!

[@frank6551]

he's really amazing, it gave me chills

[@MichaelHeroin]

My grandpa taught me this speech off by heart, I know it like the back of my hand, but listening to Ian McKellen perform is is the first time I ever really heard it.

[@somberlight]

McKellen's Macbeth is a thoroughly bitter man. It is as if the truth is slowly sinking in, and he understands the futility of it all. and he hates every bit of it. I like Stewart's approach better. He plays Macbeth like an old man who's grown weary of life and even if he tries to pretend otherwise, he is already in terms with the oblivion that is waiting for him.

[@mattjames4978]

Just his breathing alone is brilliant in this

[@Stephanlabize]

this is my favorite. I love his contained rage, fear and despair. Like he's ready to burst, scream, howl, laugh and give up all at the same time. You can really see him fall into madness but with very subtle acting. And that final "no ...thing". What a brilliant acting choice I like Connery's fast paced bewildered naturalism. I like Stewart's nihilism, I like Eccleston's loony disdain and I like Fassbender's gravita. But McKellen was born to play MacBeth

[@rhetttalley671]

Holy shit. Ian nailed it. Nihilism never sounded so good, alas.

[@randallpeaslee1779]

Bishop Robert Barron recommends watching this production. This is a wonderful appetizer. I cannot wait to have the time to sit and watch the full play.

[@clairenunavut]

at first it is surprising to hear the speech appearing so mechanical, but in fact it is brilliant. His disdain for life and around is expressed even in his deep words, as if he didnt want to put any emotions at all....

[@Jgordon847]

That was intense.

[@kinaret8375]

Today this day

[@nicobrown]

Ahh ty for putting this up. This has to be my fave part of the play :D

[@imbrescucalin6386]

patrick is work+talent and ian is talent+work+talent

[@sirihammond4748]

"sir ian, sir ian, sir ian...."

[@squamish4244]

Ian McKellan was quite the handsome fella back in the day.

[@justpassingby2358]

love his rendering.

[@LearnEnglishWithMatta]

Solid performance; I love to use this in my ELA class.

[@Myrdden71]

1976. Ian McKellan as Macbeth. Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth. Great actors!

[@daveyb4604]

Did anybody else feel that in their soul?!

[@pateris]

Bloody heck, he was already THAT brilliant !

[@jasonz777z]

I'm amazed at how sweaty he is, he seems to deal with it quite well...

[@genghisthegreat2034]

I still love Richard Harris ' s 'grenade' story on this scene

[@mickmcdonagh]

Now I know where Rutger Hauer got his inspiration for his Tears in Rain moment

[@bunkertons]

Man, McKellen is such a babe!

[@kmxx244944]

I have to say this in front of my class. I will listen to this until Tuesday until it's memorized.

[@chimeratechman]

I know it's late, but did you do well on the recite?

[@AlexHamlin]

Perfect.

[@gibbonsgriffithsinc7731]

I read this out aty grandads funeral because he used to recite Lady Macbeth to me. I know this speech off by heart.

[@dale9724]

Saw him do the soliloquy live at NAC in 1984. Wow.

[@greenkostia]

I’m a school teacher and my kids ask why we still learn Shakespeare. I tell them he is simply one of the best writers of English that has ever been. They scoff but then they get it

[@bluesque9687]

Brilliant!!

[@Sayajin3321]

Man dies inside more and more with each word he says.

[@tomvvw]

I LOVE HIM AND I LOVE MACBETH UGH

[@MrPaulcoster94]

He’s an absolute master