In Welles’ interpretation, the witches are not as “individual” as in Polanski’s version. In the introduction to this version, all three witches are standing equally spaced around a cauldron. We see them as silhouettes; the only part of the body we see is their hands as they plummet into the cauldron.
This does not mean that the two versions are completely unique, there are several similarities. One of these similarities would be at the beginning of both these films. One of the most important aspects of a film is its opening scene. It is the opening scene that wants you to watch on, and it is the opening scene in which many films are remembered for.
Both start with a cloudscape, with a long camera shot. The colours in both are either dark or associated with darkness. In Polanski’s version there are reds and oranges with signals sunrise. I think this has the effect of creating a feeling of death and blood with the warm red colours. Welles' film opens with a shot of the dark clouds in the sky, looking threatening above the mist. The witches seem to be up on a heath, which sticks to the original play. I think this has the effect of creating a feeling of anxiety and tension for the reader. Another similarity between the two versions would be Polanski’s burial scene, and Welles’ cauldron scene, they both resemble each other. In each there is also a focus on the hands of the witches, and both the two sets of witches have rituals which are performed. Both the introductions end on the oldest witch saying “Macbeth”.
Both the versions do reflect the era in which they were made. Welles’ Macbeth was filmed in 1948 and I think that its stereotypical approach represents the true feelings and beliefs about witches for that era. Polanski’s version filmed in 1971 represents a broader view of the witches, which in turn represents people’s broader thoughts and opinions on witches as time progresses. to operate
People in the 1970’s would be a lot less likely to believe in witches than people in 1948. This could be for many reasons including no scientific proof.
The structure of the two films is slightly similar. Each version comprises of around 7 sections. My personal view of the witches before and after the main part of each version changes quiteconsiderably a lot. In the Polanski version, I first perceived the witches as gentle beings, but after the burial scene in which we see the oldest witch handling a severed hand, blood being poured, and spitting on the floor, my impression of the witches has completely changed and I now assume they are immoral. Again, in Welles’ version my first thought about the witches was that they looked normal and would not harm anything. However, after the cauldron scene and the part where the witches’ hands shape the clay effigy, I began to think of the evil behind the witches. the central focus
In Polanski’s Macbeth various audio and visual techniques are combined. Polanski’s version opens with a long shot of the sky and the beach at dawn. You notice that the sky is red, which is commonly associated with danger. It's a very striking image. The sky then gradually turns to a blue-grey and far more menacing colour, and then the red fades out and disappears. There are no other buildings around to view, and nothing else is happening so as the audience you notice this. The shot is held, a cough is heard, and next appears a withered, crooked stick. The stick draws a circle in the sand, the place in which the witches are to dig. I think that this also has a second meaning; circles represent life, which never ends. The shot is held, and a cough is heard. The witches’ hands scoop out the sand and dig the hole in the beach. This has the effect of arousing the viewer’s interest, as we want to know what happens. There is then a cut to a shot of a seagull which circles the sky, and makes sounds of despair.
In Welles’ Macbeth too, audio and visual techniques are used. During the introduction, music comes on, it is not out of tune, but it is eerilyinharmoniously played, and it adds to the effect that something is wrong. In the next shot the witches appear to be on the heath. This gives the effect that they are above all normal beings, and that they have power over them to a certain extent. This is followed by a close-up shot of the cauldron that fills the screen, a thick, glutinous boiling mixture. The words of the spell are spoken, but you don’t need to actually see the witches to feel the rhythmic chant which is building up to something.as a modelis
us captivates, buttweuss.
