''King of Texas'' is a 2002 American
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
television film
based on
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''
King Lear
''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...
''
and directed by
Uli Edel
Ulrich "Uli" Edel (; born 11 April 1947) is a German film and television director, best known for his work on films such as ''Last Exit to Brooklyn'' and '' Body of Evidence.''
His '' Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny'' won a Golden Globe for ...
.
Plot
The film takes the plot of
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''
King Lear
''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...
'' and places it in the
Republic of Texas during the 19th century.
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor who has a career spanning seven decades in various stage productions, television, film and video games. He has been nominated for Olivier, Tony, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors ...
stars as John Lear, a wealthy
cattle baron
Cattle baron is a historic term for a local businessman and landowner who possessed great power or influence through the operation of a large ranch with many beef cattle. Cattle barons in the late 19th century United States were also sometimes re ...
and analog to King Lear. In the story, Lear divides his property among his daughters, only to be rejected by the eldest two of them once they have it.
Cast
*
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor who has a career spanning seven decades in various stage productions, television, film and video games. He has been nominated for Olivier, Tony, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors ...
as John Lear (King Lear)
*
Marcia Gay Harden
Marcia Gay Harden (born August 14, 1959) is an American actress. She is the recipient of accolades including an Academy Award and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for a Critics' Choice Movie Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Born ...
as Mrs. Susannah Lear Tumlinson (Goneril)
*
Lauren Holly
Lauren Holly (born October 28, 1963) is an American actress. She has played the roles of Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the television series ''Picket Fences'', NCIS Director Jenny Shepard in the series '' NCIS'', Dr. Betty Rogers on '' Motiv ...
as Mrs. Rebecca Lear Highsmith (Regan)
*
Roy Scheider
Roy Richard Scheider (; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer. Described by AllMovie as "one of the most unique and distinguished of all Hollywood actors", he gained fame for his leading and supporting ...
as Henry Westover (Earl of Gloucester)
*
David Alan Grier as Rip (amalgam of Earl "Caius" of Kent and The Fool)
*
Colm Meaney as Henry Tumlinson (Duke of Albany)
*
Patrick Bergin
Patrick Connolly Bergin (born 4 February 1951) is an Irish actor and singer perhaps best known for his leading role opposite Julia Roberts in '' Sleeping with the Enemy'' (1991), the title character in Robin Hood (1991 film), terrorist Kevin ...
as Mr. Highsmith (Duke of Cornwall)
*
Matt Letscher
Matthew Letscher is an American actor, director and playwright, known for his roles as Captain Harrison Love in the 1998 American swashbuckler film ''The Mask of Zorro'' and as Colonel Adelbert Ames in the 2003 American film '' Gods and General ...
as Emmett Westover (Edmund of Gloucester)
*
Liam Waite
Liam Waite (born Liam Owen East; March 20, 1971) is an American actor. He is the stepson of Ralph Waite. He is known for portraying a Mars Police Force Officer in John Carpenter's ‘’Ghost of Mars’’ & portraying a father figure in televis ...
as Thomas Westover (Edgar of Gloucester)
*
Steven Bauer as Menchaca (King of France)
*
Julie Cox
Julie Cox is an English actress. She played Princess Irulan in the Sci Fi Channel's 2000 miniseries ''Frank Herbert's Dune'' and its 2003 sequel, ''Frank Herbert's Children of Dune''. She also played The Childlike Empress in ''The Neverending ...
as Claudia Lear (Cordelia)
*
Richard Lineback
Richard D. Lineback (born February 4, 1952) is an American actor who appeared in the films ''Speed'', ''Twister'' and '' Varsity Blues''. He played Deputy Dodd in '' Friday the 13th: A New Beginning''.
Lineback has appeared in many roles on the ...
as Warnell (Oswald)
*
Roger Cudney
Roger Cudney (June 22, 1936 – July 5, 2021) was an American actor, singer, dubbing director, radio and television announcer.
Biography
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudney was known for starring in numerous Mexican films and telenovelas in which he ...
as Smithwick
Awards and nominations
Satellite Award
The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...
*Nominated, ''
Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television'' - Patrick Stewart
*Nominated, ''
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television'' - Roy Scheider
*Nominated, ''
Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television'' - Marcia Gay Harden
Western Heritage Awards
*Won, ''Best Television Feature Film''
References
External links
*
*
*
2002 television films
2002 films
2002 Western (genre) films
American Western (genre) television films
Films based on King Lear
Films directed by Uli Edel
Films set in Texas
Films shot in Mexico
Modern adaptations of works by William Shakespeare
TNT Network original films
2000s English-language films
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