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The Merchant of Venice (1980)

The Merchant of Venice (1980)

Drama Comedy Romance TV Movie
Release Date: 1980, December 17
Directors: Jack Gold
Countries: United Kingdom
Production: BBC, Time-Life Television Productions
Cast: John Rhys-Davies, Gemma Jones, Enn Reitel, Kenneth Cranham, Shaun Scott, Douglas Wilmer, Marc Zuber, John Franklyn-Robbins, Alan David, Peter Gale, Arnold Diamond, Richard Morant

Overview:

A rich merchant, Antonio is depressed for no good reason, until his good friend Bassanio comes to tell him how he's in love with Portia. Portia's father has died and left a very strange will: only the man that picks the correct casket out of three (silver, gold, and lead) can marry her. Bassanio, unfortunately, is strapped for cash with which to go wooing, and Antonio wants to help, so Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, the money-lender. But Shylock has been nursing a grudge against Antonio's insults, and makes unusual terms to the loan. And when Antonio's business fails, those terms threaten his life, and it's up to Bassanio and Portia to save him.