Macbeth (unfinished film)

After making Richard III (1955), Olivier wanted to film Macbeth, with himself in the title role and his wife Vivien Leigh as his Lady.

[3] Maxine Audley, who played Lady Macduff, thought Leigh had brilliantly conveyed the character's changes of mood, and that for once the spectator could believe this couple were married.

[2] Richard III had failed to make a profit and the death of Sir Alexander Korda in January 1956 had severed an agreement the producer had made with Olivier.

Composer William Walton, who had scored Olivier's previous Shakespeare films, had been commissioned for this project, and fruitlessly used his contacts to help find funds.

[6] Critic Pauline Kael cited Olivier's failure to make a film of what was considered one of his greatest performances, to be emblematic of the perversity of Hollywood.