Laurence Olivier Presents (1976–1978) watch online

Laurence Olivier Presents is a British television anthology series made by Granada Television which ran from 1976 to 1978.

Olivier said "I have stood out stiffly and coldly and pompously about TV for too long". The plays, with the exception of Hindle Wakes, all starred Laurence Olivier. Some of the plays were based on productions staged at the National Theatre during the period when Olivier was Artistic Director. In addition to distinguished English actors, the casts assembled for these productions included several Hollywood stars, such as Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward and Maureen Stapleton.

The individual plays adapted for television were:

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams

Starring Natalie Wood as Margaret, Robert Wagner as Brick, Maureen Stapleton as Big Mama Pollitt, Mary Peach as Mae, Jack Hedley as Gooper and Olivier as Big Daddy Pollitt

The Collection by Harold Pinter

Starring Alan Bates as James, Malcolm McDowell as Bill, Helen Mirren as Stella and Olivier as Harry

Hindle Wakes by Stanley Houghton

Starring Donald Pleasence as Nat Jeffcote, Rosemary Leach as Mrs. Jeffcote, Jack Hedley as Chris Hawthorn, Pat Heywood as Mrs. Hawthorn and Roy Dotrice as Sir Timothy Farrar

Come Back, Little Sheba by William Inge

Starring Joanne Woodward as Lola, Carrie Fisher as Marie, Patience Collier as Mrs Coffman, Nicholas Campbell as Turk and Olivier as Doc

Daphne Laureola by James Bridie

Starring Joan Plowright as Lady Pitts, Arthur Lowe as Gooch, Grégoire Aslan as George, Clive Arrindell as Ernst, Bryan Marshall as Vincent and Olivier as Sir Joseph

Saturday, Sunday, Monday by Eduardo De Filippo.

Starring Joan Plowright as Rosa, Frank Finlay as Peppino, Edward Woodward as Luigi and Olivier as Antonio

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)