William Shakespeare’s King Lear is considered one of the playwright’s most haunting and enduring works, and its title role is a formidable right of passage for any Shakespearean actor. This 2008 PBS telecast marks the return of the legendary Sir Ian McKellen to the Royal Shakespeare Company, a reunion that features his tour-de-force achievement as the abused and tormented monarch. After a world tour that included New York, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, the RSC production concluded with sell-out performances in London’s West End, then went straight to Pinewood Studios for this special recording. Co-directed for television by Sir Trevor Nunn and Chris Hunt. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (150 minutes)