Shakespeare, and "Macbeth" in particular, are an important part of Orson Welles' professional history. In the later 1930s, Welles worked with Negro Theatre Unit of the Federal Theatre Project to put on plays in Harlem — the most famous of which was the so-called "Voodoo Macbeth," which had an all-Black cast and took place on a Carribbean island where witches used voodoo instead of magic.
In 1948, Welles decided to do a slightly more conventional film adaptation of "Macbeth." He directed, starred, and wrote the screenplay for this version; it was also (as explained by the Chicago Tribune) a low-budget production, shot in 21 days with sets and costumes that had been repurposed from Republic westerns. These constraints show in the final project — many of the outfits look slightly out of place, and there's a definite sense that Welles wanted to do more. Everyone also speaks with a Scottish burr.
Jeanette Nolan played Lady Macbeth, Roddy McDowell played Malcolm, and Dan O'Herlihy — in his first-ever American production — played Macduff. Welles also added some religious overtones to the story, most notably with the new character of A Holy Father (played by Alan Napier).
The film has a healthy score on Rotten Tomatoes, though it's not Certified Fresh. Most of the reviews are relatively recent, either as retrospectives or in relation to a director's cut. Most praise Welles' performance and direction, noting how well he did on such a tight budget.
