The Beggar's Opera (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1953, The Beggar's Opera is a crime, music and history film directed by Peter Brook, running about 94 minutes.
What it’s about. Adaptation of John Gay's 18th century opera, featuring Laurence Olivier as MacHeath and Hugh Griffith as the Beggar.
Who’s in it. The Beggar's Opera stars Laurence Olivier as MacHeath, Hugh Griffith as The Beggar, George Rose as 1st Turnkey and Stuart Burge as 1st Prisoner, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, The Beggar's Opera has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Beggar's Opera page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Beggar's Opera tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Dark Knight.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Beggar's Opera (1953)?
- In US, The Beggar's Opera is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Beggar's Opera worth watching?
- The Beggar's Opera holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy crime, music and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Beggar's Opera?
- The Beggar's Opera stars Laurence Olivier, Hugh Griffith, George Rose, Stuart Burge and Cyril Conway.
- When was The Beggar's Opera released?
- The Beggar's Opera was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.