The Beggar's Opera (1991): cast, story & where to watch
1991 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1991, The Beggar's Opera is a comedy, drama and tv movie film directed by Jiří Menzel, running about 94 minutes.
What it’s about. Unlike any other opera, the so-called Beggar's Opera is not just one composition, but a lineage of adapted compositions, beginning with the original hugely successful 1728 political satire written by Englishman John Gay. Composers and writers have penned variations on it ever since. The most famous of these was A Threepenny Opera by Bertholt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Some things these compositions share in common is their setting among the poor and criminal classes, and the roguish character Macheath. This production is based on an adaptation of Gay's original by Vaclav Havel the freedom-fighter, writer and philosopher who became the first (and only) president of the united post-communist country of Czechoslovakia, and it retains many traces of its theatrical origins. Film reviewers were not too tolerant of what they called "slavish adherence" to the noted Czech writer's stage production, but theater, philosophy and history buffs may feel otherwise.
Who’s in it. The Beggar's Opera stars Josef Abrhám as Macheath, Mahulena Bočanová as Vicky, Jana Břežková as Mary Lockit and Petr Brukner, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Beggar's Opera has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. 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 Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Beggar's Opera (1991)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Beggar's Opera change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Beggar's Opera worth watching?
- The Beggar's Opera holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and tv movie. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Beggar's Opera?
- The Beggar's Opera stars Josef Abrhám, Mahulena Bočanová, Jana Břežková, Petr Brukner and Jeremy Irons.
- When was The Beggar's Opera released?
- The Beggar's Opera was released in 1991, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.