over the decades there have been numerous interpretations and adaptations of macbeth from different filmmakers, from kurosawa to polanski and many more. noah gittell has been looking back at cinema history to see how filmmakers have staged the so called scottish play in the past. you know your own degrees. orson welles directed and starred in the first significant adaptation of macbeth in 19118. a macabre interpretation, welles film featured a grisly execution scene not found in the original play. his significant revisions to the text, including the reordering of scenes and the cutting of dialogue, angered critics, and the film was not considered a success. hail macbeth! over the years, others have tried their hand at it. roman polanski made a well regarded version in 1971