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The Beggar's Opera

5.119531h 34mMovieHistoryCrimeMusic

Adaptation of John Gay's 18th century opera, featuring Laurence Olivier as MacHeath and Hugh Griffith as the Beggar.

DirectorPeter Brook
WritersChristopher Fry·Denis Cannan
ProducersHerbert Wilcox·Laurence Olivier

Where to watch

Availability shown for United Kingdom · rights vary by country

Cast · Directed by Peter Brook

LOLaurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
MacHeath
HGHugh Griffith
Hugh Griffith
The Beggar
GRGeorge Rose
George Rose
1st Turnkey
SBStuart Burge
Stuart Burge
1st Prisoner
CC
Cyril Conway
2nd Prisoner
GL
Gerald Lawson
3rd Prisoner
DTDorothy Tutin
Dorothy Tutin
Polly Peachum
GDGeorge Devine
George Devine
Peachum
MCMary Clare
Mary Clare
Mrs. Peachum
EP
Edward Pryor
Filch
ASAthene Seyler
Athene Seyler
Mrs. Trapes
SHStanley Holloway
Stanley Holloway
Mr. Lockit

More from Laurence Olivier · Lead actor

Great Performances
Great Performances
1971 · 6.1
Omnibus
Omnibus
1967 · 7.2
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
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1969 · 7.0
Jesus of Nazareth
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1977 · 7.8
The World at War
The World at War
1973 · 8.3
Spartacus
Spartacus
1960 · 7.5
Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited
1981 · 7.9
Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans
1981 · 6.9
Rebecca
Rebecca
1940 · 7.9
Romeo and Juliet
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1968 · 7.4
See all fromLaurence Olivier

More from Hugh Griffith · Co-star actor

Thirty-Minute Theatre
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1965 · 4.2
Playhouse
Playhouse
1974 · 7.0
Lux Video Theatre
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1950 · 6.7
Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur
1959 · 7.9
Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
1973 · 6.8
ABC Stage 67
ABC Stage 67
1966 · 6.8
Colonel March of Scotland Yard
Colonel March of Scotland Yard
1956 · 7.5
Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty
1962 · 7.1
The Million Pound Note
The Million Pound Note
1954 · 7.0
The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales
1972 · 6.1
See all fromHugh Griffith

More from Peter Brook · Director

Lord of the Flies
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1963 · 6.7
The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade
The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade
1967 · 6.2
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
2002 · 10.0
The Mahabharata
The Mahabharata
1990 · 6.0
King Lear
King Lear
1970 · 6.5
Meetings with Remarkable Men
Meetings with Remarkable Men
1979 · 6.7
The Tragedy of Hamlet
The Tragedy of Hamlet
2002 · 8.5
The Mahabharata
The Mahabharata
1990 · 7.1
Tell Me Lies
Tell Me Lies
1968 · 6.4
Ride of the Valkyrie
Ride of the Valkyrie
1977 · 6.3
See all fromPeter Brook

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2019 · 7.1
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The Beggar's Opera — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams The Beggar's Opera?

The Beggar's Opera isn't on any subscription service in United Kingdom right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video. It's not on Netflix.

Is The Beggar's Opera on Netflix?

No, The Beggar's Opera is not on Netflix in United Kingdom as of November 2026. You can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Is The Beggar's Opera on Amazon Prime Video?

The Beggar's Opera isn't included with a Prime Video subscription in United Kingdom, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Where can I watch The Beggar's Opera for free?

The Beggar's Opera isn't available free in United Kingdom; you can only rent or buy it on Amazon Video.