National Theatre Live: The Motive and the Cue

Set in 1964, this drama focuses on the strained professional relationship between actor Richard Burton and director Sir John Gielgud. As they prepare an experimental Broadway version of Hamlet, the two men struggle to collaborate due to their conflicting theatrical perspectives. The tension grows throughout the rehearsal process, threatening the stability of the production while Burton manages his new marriage to Elizabeth Taylor.

Directed by Sam Mendes, this production is the 11th of 15 films in his career, following Empire of Light and preceding What They Found. The screenplay was written by Jack Thorne and produced by Pippa Harris and Caro Newling through Neal Street Productions and the National Theatre. The main cast features Johnny Flynn as Burton, Mark Gatiss as Gielgud, and Tuppence Middleton as Taylor, alongside Luke Norris, Allan Corduner, and Ryan Ellsworth.

This United Kingdom production earned 1 million USD at the worldwide box office. It has been well received by viewers, maintaining a rating of 8.5/10 on IMDb based on 214 votes.