When the Duke of Vienna takes a mysterious leave of absence and leaves the strict Angelo in charge, things couldn't be worse for Claudio, who is sentenced to death for premarital sex. His sister, Isabella (a nun-in-training), however, is a very persuasive pleader. She goes to Angelo, but instead of freeing her brother, she gets an offer from Angelo to save Claudio's life if Isabella sleeps with him. The only sympathetic friend Isabella has is a priest who, in actuality, is the Duke in disguise...and he has a plan.
Kenneth Colley
as Duke Vincentio
Kate Nelligan
as Isabella
Tim Pigott-Smith
as Angelo
Christopher Strauli
as Claudio
John McEnery
as Lucio
Jacqueline Pearce
as Mariana
Frank Middlemass
as Pompey
Alun Armstrong
as Provost
Adrienne Corri
as Mistress Overdone
Ellis Jones
as Elbow
John Clegg
as Froth
William Sleigh
as Barnardine
