Jeremy Brett - The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice
             10 February 1974, ITV
             16 March, 1974, ABC
             Role: Bassanio
             This is a video reproduction of Jonathan Miller's acclaimed National Theatre production that starred Laurence Olivier (Shylock), Joan Plowright (Portia) and Jeremy Brett (Bassanio) and preserved
Olivier's final stage Shakespeare role. -- BFI ScreenOnline
             Widely regarded as the most convincing screen adaptation of The Merchant of Venice to date, this production was sourced from Jonathan Miller's acclaimed 1970 National Theatre staging. Aside from its artistic merit, it's also a valuable historical record,
             preserving Laurence Olivier's farewell to stage Shakespeare. ...

Miller has updated the action to the late 19th century. ...
Joan Plowright is a splendidly imperious Portia, slightly older than many, but this has the effect of stressing the length of time she's had to wait for a husband. ... She deliberately prods Bassanio (Jeremy Brett) in the right direction, with the help of a gloriously over-the-top vocal duet. -- BFI ScreenOnline

Make no mistake--JB's Merchant belongs to Laurence Olivier and his bravura portrayal of the controversial Shylock. However, Jeremy and the other supporting players (including Joan Plowright, Olivier's wife) contribute fine performances of their own.
This version of The Merchant of Venice aired in the US on the ABC TV network on March 16, 1974. It was a National Theatre production filmed by Sir Lew Grade's Associated Television corporation (ATV), which was represented in the US by ITC.
The play originally aired in the UK on February 10, 1974.

It re-created the 1970 NT staging of the play, using many of the same actors, including Jeremy. Like the 1970 stage production, this version was directed by Jonathan Miller and is set in the 1880's. Updating the setting from the 16th century made the story more accessible to contemporary audiences. Miller saw the production as "Shakespeare as seen through the eyes of Henry James. Even the verses seem to be Jamesian."
Although the time frame was changed, Shakespeare's verses and the plot remain as written. Well-to-do merchant Antonio has a young friend named Bassanio (JB), who loves Portia (Plowright), a wealthy spinster from Belmont.   Bassanio fears he's too poor to court Portia, so he wants to borrow money from Shylock, an exorbitant moneylender.   Antonio offers to stand surety for Bassanio's loan.
Shylock agrees, but only if Antonio (who hasn't been exactly cordial to Shylock) consents to give up a pound of his flesh if the loan isn't repaid.   Although Bassanio is appalled, Antonio accepts Shylock's outrageous terms.

TRIVIA: Most of this production was filmed at the famous Elstree studios in London beginning on July 15, 1973. The cafe was modeled by set designer Peter Roden after the renowned Caffe Florian in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) in Venice. The scenes set at Belmont, Portia's estate outside of Venice, were actually filmed at the West Wycombe estate in Buckinghamshire, UK. The main house serves as Portia's house in the film.