William Shakespeare's classic play The Merchant of Venice comes to life like never before in this 1973 adaptation starring two titans of stage and screen: Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright. Young Bassanio (Jeremy Brett) desires the lovely Portia (Plowright), but in order to win the fair lady's hand properly, he needs money. Taking a loan from the moneylender Shylock (Olivier), Bassanio names his friend Antonio (Anthony Nicholls) as guarantor.. but when the loan comes due and is unpaid, Shylock demands a particular penalty from his debtor: a pound of his flesh. Now Portia and the two friends must find a way to thwart Shylock from his plans and save Antonio.