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