Shakespeare Collection (Hamlet 1996 / A Midsummer Night's Dream 1935 / Othello 1965 / Romeo & Juliet 1936)

Description

HAMLET: "Hamlet has the kind of power, energy and excitement that movies can truly exploit," award-winning actor/director Kenneth Branagh says. In this first-ever full-text film of William Shakespeare's greatest work, the power surges through every scene. The timeless tale of murder, corruption and revenge is reset in an opulent 19th-century world, using sprawling Blenheim Palace as Elsinore and staging much of the action in shimmering mirrored and gold-filled interiors. The energy is electrifying, due to a luminous cast. The excitement of the Bard's words and an adventurous filmmaking style lift the story from its often shadowy ambience to fully-lit pageantry and rage. Now presented in an amazing 2-Disc Special Edition. ROMEO & JULIET: Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard in the title roles are "so good that one can forget they are too old for the roles" (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide). Adding to this allure of this nominee for four Academy Awards?* including Best Picture are lavish sets and costumes (Botticelli paintings inspired Shearer's wardrobe) that fuel the film's then-astonishing $2-million budget. OTHELLO: The original cast and soul-shattering impact of the play's 1964 staging by the National Theatre of Great Britain are captured on film. As the valiant war hero swept into a maelstrom of jealousy and revenge, Olivier won his seventh Academy Award? nomination.* The movie's Desdemona (Maggie Smith), Emilia (Joyce Redman) and "honest Iago" (Frank Finlay) also captured Oscar? nominations.* And the result, Bosley Crowther wrote in The New York Times, is that "this Othello is one of the boldest you'll ever see." A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Love is blind, fickle and true. And under the sway of capricious fairies it becomes blinder (a queen romances a donkey), more fickle (best friends swoon over each other's beau) and truest of all (lovers repledge their devotion). "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" in Shakespeare's bewitching comedy. James Cagney, screen-d

Customer Reviews:

what's high-brow?.......2007-07-23

The Texas Refugee also makes claims of "Warner going highbrow." What pray tell that this have to do with this unreleased box set? Warner is simply plowing through their own libraries and the MGM one they bought, without any specific attention to genre, age, original studio, or whether it's high-brow, low-brow or mid-brow.
My rating in in "anticipation" of a fine release with expected transfers of a high level of excellence.

Looks Interesting.......2007-07-18

Funny how the "Texas Refugee" has bought this box set that has not been released. Hmmm.

I am looking forward to seeing the 1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream and the 1996 Hamlet again. I have not seen MND for a very long time, but I have very fond memories of it. The 1996 Hamlet is arguably the best on film.

(Why do I have "Peter Jackson" in my badge?)

Warners continues to go highbrow with this new boxed set.......2007-05-12

I was very pleased with my "Literary Classics Collection" and "Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection" that I purchased from Warner's, and it looks like the studio originally known for gritty urban dramas continues to go highbrow with this collection of four movies featuring interpretations of works by the Bard. The press release by Warner Home Video has the following extras listed for each movie:

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
Cast includes James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland (in her screen debut), Joe E. Brown, and Mickey Rooney. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.
DVD Special Features:
Commentary by film historian Scott MacQueen
Olivia de Havilland screen test
Vintage featurette "A Dream Comes True" (8 minutes)
Presenting... Gallery of 6 teaser trailers showcasing cast members
Warner Bros. Studio Café teaser trailer
Musical short "Shake Mr. Shakespeare"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English, French and Portuguese (feature film only)

Romeo and Juliet (1936)
This was actually an MGM production. George Cukor directs with Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard in the title roles. Nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture.
DVD Special Features:
Vintage short "Master Will Shakespeare"
Classic MGM cartoon "Little Cheeser"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Othello (1965)
Lawrence Olivier in the title role, Maggie Smith as Desdemona, Joyce Redman as Emilia, and Frank Finlay as Iago. All four performers were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances.
DVD Special Features:
Vintage featurette "Olivier Talks About Othello"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Hamlet 2-Disc Special Edition (1996)
Cast includes actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal and Charlton Heston. This rendition is set in the 19th century.
DVD Special Features:
Introduction by director/star Kenneth Branagh
Commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Shakespeare scholar Russell Jackson
New digital transfer from original 70mm elements
Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
Featurette "To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet"
1996 Cannes Film Festival promo
Shakespeare movies trailer gallery
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish subtitles. (feature film only)

Average customer rating:

SLOW, BUT WITH GOOD PERFORMANCES
Branagh, and not much else
Branagh rocks as Iago
GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fascinatingly lurid (if a bit brief) adaptation!

Othello
Starring: Laurence Fishburne , Irène Jacob , Kenneth Branagh , Nathaniel Parker , and Michael Maloney
Director: Oliver Parker
Manufacturer: Turner Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B00003OST5
Release Date: 2000-01-18

Amazon.com

Oliver Parker, a stage and film actor (Hellraiser), made his directorial debut with this scaled-back version of Shakespeare's play about the paranoid Moor, Othello (Laurence Fishburne), and his manipulative friend, Iago (Kenneth Branagh). Parker gets the story so lean he starts running a little short on the author's subtext, and if it's possible to overemphasize the banality of Iago's scheming and Othello's malleability, he does so. The director throws out what is universal in the story and makes it all seem merely ordinary, human, and unfortunate, which is the opposite of what watching Shakespeare should be. In the end, it's hard to care what these characters have done to one another. Branagh's Iago is a little flat and unfocused, while Fishburne is excellent as a quieter Othello than we're accustomed to. With Irène Jacob (Red) as Desdemona. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

SLOW, BUT WITH GOOD PERFORMANCES.......2007-09-14

Oliver Parker's adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is a descent attempt at translating the story for the screen. The story itself is a slow-going, and a bit hard to follow at times. What saves the film are some good performances by a fine cast. Laurence Fishburne is good as Othello, and Irene Jacob is beautiful and powerful as Desmonda. The rest of the cast does a good job, but the standout performance is given by Kenneth Branagh as the villanous Iago.
The most interesting thing about this film is how the director makes the viewer feel a part of the story by having Othello and Iago look at the camera while giving their soliliquies. It's as if the actors are "talking" to the viewer, and this is quite powerful. Overall, "Othello" is a good adaptation of Shakespeare's play.
Movie/DVD Grade: B

Branagh, and not much else.......2007-05-07

Fishburne has energy, but no subtext; he's all bluster. He also has zero chemistry with Irene Jacob, who is shockingly awful as Desdemona. I have no idea why or how she was allowed to speak English in a movie. On a bright note, however, the actress who played Emilia did an excellent job, and Branagh's Iago is the stuff of legend. This is a must-have for teachers of Shakespeare, like myself, but not for anyone else.

Branagh rocks as Iago.......2007-04-11

The combination of Branaugh and Fishburne is dynamic. Fishburne gives a convincing and emotional Othello showing true acting ability but Branagh is senational as the slimy Iago, beautifully changing from "Honest" to evil. Jacob is a good breathless Desdemona and dispite necessary editing the sense and dynamics of the plot are well maintained. Sets and costumes are excellent.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-15

I've been looking for this dvd for a while. laurence Fishburne as othello was great. I just love Amazon!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fascinatingly lurid (if a bit brief) adaptation!.......2006-08-18

Yeah... Chances are, your local theatre group isn't going to trump this anytime soon. Yes, it's a viciously truncated version Of Shakespeare's play. But hell, this is a movie, folks. I seriously doubt you've committed the first folio to memory that well. In all honesty... nothing too important is ommitted and the taut pacing/implied sensuality makes up for The Bard's missing lines. Moreover, if you're going to chop any of Shakespeare's tragedies, this would be the one to hack at; if only because Iago's real motivations are never fully revealed... He hints at jealousy and The Moor's possible adaultery with his wife, Emilia... but those are rather too minor to warrant why he does what he does (he doesn't even like his wife that much...)

I don't think Iago knows the real motivations for his villiany- he doesn't want to face himself, all the more reason to lose himself in a tangled web of inrigue... Branagh takes the role and runs with it masterfully: he's so alive and passionate when involved with the other characters and so quietly monotone and intensely sinister when delivering his soliloquies!

Anyway, my amateur psych profiles aside, this is a wonderful film version. The performances are as smoldering as they are riveting. Fishburne is his sensual best, Branagh is coldly intense and creepy, his stop-on-a-dime two-faced portrait of Iago is superb. The chick who plays Desdemona is competent, she suffers and dies well enough. The actress doing Emilia is great as well. Cassio is the dumb stud we all know and love... Everyone who's not Iago or Othello is more or less delegated to the background so the film can focus on their interaction and Iago's machinations.

Well-paced and directed with great settings and locales and a lovely soundtrack that is understated in all the right places and bombastic in all the right places...

If you've seen it, you know. If not, check her out!

Average customer rating:

The Moor Of Venice
Not Just Olivier
Olivier`s Moor. Wrenching and Grand ..Transfer top notch.
Olivier's politically incorrect masterpiece
olivier

Othello
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Maggie Smith , Joyce Redman , Frank Finlay , and Derek Jacobi
Director: Stuart Burge , and John Dexter (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000QGE8IS
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Customer Reviews:

The Moor Of Venice.......2007-08-21

I wrote my AP English essay junior year in high school about the Moor of Venice. I have seen every version of this play that has ever been committed to film, which is no small feat for a woman who adores the Bard as I do. I am an African American woman and I have heard about the fact that some think that his portrayal of the moor to be stereotypical, well, I don't think so. I think that there is nothing so sweeping as the way that he brings this play to life, Othello is not my favorite Shakespeare play, possibly the third favorite but there is something in the truth of Othello that I think is deeply stirring, it is the truth of self-esteem. He thinks himself a lowly creature, despite the fact that he is a great general and is acclaimed by many even the trials that he has been through in his life. Olivier makes you feel that, he wrung tears from me the frist time that I saw him in this performance, like a floodgate, I wanted to hold this wounded man to my heart, he was flawless and seamless, I lost Olivier in this movie, he was purely the character. I think that if I were trying to get someone to understand the subtle nature of Othello this would be the performance that I would suggest, I am so glad that I saw it one night on cable when I could sleep. He outshines all others who have attempted this part, ALL OTHERS. I mean I have seen the Laurence Fishburne portrayal and its good and it has its moments but this one is amazing. I didn't notice his lips being red really, but when you are that dark, the inner part of your lips are redder by contrast. When I saw it I was floored, his voice,the sheer emotion, glorious.
I am going to buy this version because I think it belongs on the shelf with my four and a half hour version of Hamlet.

Not Just Olivier.......2007-08-15

Frank Finlay (Portos in the Richard Lester version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS) plays Iago, and he too is magnificient. His voice is wonderfully malevolent, and he runs about eager to make trouble out of his hate for the Moor.

Olivier`s Moor. Wrenching and Grand ..Transfer top notch........2007-08-08

He rolls, he rambles,he shouts;he glares ,he bellows he blasts like the opening of a furnace door with heat.His jealousy rages.Yes, the plays the thing, but i doubt you will see a performance of Shakespere(Othello) quite as magnetic as this one.(And Bravo Maggie Smith!)Note; dvd transfer sharp and right on in all depts.

Olivier's politically incorrect masterpiece.......2007-07-17

True, you have to get past the blackface make-up, the bright red lips, the false eyelashes; but once that surface is accepted, a great performance is there to be appreciated. Olivier is the blackest Othello I've ever seen, the most 'African', in his movements, the wilds of his emotion, the warrior-like curses and threats as he beats his chest and curses his fate. Many thought it was a ham acting, excruciatingly over the top; for me it was a courageous, dangerous performance, walking the line between terror and pity throughout. His voice is astonishing and his delivery unique and musical and frightening and tender. I thought it was his bravest, and greatest, performance. I'm glad it was recorded as a filmed play and not 'opened up' as a movie, which would have diluted the intensity of the performance. Highly recommended, with the above caveats about the makeup.

olivier.......2007-05-18

to my mind, generally fails to impress in his classical performances. exactly why english thespian practice, circa 1940, adopted an aura of immasculation in its interpretations of shakespeare, i cannot say; but olivier was inevitably strident, posturing and sissy in his presentations, although one has to grant him a great technical competence in all his rolls.

however, in Othello, olivier ceases to caricature and shamble man in his acting, and acheives probably the greatest shakespearean role we have on film. i have seen no other performance of ANY shakespearean role, either theatrical or cinematic, that compares with it, unless it be scofield's uniquely powerful and emphatic Lear, or branagh's Henry V, which is wonderfully immediate and uniformly excellent in all its parts.

you may not agree with olivier's interpretation of the moor, which today requires a decisively negro-ish approach to gain critical credence; but in terms of pure theater, of acting that transcends its vehicle, this is as good as it gets. absolutely thumbs up.

Average customer rating:

Othello
Eccentric Masterpiece
Welles's genius in evidence, but not Shakespeare's
A must for fans of Orson Welles. For lovers of Shakespeare--ehh, not so much.

Orson Welles' Othello

Manufacturer: MVCI
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ASIN: B000ALAT64

Product Description

Originally titled, "The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice" this is Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy. ++++ DVD FEATURES: This officially licensed South Korean release is All-Region NTSC Code 0 (plays worldwide); provides 4:3 Full Screen display (in the ORIGINAL Black and White) with Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Sound in ENGLISH with optional (removable) English and Korean subtitles. It also includes the "Restoring Othello" feature with the film's owner, producers, mixers, orchestral conductor, sound editor, etc. DVD packaging includes some written material in Korean.

Customer Reviews:

Othello.......2007-01-20

Excellent acting with Orson Wells as Othello. The Lawrence Olivier version is impossible to find. There are newer films of Othello such as the Lawrence Fishburn one but I cannot use them in my school classroom because they are rated R and the Orson Wells version is approved by the school district. My students found the film noir version interesting with the stark black and white and odd camera angles that increased tension in the viewer to match the tension in the play.

Eccentric Masterpiece.......2006-12-15

Controversial and weird, this eccentric masterpiece adds a dimension to Othello present in no other film version: the frenzied mindlessness of evil. Welles' fast cutting, shortening of the play, plus the incredible performance of the legendary Dublin stage actor Michael Macliammor all add to this effect.

Welles himself portrays a stuttering, flubbering and blustery Othello. Yes, it looks a little canned -- see his similar walk through his relatively poor Macbeth. Here, however, it simply works in context, egged on by the extraordinary Macliammor (who in real life tutored boy Welles when he escaped to Dublin before his Mercury Theatre days). So Orson here, among a lot else, returns the compliment, resulting in one of the most fascinating stabs at Shakespeare caught on film in century 20. Some are troubled by Maclaimmor's face as a uniform mask of evil. But this simply shows how the performance is registering on a subconscious level. Also, both the performances and direction owe a lot to the silent film era and early German film expressionism, heavy influences on Welles who is too often held up (and then roughly put down) as boy genius gone bad.

No, evil is not very interesting at all, finally. Those who have yet to face that bald fact out of life itself may balk at this production. There are also controversies over whether Welles ever really "finished" it (the fact is he "finished" quite little in his life), and about this restoration by his daughter Beatrice, recently slandered in a new Welles bio. I vote for Beatrice. The new soundtrack and music are simply necessary to make this film palatable, and the images are dazzlingly restored. Truth is, Welles goes in and out of vogue and not even viewable versions (much less scholar-certified definitive versions) of all his works are yet, to this date, available. Would the naysayers be happier if Beatrice Welles just collected royalties and went on a Paris Hilton ego trip? What some segments of the public these days seem to expect to be handed to them, duty free, is almost as appalling and parasitic as Macliammor's Iago.

Everything here works up to the horrific finale and the inspired final frames. This is an Othello you will never forget, even if you only see it once. Sure, one needs to see other great Othellos if you can find them (Olivier's differently eccentic version is scarce as hen's teeth). But this grand and bold experiment will teach you a lot about both the play and its horrific, eternal subject matter -- what the American writer Louis Auchincloss called "motiveless malignancy." Next to Macliammor's Iago, Olivier's Richard III looks like an upstanding worthy fellow.

Welles's genius in evidence, but not Shakespeare's.......2006-04-29

Orson Welles spent four years putting together this movie. Always out of money, filming off the land all over Europe and Africa, it's a miracle the thing ever got made. It's a marvel of editing: within a 5-second scene, there may be a difference of two years and a thousand miles shown. He hated the voices of some of the major actors and redubbed them - poorly, so that words and lips aren't synchronized. He employs fast cutting and other Wellesian visual techniques, but he took great liberties with the Bard. In pieces the movie has high points - the Turkish bath scene, for example - but as a whole it's disappointing. Welles spent so much time filming and editing that he forgot it eventually was going to be shown to an audience. It's a movie only Welles could appreciate. (Presumed lost for 35 years, a copy finally turned up in New Jersey in 1992.)

A must for fans of Orson Welles. For lovers of Shakespeare--ehh, not so much........2006-02-18

Visually stunning in many scenes, this is a fascinating example of Orson Welles cinematic genius and a confusing and frustrating rendition of Shakespeare's Othello.

If Welles had had the time and money to complete the film, it is possible that it could have been as great as many of Welles' idolaters say it is (and it isn't).

Made in the early 1950s, Othello was filmed in the European fashion, which meant that the dialogue was to be dubbed in later. Consequently, the dialogue is often at odds with the action on the screen. Welles' Othello seems emotionally subdued in one scene, yet his voice rages with passion. Robert Coote, who portrayed the dupe Roderigo, evidently wasn't available when it came time to dub his scenes so we are treated to Welles' effeminate falsetto coming out of Coote's mouth. Hilton Edwards' Brabantio mouths his lines like a fugitive from an Italian 1950's Son Of Hercules epic.

In one particular instance, Welles made a true virtue of necessity. According to one account, the costumes were unavailable for the scene of Roderigo's attempt on Cassio's life so Welles set the scene in a Turkish bath. It's a great scene.

The acting is somewhat spotty. Welles brings a lot of smoldering emotion to his role. However, he tends to stalk through several scenes as if auditioning for a remake of Dracula.

Micheál MacLiammóir seemed to interpret the malevolent Iago's primary motivation as constipation. His facial expression never changes and he moves from scene to scene as if he had a stick up his backside.

Fay Compton's Emilia is refreshing. She offers the one consistently good performance throughout. Too bad her screen time is only about six minutes total. It's an absolute relief to watch her and her speech on the nature of men and women is one of the few that doesn't suffer from the dubbing.

Welles ran out of money and he may have lost interest in the film as well. So, we don't know what his final cut would have looked like. However, his style in Othello seems heavily influenced by Sergei Eisenstein's Ivan The Terrible and Alexander Nevsky. Lots of dark, people running in and out of shadows, huge vaulted chambers, faces either cloaked or creased by shadows, odd camera angles. Very moody.

Lots of jarring jump cuts, too. I don't know if this was Welles' plan or, like the soundtrack, just using what the present day restorers had to work with.

All in all, this is probably a must for all true fans of Orson Welles (and Fay Compton) but a mild curiosity for lovers of Shakespeare.

Average customer rating:

othello classic
Unbiased Review?
The Green Eyed Monster Strikes with Ferocity
Amazing
Not perfect but getting there

William Shakespeare: Othello
Starring: Michael Grandage , Ian McKellen , Clive Swift , Willard White , and Sean Baker
Director: Trevor Nunn
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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ASIN: B00063MC1Q
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Description

Towering screen and stage legend Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings, X-Men) stars in this ferocious, deeply human and timeless production of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy from legendary director Trevor Nunn (Les Miserables) and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Noble Moroccan Othello finds his life with beautiful, fiercely loyal Desdemona thrown tragically out of balance when secretly jealous, scheming confidante Iago begins an insidious campaign of lies and treachery. Featuring agracious and dignified performance from celebrated operatic bass Willard White and a superb Imogen Stubbs as the tragic couple, this award-winning presentation is one of the controversial tale's most acclaimed and powerful interpretations to date.

Customer Reviews:

othello classic.......2007-09-13

As wonderful a production of Othello as there can be found. Plus, it's shot as a stage production which gives it leverage as an educational tool.

Unbiased Review?.......2006-02-19

I am a fan of Imogen Stubbs and, accordingly, cannot write an unbiased review.

The Green Eyed Monster Strikes with Ferocity.......2005-05-19

Othello is a difficult production for me to watch at any time. Seeing the horrors of jealousy run amuck to the destruction of innocence is painful at the best of times. In the instance of this production it is even more painful because it is so well done.

The story of Othello is that of a Venetian general who marries a local daughter of a nobleman. The general happens to be black. In an effort to sabotage the general, Iago undermines the faith of the husband for his wife leading ultimately to the tragedy of her death. While Shakespeare gives motivations for his characters, interpretations and emphases tend to vary. Kenneth Brannagh's production of Othello emphasies Iago as a troublemake who likes to cause trouble simple for the sake of doing so. This production, with Ian McKellan in the role of Iago, puts more emphasis on his desire for revenge in reaction to a perceived slight. Both are accurate portrayals but the former seems to show more delight in "being bad" wheras the latter seems more inclined to "get even". Both are excellent and accurate but the emphasis in this film makes the heaviness of the theme that much more difficult to endure.

The role of Desdemona is portrayed in this version by Imogen Stubb and she is a delight to watch. She bring an alluring innocence to the role that makes her demise all that much more tragic. So too is the title role played admirably. The problem with Othello is that he is at heart and honorable man but lets his passions rule him and cause him to lash out with devatiging consequence.

This is a fine performance all around with a difficult play. If you can keep your anger at the antics of the characters in check, it is well worth the time.

Amazing.......2005-02-07

I have only seen two other productions of Othello. One was an amateurish high-school like production staged as it would have been in Elizabethan times complete with Elizebethan sets and a second one was a production at my high-school set in what was either a modern day boot camp or Iraq with the sort of acting that should have been in the first production I saw. But this one takes the cake. The acting is amazing. Trevor Nunn has given us an amazing production as he has done so before with "Porgy and Bess", "The Merchant of Venice", and "Oklahoma" shattering all set stereotypes. What we get is a powerful production of Shakespeare's tale of jealousy. In short, it's a freakin' good show.

Willard White displays great magnitude as Othello. Imogen Stubbs, a.k.a. Mrs. Trevor Nunn, gives us a Desdemona totally fresh and free of all stereotypes. Zoe Wanamaker (otherwise known to younger audiences as Madame Hooch from the first Harry Potter movie) is an amazing Emilia. But the performance that steals the show is Ian McKellen as Iago. Sure he mumbles a lot but what a voice he has. What I especially love is how each monologue or soliloquy or aside is addressed to the camera as if we are part of the action. It helps to feed the tension onscreen. I also felt that the costumes were very Civil War-ish. If they were trying to set the show in the civil war, they forgot to get rid of their British accents. I don't know what it was. Despite these flaws, it was an amazing performance that is worthy of five stars.

Not perfect but getting there.......2005-02-02

I have never made up my mind if it is more painful to watch "Othello" or "King Lear." In both cases, you feel like leaping onto the stage and strangling the leading character for being so utterly stupid. It is the supreme test of any actor to make these men sympathetic enough to move an audience to tears. Once during a lecture, someone asked me for a fast distinction between comedy and tragedy and I came up with "Comedy is what happens when women are in charge, tragedy when men are." I do not think I have seen a really satisfactory performance of "Othello" (in which a good man in charge is taken over by an evil man). More often than not, Iago steals the show, mainly because he is having such a good time duping the entire cast right down to the last few minutes of Act V.

However, we now have an Image Entertainment DVD of a nearly complete "Othello" (ID2622RZDVD) shown on British television in 1990, based on a Royal Shakespeare production directed by Trevor Nunn. Now I do not know what Italian military uniforms looked like in about 1865, when this play seems to be set, but the ones you see are far too much like American Civil War garb. However, there is a point that helps us understand Iago to this "anything but the historical period setting and costuming" attitude toward staging classics nowadays.

Nunn was astute enough to cast an opera baritone, Willard White (whom you might have seen as a magnificent Porgy on an EMI video of the Gershwin work), in the title role. He is able to do with the great rolling iambic lines what another black actor found utterly beyond him in a film version not too long ago, and in the early part of the play he gives us a very likable Othello.

His evil genius, Iago, is played by Ian McKellen as all soldier, standing at strict attention at times even when addressing the audience. Here the blue Union uniform looks just right for a man who will use any "good cause" to conceal his villainy. Unhappily, though, he often lapses into whispers and mutterings that are simply unintelligible-and that too seems to be a sure sign of recent film making.

Nunn has given Imogen Stubbs all the right moves for Desdemona; but I find her voice a little squeaky and her physical appearance a little too girlish to bear the weight of the role. Yes, she is very good but somehow I found her not right. Perhaps you will disagree entirely.

Clive Swift (from "Keeping Up Appearances") is directed to shout far too much as Desdemona's father, while Michael Grandage as the idiot Roderigo is made to fall onto the floor like a spoiled brat (which he is) in a temper tantrum (which looks absurd). The Cassio (Sean Baker) is adequate, the Bianca (Marsha A. Hunt) amateurish. On the other hand, Zoe Wanamaker makes a superb Emilia, and Nunn has found some interesting aspects of her relationship with her "honest" husband, Iago.

The only lines I noticed omitted are most of those between Cassio and the clown, here a silly solider, in a scene that is almost always entirely cut. The pacing is at times far too slow-the video runs 205 minutes-but you really must see this production many times for the great acting of White and McKellen. English and Drama Departments, take note.

Average customer rating:

Great timing
Apartheid Othello - an outstanding performance by a brilliant cast

William Shakespeare's Othello
Starring: William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Arthaus Musik
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000AMMSDU
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Customer Reviews:

Great timing.......2007-04-18

Considering that last DVD I ordered from another vendor didn't work, I returned it, and still haven't received a replacement, it is a blessing to get an order prompt and in working order. Thank you!

Apartheid Othello - an outstanding performance by a brilliant cast.......2006-05-17

This is one of the two most powerful performances of Othello I have seen and the best on DVD (and that is high praise considering the superb performances of Laurence Fishbourne and Kenneth Branagh in their Othello.) Considering that the play was performed in Apartheid Johannesburg in 1988 makes it even more daring and brilliant. The play is complete (although I did not follow the original play text) -- the performance here is 188 minutes and riveting for the entire time. Unlike more current versions, this performance is on the stage (at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg) as is reinforced by the souind of footsteps on the wooden planks of the stage. It stands as the very best I have seen. If you can only purchase one, this is it!

Average customer rating:

Love it or hate it... it's clever
A Travesty
As Bad As a Movie Can Be
Excellent, but disappointed with DVD
fantastic

Othello
Starring: Keeley Hawes , Eamonn Walker , Christopher Eccleston , Christopher Fox , and Allan Cutts
Director: Geoffrey Sax
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
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ASIN: B00005YUND
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Amazon.com

Set amid the racially charged politics of London's Metropolitan Police Force, Andrew Davies's deft and gripping adaptation of Othello achieves an ideal balance of realism, contemporary relevance, and respect for the rhythms of Shakespeare's play. John Othello is a black police officer who is named commissioner after he defuses a race riot. His friend and colleague Ben Jago (Shakespeare's Iago) is furious at being passed over for the top job, and he secretly begins a plan to destroy Othello by making him believe that his new wife is having an affair.

Eamonn Walker makes Othello's tragic fall believable and moving, but the story belongs, as it often does on stage, to the villain. Christopher Eccleston's Jago is a wonderfully complex creation, defined by his wickedness but as much a victim of it as any other character. Funny, tragic, and crackling with energy, this is an unmissable performance. Credit should also go to Davies for his script--which echoes Shakespeare's without ever quoting it directly--to a strong supporting cast, and to director Geoffrey Sax, who balances the film's realism with slightly stylized touches that give more dramatic punch to key scenes. Othello offers a daring new version of a familiar story, and it succeeds both as a powerful modern drama and as a testament to Shakespeare's insight into human weaknesses. --Simon Leake

Customer Reviews:

Love it or hate it... it's clever.......2006-11-15

...and I think quite good, actually.

Don't expect Shakepeare's Othello and you won't be disappointed. This retelling of Othello dispenses with Shakepeare's poetry, replaces it with modern dialog and drops the story down into modern day London. This adaptation also uses the maybe too clever device of having Iago speak directly into the camera and letting the audience know what he's up to, a device lifted from BBC's political thriller, 'House of Cards.' If you're not a purist, it all works. While the Shakepearean language may be missing the core of the story, jealousy, obsession and power come through stunningly.

A Travesty.......2005-12-11

This is a terrible adaption of Shakespeare's Othello. It's more like an adaption of someone's interpretation of Othello, one that I do not necessarily agree with. This movie steers so off-course that it doesn't accurately follow the storyline in the original Othello, thus changing everything and really not having anything to do at all with Shakespeare's play. There is virtually no acting going on in this movie. Instead, there are a lot of in-your-face shots of the characters, giving the viewers a forced set of motivations for the inevitable to happen, which are not convincing in any sense. Sure it happens in the original play, but it is not convincing enough in this version.

Instead of the climax becoming Othello's growing rage and madness, the climax in this movie is when the Iago character perches nude on the edge of a bathtub in a very gargoylesque pose. It becomes obvious why they chose this particular actor to play Iago, or Jago as he is called in the movie, with his ugly gargoylesque looks. It all goes downhill after this scene. The Iago character is constantly shown in close-up, advising viewers "This is a tragedy" or "It's all about love." I guess a viewer could never be sure since it is not obvious in this movie's plot.

Besides of the tragic element in Shakespeare's Othello, there is also a thin thread of dark humor, the misunderstandings newly weds may have with each other, the miscommunications between the sexes, the blindness of love that sometimes blows things out of porportion, the bitterness and disillusionment of older married couples. All these elements that add another dimension to Othello are completely omitted in this version, since as we are informed by the annoying Jago character, "It is a tragedy."

I would highly recommend skipping this one and watching "O" or "Switchblade Sisters" instead, two non-Elizabethan versions of Othello that are more on cue, and American-made versions incidentally, and perhaps surprisingly.

As Bad As a Movie Can Be.......2005-12-10

This is the worst movie I have ever seen in my life, and I don't say that lightly. The Iago character was constantly staring into the camera like an unwitting parody of Dr. Evil while hokey theme music rose in the background. None of the characters' motivations made any sense. Nearly every shot had the most absurd, contorted, wanna-be-artsy camera angles. Everything in Shakespeare's play that adds subtlety and nuance to the plot and characterizations has been stripped bare, exiled, and pooped on in this modernization. It really looks like Cassio and Desdemona (or Cass and Dessie, excuse me) are having an affair, while in the play they obviously aren't. The film, unlike the play, never gives the sense that Othello is in an unfamiliar culture and therefore insecure and confused. Iago's monologues in the movie show a self-awareness completely alien to Shakespeare's character. In short, any change made to this film would have been an improvement. As it is, it doesn't even qualify as "so bad it's good."

This film has the bad lighting, bad soundtrack, cheesy cinematic tricks, and overacting of an unsuccessful soap opera, which would be bad enough in itself even if it were not purporting to have something to do with Shakespeare.

Excellent, but disappointed with DVD.......2005-02-20

The DVD of this program is approximately 10 minutes shorter than the version shown on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre. While watching the DVD, I remembered there were scenes with Dessie's father, played by Joss Ackland, that were not included. It is also not the same aspect ratio as the PBS version.

fantastic.......2004-12-08

Unlike many Shakespeare enthusiasts, I adore modern adaptations and staging of Shakespeare's works. One of the reasons his plays have endured is that they have a timeless quality that is understood generation after generation. His stories capture something essential about human nature that cannot be confined to a historical period.

Some modern versions of Shakespeare use original dialogue with updated settings, costumes, and character relationships. This sometimes works very well, as in Ethan Hawke's Hamlet or the Julie Taymor's Titus (my favorite). In this version of Othello, however, the dialogue has been modernized to match the setting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I saw it in a class on Shakespeare's Tragedies at Syracuse University which was taught by a reknowned Shakespeare scholar. This was her choice as the best film version of Othello to show us. Othello is a story which translates particularly well into a modern version because it deals with issues such as racism, jealousy, and insecurity that make it applicable to a variety of situations. The acting in this movie is excellent - very believable and powerful. I highly recommend this movie to anyone, whether or not you have previous experience with Othello.

Lar Lubovitch's Othello / San Francisco Ballet

Average customer rating:

OTHELLO'S POETRY IN DANCE
Stunning!
Excellent Performance By The San Francisco Ballet!!!!!!
From San Francisco Chronicle

Lar Lubovitch's Othello / San Francisco Ballet
Director: Desmond Richardson
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009PY1C
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Description

Modern dance master Lar Lubovitch has created a vibrant new interpretation of Shakespeare's classic tale of passion and jealousy, ambition and betrayal, with his dance in three acts. A compelling synthesis of classical and modern movement, Lubovitch's original choreography is complimented by a powerful score by Academy Award-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal (Frida, heightening the emotional volitility of the central characters as the ballet's tragedy unfolds. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a major new chapter in American ballet as well as a spectacular addition to the international repertory," the San Francisco Ballet's production features Desmond Richardson as Othello, Yuan Yuan Tan as Desdemona and Parrish Maynard as the treacherous Iago. 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen; 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.

Customer Reviews:

OTHELLO'S POETRY IN DANCE.......2007-05-05

Lar Lubovitch's OTHELLO is a major achievement in dance, impressively realized by Elliot Goldenthal's intense compostion and the San Francisco Ballet's electrifying performance. Not since Verdi's operatic treatment of this immortal play was it so skillfully interpreted through the poetry of music...and beyond, through the motion of dance. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE for any lover of ballet or of Shakespeare.

Stunning!.......2004-01-18

I watched this on broadcast TV, and was absolutely blown away. The choreography is amazing, as are the dancers - Yuan Yuan Tan and Desmond Richardson, who created the role of Othello, especially stood out. The ocean ensemble in Act 2 was incredible as well. One thing I have to say though - if you don't know the story already, you won't be able to grasp it from the performance (although it is just as enjoyable). I can't wait to see this performed at the War Memorial!

Excellent Performance By The San Francisco Ballet!!!!!!.......2003-06-22

This is one of the best performances from the San Francisco Ballet. I think the San Francisco Ballet and the Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson created this new full length ballet to show that this ballet company is one of the best in the US. I was surprised that this DVD has good dolby digital 5.1 surround sound and picture quality. I would say Othello is a good ballet but the music sounds boring and the performance is kind of boring and that's why I would give this a 4 star DVD. Yuan Yuan Tan is a very good Chinese ballet principal dancer for the San Francisco Ballet. Gonzalo Garcia another principal dancer, performed very well as Cassio. And Lorena Feijoo, another principal dancer performed well as Bianca.

From San Francisco Chronicle.......2003-06-19

SF Chronicle: Classic. One of the most thrilling chapters in San Francisco Ballet's history is back in all its glory. Lar Lubovitch's "Othello," with a commissioned score by Academy Award winner Eliot Goldenthal, will be broadcast tonight on PBS' Great Performances and has just been released on DVD by Kultur. Although there is no substitute for witnessing dance live in the theater, this "Othello," directed for television by Matthew Diamond, is more than a souvenir of a great performance. It is a gripping, entertaining home-viewing experience. It stars Desmond Richardson, who created the title role in New York for American Ballet Theatre. San Francisco's Yuan Yuan Tan dances Desdemona, perhaps her greatest role. Parrish Maynard, an Iago in both companies, returns alongside a supporting cast that includes Katita Waldo as Emilia, Gonzalo Garcia as Cassio and Lorena Feijoo as the whore Bianca. Emil de Cou conducts the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra in a performance of Goldenthal's score that makes clear that "Othello" is a gift to American music as well as American dance. Taped live at the War Memorial Opera House in March 2002, "Othello" is a co- production by ABT, San Francisco Ballet and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Premiered by ABT at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1997, "Othello" was revised slightly by Lubovitch and Goldenthal for the 1998 West Coast premiere in San Francisco. The piece grows more fascinating with every cast and every viewing. Turning the Bard's words into movement is a daunting task, and Lubovitch succeeds spectacularly: His "Othello" joins the select company of great Shakespearean dances that includes John Cranko's and Sir Kenneth MacMillan's "Romeo and Juliet," Cranko's "The Taming of the Shrew" and Jose Limon's "The Moor's Pavane." "Othello" is traditional in aiming to enrich the canon rather than reject it. But it is also a radical ballet, both in its negation of fashionable Balanchinean abstraction and in its unembarrassed embrace of the theatrical values of modern dance. Lubovitch's choreography is free of jargon, innocent of the slang of dance that modern dancemakers from Mark Morris to Twyla Tharp might have been tempted to use in trying to make the story contemporary. Lubovitch often simply suggests the plot and assumes that the details are known to the audience, and he plays on that knowledge to dwell on the profounder themes and vivid characters at the heart of Shakespeare's play. Inspired at every step by Goldenthal's unsettling music, Lubovitch achieves archetypal ideals. He explores the universal themes of Shakespeare's tragedy with intensity and clarity, in movement that seems drenched in dramatic truth. The truth is in the dancing. And San Francisco Ballet, from corps to principals, succeeds. Richardson -- who is on Broadway in the Burt Bacharach review "What the World Needs Now" -- is not as winning as San Francisco Ballet's Yuri Possokhov in the title role. But he is still an Othello of tragic stature, an outsider as much to the society around him as to the possibility of happiness. Given the most complex arm phrasing and athletic bravura turns, Richardson seems possessed by the unstoppable momentum of Lubovitch's choreography. Tan's Desdemona is lovely and subtle, daringly so. Embodying the very image of innocence about to be brutalized, she draws on her considerable musicality and virtuosity to bring to life the tragic futility of Desdemona's emotions. The childlike glee of Tan's duets with Garcia's Cassio, the earthy sensuality of Feijoo's seductive tarantella and even the terrifying ebb and flow of the Act 2 seaside ensemble all come off extremely well on the small screen. Only George Tsypin's icy Plexiglas sets suffer in the transition from stage to television -- much as they lost some of their sheer monumentality in their voyage from the Met to the War Memorial. Still, not unlike the dancers, the stage pictures of "Othello" gain a new dimension in front of the camera: an intimacy not easily shared in a large theater. In close-ups such as the desperation in Richardson's mad scenes in the theater, Lubovitch's "Othello" rings true. -- Octavio Roca

The Standard Deviants - Shakespeare Tragedies - Othello, Macbeth, King Lear

Average customer rating:

Mixed Feelings
Good intro/review
Great Deviant view on Shakespeare
How things change?

The Standard Deviants - Shakespeare Tragedies - Othello, Macbeth, King Lear
Starring: Standard Deviants
Manufacturer: Cerebellum Corp
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 1581983239
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Amazon.com

The Standard Deviants, a cast of energetic young performers whose stock in trade is to make serious academic subjects lighthearted and offbeat enough to be memorable, turn their attentions to three classic Shakespeare tragedies. The usual bad jokes, silly costumes, and mugging for the camera are somewhat more subdued when detailing Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear, though the treatment is often imaginative. The lessons about each play begin with a brief historical discussion of the background of the play, and the plot is outlined with the aid of some distinctive animation. The young performers act out scenes from the plays, and computer graphics present particular sections of text on the screen. The motivations of characters are discussed, Shakespeare's use of language is given appropriate attention, symbolism is illuminated, and a synopsis of each play is provided in a review section. Students can take or skip a quiz given on each play, and a comprehensive exam dubbed the "Mac Daddy" also appears on the disc. The lessons about the plays have been approved by a serious academic panel and do contain considerable detail. And the lively approach of the Standard Deviants can certainly help a student increase an understanding of the great tragedies. --Robert J. McNamara

Description

This DVD examines three plays that reveal Shakespeare at his height as a writer of tragedies. This trio of tragedies contains Shakespeare's variations on the tragic figure: A man destroyed by jealousy (Othello), a man destroyed by ambition (Macbeth), and a man destroyed by hubris and ultimately redeemed by love (King Lear). The Standard Deviants take the "mystery" out of these difficult plays, making them easier to understand and appreciate.

Customer Reviews:

Mixed Feelings.......2007-02-11

I thought this dvd was a little bit expensive. Although they focused on Shakespeare's classic tragedies like Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear to approach high school level without overdoing it. Shakespeare can be rough for most people but he's still popular among actors, actresses, and directors in the theater. Shakespeare is still seen as the role model for which all other playwrights follow to succeed him. The Standard Deviants should have used better actors and actresses in this dvd series. Not that they didn't do an adequate job but we don't know them or their backgrounds. We assume that when we see Shakespeare on stage that it should be with talented professionals, somebody familiar. The quality was still good though. I would have liked to have a compact disc to accompany it on the computer for the teacher like myself.

Good intro/review.......2006-07-02

I'm a high school English teacher and I thought it was amazing how this video covered every single element of the plays that I focus on, and added a few other insights that I now have added to my plans. Covers language use, symbolism, characters, plot, irony, etc. For Lear includes an interesting bit about how the play incorporates elements of the Fairy Tale. Genuinely interesting from start to (nearly 2 hour long) finish.

Great Deviant view on Shakespeare.......2001-12-05

I really enjoyed this take on Shakespeare, mainly because it breaks down these plays in ways that help you gain an understanding and appreciation of just how good the Bard's work was. I would highly recommend them to anyone studying the plays or just a casual fan. Fun, fun style and good looking and funny actors.

How things change?.......2000-08-12

At school I hated Shakespeare, I hated the person who 'taught' it to me and I wasn't all that fond of some of my classmates. Which is a shame because I now love Shakespeare, I think it is something you grow into and begin to appreciate later on. However, many people are put off by school-time study of Shakespeare and as such miss out on something very special.

Amazon.com

Filmed as a classical tragedy, Orson Welles's Othello is a tale of passion, jealousy, and murder. Welles used his earnings from several performances to finance the production, which was shot over several years across multiple locations including Italy and Morocco. The footage was well matched photographically, resulting in an artistically brave compression of a great play. In the title role, Welles shows us a man who has fought many wars but still maintains a princely disposition. As Desdemona, Suzanne Cloutier is guileless but strong enough to have wanted and pursued the Moor. In a rare filmed role, Micheál MacLiammóir excels as the diabolical Iago, a master of manipulating appearances and devoid of any motive save pure evil. The financial constraints appear to have ignited an even higher level of creativity within Welles, who never takes the expected angle and directs the film with a vertiginous, exhibitionist energy. This Othello won the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes in April 1952. --Kevin Mulhall

Description

Orson Welles' daring and visually adventurous production of William Shakespeare's classic play. Welles, one of the greatest directors ever, revered Shakespeare and was determined to bring his own versions of the Bard's work to the silver screen, though the studios resisted the idea. Without studio funding, Welles struggled for three years to make "Othello" with his own money. The film won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and critical acclaim but was rarely seen for many years. Over $1 million dollars in restoration work was spent, including re recording the score and re creating the sound effects, as well as updating the audio to digital. "Othello" remains a testament to Welles' legendary genius.

Customer Reviews:

Restoration of a Classic.......2007-02-23

Between 1949 and 1951 Orson Welles filmed Shakespeare's Othello on s shoestring budget and often with his own funds earned for acting on other films. The adaptation is sometimes challenging but is often an engrossing cinematic experience.

The film shares more in style with Welles'Citizen Kane than it does with other productions of Shakespeare for the screen. Employing just about every editing trick in his catalogue, Welles creates an experience that is more than a little unsettling. There are low angle shots, high angle shots, rapid fire edits and long pans. The locations in Morocco and Venice are used to maximum effect with the viewer not always knowing where one location ends and another begins.

This film is often considered one of Welles' lost classics and is well worth a viewing if you have the luck to find a copy. The restoration is brillient with the sound now in sync and the picture cleaned of the defects that marred most 16mm prints over the years. It has been said that the restored print in many ways is superior to the print that won at Cannes in 1952.

The principal extra on the disc is a series of interviews concerning the restoration project. I am hoping that an even better edition of this film will be released in the future. If ever there were a film that needed commentaries an bonus features explaining its history this is it. Maybe one day but for now do yourself a favor and check out one of the best filmed adaptations of Shakespeare available.

The Gangrenous Monster of Jealousy. .......2005-10-29

You have to wonder how Orson Welles would ever have to spend a penny of his own to make a movie after Citizen Kane, but I suppose Shakespeare was not considered worthy of expense back then. Here, Welles turned Othello into a picturesque fifties version of a standard high budget classic. Visually, the scenes are candy from the soldiers to the ocean to the flags to the cliffs. As for Welles, he brings an intense dignity to this role. My only complaint is that there are no subtitles so you cannot absorb the bard's language while you watch. This is a tale of betrayal, manipulation, lust, jealousy, and insecurity. It is timeless as it speaks to men of every century. Look around you, how many Iagos slink around us corrupting relations and sewing ruin in our present day. Rarely has such an authentic character been presented in literature. The actor playing him could not appear more sinister if he hailed directly from Hades. This one's worth seeing as Welles added considerable authenticity to this literary classic.

Welles strikes again!.......2005-09-12

This legendary filmmaker was in his late thirties (38) when he adapted to screen this colossal adaptation of Othello. The film is visually stunning and constitutes in my opinion his best achievement after Kane, despite the terrible acting of the worst Desdemona in any movie. Nevertheless the imaginative direction of Wisconsin 's genius and his performance was offbeat.

This film won Cannes Festival with all honors. Welles was briefly interviewed and asked about if he personally considered this was his masterpiece to date, he answered this pearl- that constitutes a permanent life' s lesson - "It 's an excellent work, indeed, but the next project; that will be my masterpiece."

This is precisely the attitude of a true artist; the embodiment of the hunter. Today we have a great working day, but tomorrow it 's another day for fighting and so create, without expecting reward, because the happiness is precisely in this process.

Not for purists, poor sound quality.......2005-01-15

While I have great respect for Welles as both an actor and director, the fact that this was done more or less as a pet project of his over several years is readily apparent. As a Shakespeare purist, I also found his reworking of the text off-putting. If you're not familiar with the original play, you may have difficulty following this film version. Finally, much of the audio is difficult, if not impossible in some spots, to understand. According to the extras documentary, to produce this version the restorers speed up and slowed down the film stock to match it up with the audio and vice versa which in the end leaves the film with a jumpy disjointed feel to it and a sound quality that often sounds like someone is playing a 45 record at 33 rpm. I found this frustrating because to me Shakespeare is all about the lyrical quality of words. In my opinion, that is lost in this film. As cinema and Welles' history, it's interesting. As a good representation of Shakespeare's work, it's only mediocre at best. Obviously, I was disappointed with this purchase.

Great Cinematography, poor shakespeare.......2004-08-10

For students of film, this is a must-see and worthy of five stars in that category. For Shakespeare, don't rely on this interpetation or editing as the story of Othello. Iago is completely misinterpreted. Othello would never trust this Uriah Heep-sinister-weasel version. Kenneth Branaugh has a much better interpretation of this role. Iago is someone you would trust and buddy with on first impression; that is why Othello is willing to listen to him. In this version, Iago runs away and does not die in the end. Many minor scenes and interplay between characters are eliminated. Roderigo is shrunk to an unrecognizable vestige serving almost no purpose except for the film to be able to make the claim the character was included. I know that most movie versions of Shakespeare must make choices. This version distills Othello down to Othello, Iago,