Shakespeare on film
With my ratings & comments.
I love the plays in a variety of guises--traditional, modernized, surreal, abstract, animated, parody; in ballet and opera; I even like Silent Shakespeare (there's an entire DVD of films made 1899-1911--look for it at Amazon). I've grouped these alphabetically by Shakespeare's title, and tried to include at least two versions of each one (plus a few derivative works).
Please note that I do not care if a production is "critically acclaimed" or "innovative" or "transgressive" or even if Richard Burbage himself rose from the grave to star in it; I don't care if it's performed in the nude on the dark side of the moon and incorporates every obscure literary theory proposed in the past three decades. I only care if it works.
I love the plays in a variety of guises--traditional, modernized, surreal, abstract, animated, parody; in ballet and opera; I even like Silent Shakespeare (there's an entire DVD of films made 1899-1911--look for it at Amazon). I've grouped these alphabetically by Shakespeare's title, and tried to include at least two versions of each one (plus a few derivative works).
Please note that I do not care if a production is "critically acclaimed" or "innovative" or "transgressive" or even if Richard Burbage himself rose from the grave to star in it; I don't care if it's performed in the nude on the dark side of the moon and incorporates every obscure literary theory proposed in the past three decades. I only care if it works.
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- DirectorJon ScoffieldStarsRichard JohnsonJanet SuzmanRosemary McHaleAfter the murder of her lover Julius Caesar, Egypt's Queen Cleopatra needs a new ally. She seduces his probable successor Mark Antony. This develops into real love and slowly leads to a war with the other possible successor, Octavius.7/10
Semi-stylized television production. The pacing is leisurely, and Richard Johnson does not dig deep enough into Antony's psyche. But Janet Suzman, Corin Redgrave, and Patrick Stewart all deliver satisfying performances. - DirectorPaul CzinnerStarsElisabeth BergnerLaurence OlivierSophie StewartA Duke usurps his brother's land and power, banishing him and his entourage into the forest of Arden. The banished Duke's daughter, Rosalind, remains with her cousin Celia. She has fallen in love with Orlando, but he has his own tyrannical brother with whom to contend, so he joins those in the forest.5/10
Stiff and astonishingly dull. - 1978–19852h 31mTV-147.1 (356)TV EpisodeDirectorBasil ColemanStarsHelen MirrenBrian StirnerRichard PascoAfter the overthrowing of Duke Senior by his tyrannical brother, Senior's daughter Rosalind disguises herself as a man and sets out to find her banished father while also counseling her clumsy suitor Orlando in the art of wooing.I promise to watch and review it soon.
- DirectorDerek JarmanStarsSteven WaddingtonKevin CollinsAndrew TiernanIn this Derek Jarman version of Christopher Marlowe's Elizabethan drama, in modern costumes and settings, Plantagenet king Edward II hands the power-craving nobility the perfect excuse by taking as lover besides his diplomatic wife, the French princess Isabel, not an acceptable lady at court but the ambitious Piers Gaveston, who uses his favor in bed even to wield political influence - the stage is set for a palace revolt which sends the gay pair from the throne to a terminal torture dungeon.6/10
Okay, I snuck this one in--this is actually a loose adaptation of a play by Kit Marlowe. But the performances by Waddington and (especially) Swinton are sensitive and intelligent. The direction veers between imaginative and far too obvious; Jarman loses all subtlety in the last half-hour. Still, it's an interesting use of Marlowe's work. - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghJulie ChristieDerek JacobiHamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.9/10
A riveting performance from Branagh helps overcome some of the casting mistakes in small roles. Christie is one of the finest Gertrudes I have ever seen. Gorgeous production values; everything is on a grand scale, sometimes too much so. - DirectorLaurence OlivierStarsLaurence OlivierJean SimmonsJohn LauriePrince Hamlet struggles over whether or not he should kill his uncle, whom he suspects has murdered his father, the former king.8/10
Atmospheric and well-cast. But it's so creepily Freudian that it's never quite convincing. It also never quite shakes off that air of being a play staged for the camera. - DirectorGrigoriy KozintsevStarsInnokentiy SmoktunovskiyMikhail NazvanovElza RadzinaAfter the death of the King of Denmark - Hamlet's father - his brother Claudius ascends the throne, who takes his widow Gertrude as his wife. Hamlet meets the ghost of his father and learns that he was killed by Claudius.8/10
Hmmmm, it's in Russian? And you've never heard of any of the actors? But it's visually rich, with deliciously sinister costumes and sets. The ghost scene may never be outdone. - DirectorKirk BrowningKevin KlineStarsMacIntyre DixonRene Raymond RiveraBill CampA Danish prince and university student avenges his father's murder by his uncle, who stole the crown and married his mother.7/10
The New York Shakespeare Festival gives us a nicely understated, intelligent performance from Kevin Kline in a solid (if sometimes passionless) production in rehearsal dress. - 1978–19853h 30mTV-148.0 (666)TV EpisodeDirectorRodney BennettJohn GorrieStarsDerek JacobiClaire BloomPatrick StewartHamlet suspects his uncle has murdered his father to claim the throne of Denmark and the hand of Hamlet's mother, but the Prince cannot decide whether or not he should take vengeance.7/10
An energetic and passionate production. Jacobi gives us a prince who is literally mad, an unusual interpretation that didn't work for me. Ward's mad scenes fall flat, but Stewart is satisfyingly slimey. This is worth seeing, if not completely to my taste. - DirectorTony RichardsonStarsNicol WilliamsonJudy ParfittAnthony HopkinsAcademy Award-winning director Tony Richardson brings Shakespeare's tragedy to the screen - with searing performances from Nicol Williamson as the melancholy Dane and future Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins as the deceitful Claudius.7/10
Well-cut text, swiftly paced, intelligent--yet hard to love, not least due to the incestuous Polonius family. Gertrude is also nasty, while Claudius is a brutal lout. Williamson (looking strangely like Gene Wilder) is understated, intense, and natural. Performed in period dress with too many close-ups and never enough light. I can't say I liked this version--but I do respect it. - DirectorBill ColleranJohn GielgudStarsRichard BurtonHume CronynAlfred DrakeThe highly successful 1964 Richard Burton Broadway production of "Hamlet", deliberately staged in the style of a "dress rehearsal", but performed in front of a live audience.6/10
Performed in rehearsal dress. Burton and his melodious voice utterly overwhelm his co-stars, espcially Cronyn, who might as well be in a deli ordering a ham-on-rye. I did like the spare staging. - DirectorCampbell ScottEric SimonsonStarsCampbell ScottBlair BrownRoscoe Lee BrowneThe classic Shakespeare tragedy is revisioned in America at the turn of the 20th Century. Campbell Scott (Singles, The Spanish Prisoner) adapted, co-directed and stars in the title role with Tony Award winner Blair Brown (Copenhagen) as his mother Gertrude.6/10
The weird decision to set this in the ante-bellum American South results in some good things and some bad things (it's obviously a problem for a significant portion of the text). The play builds well; Scott offers us a Hamlet who is really thinking his lines. Roscoe Lee Brown's Polonius is shorn of his comedy, and makes an interestingly strong character. This is an accessible production, and worth a look. - DirectorMichael AlmereydaStarsEthan HawkeKyle MacLachlanDiane VenoraModern-day New York City adaptation of Shakespeare's immortal story about Hamlet's plight to avenge his father's murder.5/10
An interesting experiment with a contemporary setting that doesn't quite work, despite some good performances (especially from Bill Murray). - DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsMel GibsonGlenn CloseAlan BatesHamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and plans revenge.4/10
Gibson struggles with the verse, Close struggles with interpretation, and everything is awash in an embarrassing Oedipal stew. - DirectorMark OlshakerStarsKenneth BranaghRichard CliffordRichard EastonA unique, behind-the-scenes look at Shakespeare's great play. In 1988, rising star Kenneth Branagh played the Prince of Denmark for the first time. His guide through four weeks of rehearsals at England's Birmingham Repertory Theatre: famed actor Derek Jacobi, "the best Hamlet of his generation" (New York Times). Watch what happens from the first dress rehearsal to the tension-filled opening night. Narrated by Patrick Stewart.7/10
Plentiful insights into how a young Branagh began to explore the character for a stage performance under the direction of Derek Jacobi. - DirectorTom StoppardStarsGary OldmanTim RothRichard DreyfussTwo minor characters from the play 'Hamlet' stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.4/10
Maybe I was in the wrong mood when I watched this--I find it hard to believe this was ever considered funny or profound. Ever. It's so very very 1960s. If you want me to sit through a couple hours of absurdism, you at least have to give me a mob of invisible rhinoceroses. - DirectorDavid GilesStarsJon FinchDavid GwillimRob EdwardsHenry Bolingbroke has now been crowned King of England, but faces a rebellion headed by the embittered Earl of Northumberland and his son, (nicknamed "Hotspur"). Henry's son, Hal, the Prince of Wales, has thrown over life at court in favor of heavy drinking and petty theft in the company of a debauched elderly knight, Sir John Falstaff. Hal must extricate himself from some legal problems, regain his father's good opinions, and help suppress the uprising.8/10
Stagey yet impressive TV version, with an extremely strong cast. - DirectorDavid GilesStarsJon FinchDavid GwillimRob EdwardsHenry Bolingbroke has now been crowned King of England, but faces a rebellion headed by the embittered Earl of Northumberland and his son (nicknamed "Hotspur"). Henry's son Hal, the Prince of Wales, has thrown over life at court in favor of heavy drinking and petty theft in the company of a debauched elderly knight, Sir John Falstaff. Hal must extricate himself from some legal problems, regain his father's good opinions, and help suppress the uprising.7/10
The distinguished cast from Part I returns. This needed better pacing and higher production values, but it's still a solid interpretation. - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghDerek JacobiSimon ShepherdIn the midst of the Hundred Years War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France in 1415.8/10
Dark, bloody, and gritty. Superb cast, great sets, and strong direction from Branagh. Wonderful musical score. - DirectorLaurence OlivierStarsLaurence OlivierRobert NewtonLeslie BanksIn the midst of the Hundred Years' War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France in 1415.7/10
Excellent performances in a severely truncated text. Made in wartime Britain, this version presents Henry as an almost flawless hero. - DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJeanne MoreauMargaret RutherfordWhen King Henry IV ascends to the throne, his heir, the Prince of Wales, is befriended by Sir John Falstaff, an old, overweight, fun-loving habitual liar. Through Falstaff's eyes we see the reign of King Henry IV and the rise of Henry V.6/10
Funny, touching, and tedious in turn. Not the success it might have been, although Welles is the perfect Falstaff. - DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsLouis CalhernMarlon BrandoJames MasonThe growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate Caesar but they have both sorely underestimated Mark Antony.7/10
If not an inspired version, this is well worth your time, made with intelligent good taste. James Mason as Brutus knocked my socks off. - DirectorRichard EyreStarsPaul RhysFinbar LynchTimothy WestKing Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.8/10
Beautiful spare design, with Ian Holm an energetic and eccentric king. The blocking has an eerie and effective ritualistic feel. Marred by a grating score. - DirectorMichael ElliottStarsColin BlakelyLeo McKernRobert LindsayAging King Lear invites disaster when he abdicates to his two disloyal and obsequious daughters while rejecting the one who truly loves him.8/10
Cool mini-Stonehenge set, splendid cast with lotsa extras, lotsa mud, lotsa horses and animal skins. Olivier's Lear is a sad, lost creature and inifinitely pathetic. - DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsTatsuya NakadaiAkira TeraoJinpachi NezuIn Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.8/10
A stylized orgy of blood and greed and foolishness. Exotically beautiful use of the King Lear material. - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsAlessandro NivolaAlicia SilverstoneNatascha McElhoneAn update of the classic Shakespeare story, director Kenneth Branagh shot the film like a classic 1930s musical. It tells the story of four best friends who swear off love.3/10
I don't much care for the play. I hated this film. - DirectorPhilip CassonTrevor NunnStarsIan McKellenJudi DenchJohn BownMacbeth (Ian McKellen) is a daring member of the Scottish military, who receives a revelation from three menacing sorceresses that he will someday become the King of Scotland. This information gives him a thirst for power, and with prompting from his wife, Lady Macbeth (Judi Dench), he kills the current leader in order to take the throne. But he must continue to commit murders to keep his actions a secret, and soon no one is safe.10/10
Minimalist production in a "black box theater", with all the focus on stunning performances. Exceptional. - DirectorGregory DoranStarsAntony SherHarriet WalterJoseph O'ConorA television adaptation of the classical Shakespeare play.9/10
Strong postmodern production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring Antony Sher and Harriet Walter as the wicked duo. The performances are fascinating, the direction subtle (the cinematography is a little too busy). There are a few too many soliloquies performed as voice-overs--but the one of Lady Macbeth in the bathtub worked brilliantly. - DirectorJack GoldStarsBrenda BruceEileen WayAnne DysonMacbeth and his wife murder Duncan in order to gain his crown, but the bloodbath doesn't stop there, and things supernatural combine to bring the Macbeths down.7/10
Stage-bound although effective, in period dress, with excellent interpretations by Nicol Williamson and Jane Lapotaire. - DirectorMichael BogdanovStarsSean PertweeGreta ScacchiLorren BentEnglish thespian Sean Pertwee plays the painfully ambitious royal who schemes to murder so he can ascend to the throne in this superior version of William Shakespeare's literary classic. Spurred by the pressure exerted by his equally power-hungry wife, Lady MacBeth (Greta Scacchi), the Thane conspires to kill, but is so overcome with guilt that he's unable to wash the blood off his hands -- literally and figuratively.6/10
I was all psyched up to despise this: modern-dress in a sere, post-apocalyptic setting performed by people whom one does not usually connect with the Bard. I was wrong. The actors are merely competent, but the production conjures good atmosphere, moves fast, and is surprisingly enjoyable. I especially loved the bag lady witches. - DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsJon FinchFrancesca AnnisMartin ShawA ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord seizes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.6/10
Fun to watch, but I found it emotionally shallow. If you insist on a Macbeth in period dress and assertive camera-work, though, this one will serve nicely. - DirectorHudson FaucettGeorge SchaeferStarsMaurice EvansJudith AndersonHouse JamesonMacbeth (Maurice Evans), the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his King and takes the throne for himself.6/10
Stodgy. Maurice Evans is uninspired here; Judith Anderson is much more impressive. A young Jeremy Brett plays Malcolm. They gave this a vaguely medieval setting; some imaginative directorial touches keep it watchable. - DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJeanette NolanDan O'HerlihyMacbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.4/10
So static that it might as well have been produced for radio. Gorgeous voice notwithstanding, Welles is a heavy unconvincing warrior; Nolan is downright awful. Bring a flashlight so you can find the actors amidst all the atmospheric gloom. - DirectorArthur Allan SeidelmanStarsJeremy BrettPiper LaurieSimon MacCorkindaleMacbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.3/10
Whose idea was it to stage this play with silent movie-style acting, complete with slapstick? I am embarrassed for Brett, for Laurie, and for anyone else even peripherally involved with this production. - DirectorThomas GrimmStarsThomas HampsonPaoletta MarrocuRoberto ScandiuzziMacbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.7/10
Thomas Hampson and Paoletta Marrocu sing Verdi (not one of his greatest scores) at the Zurich Opernhaus. It's exceedingly well-sung and acted, but emotionally distant--possibly this was merely my problem with the postmodern staging. If you are one of those sadly deprived people who don't already love opera, this is probably not the right introduction to it--Zeffirelli's Otello is far more accessible. - DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneMinoru ChiakiIsuzu YamadaA war-hardened general, egged on by his ambitious wife, works to fulfill a prophecy that he would become lord of Spider's Web Castle.9/10
Colourful, atmospheric, and very very violent. The witch scenes in a spooky Japanese forest are unforgettable. - DirectorJohn SichelStarsLaurence OlivierJoan PlowrightJeremy BrettShylock, a Jewish moneylender, demands his due of a pound of flesh for a forfeited loan.8/10
Rocket-like pacing, excellent Victorian costumes and sets. Olivier is fascinating in this role. Plowright gives a marvelous performance despite her all-too-obvious middle-age. - DirectorChris HuntTrevor NunnStarsDavid BamberPeter De JerseyMark Umbers8/10
The Bard seen through a lens borrowed from Cabaret. Very effective, if a bit too obvious at times. - DirectorMichael RadfordStarsAl PacinoJoseph FiennesLynn CollinsIn 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.7/10
Everyone looks in need of a good hot shower, and the lines are delivered with a dark intensity that expresses discontent with the play as well as the characters' own situations. Well-realized period settings and costumes help. What makes this worthwhile is watching Pacino's Shylock burn out emotionally before our eyes. - DirectorAdrian NobleStarsLindsay DuncanAlex JenningsDesmond BarritFilmed adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1996 version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'9/10
Distinctly surreal in look (doors in the middle of nowhere, trapezes), but infinitely warm at heart, effectively staged and performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. A lovely production of my favourite Shakespearean comedy. - DirectorMichael HoffmanStarsKevin KlineMichelle PfeifferRupert EverettLovers' lives are complicated by city law, feuding faerie royalty, and... love.7/10
Worth seeing if only for Tucci & Everett as Puck and Oberon. The setting makes no sense at all, and some of the actors are utterly flummoxed by the verse. (Flockhart is especially embarrassing.) Kline is over-the-top tedious as Bottom (which is especially disappointing given his excellent Hamlet in 1990)--it's ridiculous to cut the text of the play in order to invent cheesy pantomime scenes. - DirectorJoan Kemp-WelchStarsPatrick AllenEira HeathCyril LuckhamTheseus, Duke of Athens, is going to marry Hyppolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Demetrius is engaged with Hermia, but Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius. Oberon and Titania, of the kingdom of fairies have a slight quarrel about whether or not the boy Titania is raising will join Titania's band or Oberon's, so Oberon tries to get him from her by using some magic. But they're not alone in that forest. Lysander and Hermina have there a rendezvous, Helena and Demetrius are there, too as well as some actors, who are practicing a play for the ongoing wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Due to some misunderstandings by Puck, the whole thing becomes a little bit confused...6/10
The verse is rushed, but I certainly enjoyed Benny Hill as Bottom leading the fumbling mechanicals. Anna Massey is an appealing Titania. Weak production values and inadequate rehearsal time mean this will never be a first-choice "Dream'--but it's not bad at all. Set in ancient Athens. - DirectorPeter HallStarsDerek GodfreyBarbara JeffordNicholas SelbyThe adventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors and their interactions with fairies come to light in a moonlit forest.6/10
The "Dream" on the cheap, performed with lots of green body paint and mud. Dench beautifully embodies Titania; Holm is seriously miscast as Puck. This should have been a lot more amusing than it is. - DirectorWilliam DieterleMax ReinhardtStarsJames CagneyDick PowellIan HunterTwo couples and a troupe of actors have an encounter with some mischievous fairies in the forest.5/10
The staging is lush and often delightful; Hal Mohr won a well-deserved Academy Award for his cinematography; and I enjoyed Cagney's performance as Bottom the Weaver. As for the other actors--well, this is no way to treat a comedy classic. I wanted to strangle Rooney. - DirectorChristine EdzardStarsJamie PeacheyJohn HeyfronDanny BishopFeature film of William Shakespeare's play performed by children. Remarkable production values and the whole complete text performed without manners.2/10
The ultimate in stunt casting: every role is filled by a conspicuously untalented child actor. This was actually painful to sit through. - DirectorTimothy HinesStarsMaureen FreehillSkunk T'WeedPatrick GantA fairy queen falls for a craftsman cursed with donkey's ears.1/10
They were kidding, right? I had no idea there were so many tone-deaf actors in the universe. - 1964–196530mTV EpisodeDirectorAbe LevitowStarsJim BackusMarvin MillerHoward MorrisMr. Magoo portrays Puck, a fairy whose misapplication of love juice confuses the attractions of four lovers while also giving a bad actor the head of a jackass.6/10
Really very cute. The animators get extra points for properly setting it in ancient Athens. - DirectorRoss MacGibbonStarsPatricia BarkerPaul GibsonSeth BellistonMistaken identity, unrequited love, and the supernatural are combined in Shakespeare's classic set in the woods of Greece on a moonlit night.9/10
An enchanting full-length ballet version by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, with impressive dancing, luxurious costumes and sets, and all that wonderful music by Mendelssohn. Choreography by Balanchine.
If you enjoy this one, also look for American Ballet Theater's The Dream from 2003 (released on DVD in 2004; not listed on IMDb). It's a one-hour version of the story, choreographed by Frederick Ashton to Mendelssohn's score. - DirectorDave HeatherStarsIleana CotrubasJames BowmanRyland DaviesMistaken identity, unrequited love, and the supernatural are combined in Shakespeare's classic set in the woods of Greece on a moonlit night.7/10
A Glyndebourne Festival production of Britten's opera, with a fine cast plus pretty sets and costumes. I confess that--given an Oberon written for contra-tenor, plus a few sopranos and a whole chorus of pre-pubescent boys singing the fairies--the score is a bit too squeaky for me (opera-love though I am). - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghEmma ThompsonKeanu ReevesYoung lovers, and soon to wed, Hero and Claudio conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles, Benedick and Beatrice, to wed as well.8/10
The word "exuberant" was coined for this production. Immensely enjoyable and highly recommended. - DirectorStuart BurgeStarsLee MontagueTim FaulknerCherie LunghiBenedick and Beatrice fight their merry war of words. But when Beatrice's friend, Hero, is humiliatingly jilted by Benedick's best friend, Claudio, Benedick has to choose which side he's on. But unknown to all, Claudio's been tricked by the bastard Don John, and (unfortunately), it's up to Dogberry and Verges to solve the case.7/10
Attractive 16th century costuming and sets, with a talented cast and director. - DirectorNick HavingaStarsSam WaterstonKathleen WiddoesBarnard HughesVideotape of the Joseph Papp production. Don Pedro and his men (Teddy Roosevelt Roughriders) have returned from the wars. After Beatrice turns down his proposal, Don Pedro decides to matchmake her with Benedick (her former boyfriend), but she being an independent-minded, bicycle-riding Suffragette type, it's going to take a bit of trickery. Meanwhile, Beatrice's cousin, Hero, has fallen in love with Benedick's friend, Claudio. But Don Pedro's bastard half-brother, Don John, plots to split them apart, and Benedick finds himself having to choose between his best friend and the woman he loves.7/10
I have a special fondness for this, flaws and all. Set in the USA circa 1900, it's a Shakespeare Meets the Rough Riders Meets the Keystone Cops Meets The Music Man. - DirectorAnthony GarrickTrevor NunnStarsMichael GrandageIan McKellenClive SwiftA slightly updated version of Othello set in the 19th century Cyprus, where all characters wear uniforms and dresses from the American Civil War era. Othello, a heroic aging Moroccan mercenary marries beautiful and loving Desdemona, daughter of a general. Their love has no match, but their doom is spelled by non other than Othello's personal confidant Iago, a master manipulator, who believes that a trained loyal soldier like him is more deserving of a good life than a foreign mercenary.9/10
Beautifully, simply, claustrophobically staged and shot (with a U.S. Civil War setting), intensely physical. Willard White speaks the verse as if it were music; Ian McKellen too gives a triumphant performance, while Stubbs is a complex and poignant Desdemona. Not to be missed. - DirectorOliver ParkerStarsLaurence FishburneKenneth BranaghIrène JacobThe Moorish General Othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife Desdemona has been carrying on an affair with his Lieutenant Michael Cassio, when in reality, it is all part of the scheme of a bitter Ensign named Iago.7/10
Fishburne and Branagh are the key reasons to see this; they are often mesmerizing. The period sets and costumes are lovely, the visual clues rather too obvious. Jacob's unconvincing Desdemona drags the production downwards. Overall, i prefer my Shakespeare done with more subtlety. - DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesMicheál MacLiammóirRobert CooteThe Moorish General Othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife Desdemona has been carrying on an affair with his Lieutenant Michael Cassio when in reality, it is all part of the scheme of a bitter Ensign named Iago.7/10
Almost over-the-top artsiness threatens to overwhelm the text, but the performances are generally good and the effect convincing. - DirectorStuart BurgeStarsLaurence OlivierFrank FinlayRobert LangGeneral Othello's marriage is destroyed when vengeful Ensign Iago convinces him that his new wife has been unfaithful.6/10
A heavily mannered production with unconvincing body make-up obscuring Olivier; Finlay doesn't come off as sufficiently evil. Smith, however, is one of the most effective Desdemonas ever. Everyone speaks beautifully, of course. - DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsPlácido DomingoKatia RicciarelliJustino DíazVerdi's famous opera is brought to life in this production. The immortal tale of the noble Moor and his beautiful young wife, and of his lieutenant, whose jealousy and lust for power lead him to commit the ultimate treason.8/10
Shakespeare goes to the opera, with excellent results. Ably sung and acted; Domingo is in fine voice here. A first-class production of Verdi's work, despite extensive small trims to the score. - 1976–8.4 (13)TV EpisodeStarsLorena FeijóoGonzalo GarciaParrish MaynardSan Francisco Ballet production of "Othello" filmed at San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House on March 2 and 3, 2002.8/10
This production by the San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theater is danced brilliantly by Desmond Richardson, Parrish Maynard, Yuan Yuan Tan, and Katita Waldo. The score (by Eliot Goldenthal) is modern and tuneless, the choreography (by Lar Lubovitch) is angular, choppy, intense. A striking production that I enjoyed immensely. - DirectorGeoffrey SaxStarsEamonn WalkerChristopher EcclestonKeeley HawesShakespeare's Othello retold in modern London; racial tension in the police force collides with jealousy and revenge. An officer suspects his new bride of infidelity.7/10
Shakespeare's plot (at least some of it), but not Shakespeare's words. (If you need to see the play for school, don't pick this one.) There's far more sociology and far less domestic drama than we get with the Bard. An interesting production, with good performances. - DirectorDavid GilesStarsDerek JacobiJohn GielgudJon FinchThe incompetent King Richard II is deposed by Henry Bolingbroke and undergoes a crisis of identity once he is no longer King.7/10
An all-star cast--many of whom I admired in the Henry IV plays mentioned above--fails to rivet my attention here. It's good, just not as wonderful as I had hoped for. - DirectorRichard LoncraineStarsIan McKellenAnnette BeningChristopher BowenThe classic Shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15th-century king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s England as clouds of fascism gather.8/10
Set in the 1930s, with tanks, trains, radios, morgues, cameras, hypodermics, and explosions. And it works! Bonus: Stacey Kent sings a swing adaptation of Kit Marlowe's "Come Live With Me & Be My Love" (with additional lyrics by Sir Walter Raleigh). - DirectorLaurence OlivierStarsLaurence OlivierCedric HardwickeNicholas HannenShakespeare's powerful tale of the wicked deformed King and his conquests, both on the battlefield and in the boudoir.8/10
A wicked fairy tale told in primary colours. There is a not-inappropriate feel of Walt Disney about this one. - DirectorAl PacinoStarsAl PacinoAlec BaldwinKevin SpaceyAl Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III."7/10
Chaotic and funny documentary about assembling a production of Richard III. You'll enjoy exploring the character with Al Pacino as your (sometimes bemused) guide. - DirectorGeorge CukorStarsNorma ShearerLeslie HowardJohn BarrymoreYoung love is poisoned by a generations long feud between two noble families.7/10
Slow-moving, but the performances are unexpectedly good, and the production is lavish. Swell cinematography from William Daniels, plus John Barrymore as Mercutio are definite pluses here. - DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsLeonard WhitingOlivia HusseyJohn McEneryWhen two young members of feuding families meet, forbidden love ensues.7/10
The leads look right, although they have a bit of a struggle with their lines, and the production is sumptuous. - DirectorBaz LuhrmannStarsLeonardo DiCaprioClaire DanesJohn LeguizamoShakespeare's famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue.4/10
More of a stunt than an interpretation, made by people who believe you are so half-witted that they must hit you over the head with every symbol and line of verse. Much of the dialogue is unintelligible. - DirectorPaul CzinnerStarsMargot FonteynRudolf NureyevDavid BlairTwo teenagers fall in love, but their feuding families and fate itself cause the relationship to end in tragedy.8/10
Choreography by Kenneth MacMillan to Sergei Prokofiev's famous score. Nureyev is in his prime here; an aging Fonteyn still dances superbly--and her acting is perfection. The camerawork isn't the greatest, but balletomanes shouldn't miss this. - DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsElizabeth TaylorRichard BurtonCyril CusackBrutish, fortune-hunting scoundrel Petruchio tames his wealthy, shrewish wife, Katharina.7/10
Disliked by purists for its frenetic energy and broad characterizations. Over-the-top characterizations, over-the-top sets, over-the-top period costumes--ignore the critics! I enjoy it very much. - DirectorJonathan MillerStarsSimon ChandlerAnthony PedleyJohn Franklyn-RobbinsThe swaggering Petruchio agrees to marry the spitting hellcat, Katherine.6/10
Costumes and lighting have a sort of Vermeer feeling; the staging is otherwise rather flat. Cleese is inspired casting--but the production as a whole doesn't quite come together. - DirectorSam TaylorStarsMary PickfordDouglas FairbanksEdwin MaxwellIn sixteenth century Padua, Hortensio loves Bianca, the youngest daughter of Baptista. But Baptista will not allow the two to get married until his eldest daughter, the extremely headstrong Katherine, is betrothed. This task seems impossible because of Katherine's shrewish demeanor. They believe their prayers have been answered with the arrival from Verona of the lusty Petruchio, whose father has just passed, leaving him to travel the world and marry. Having not yet met her, Petruchio agrees to court Katherine when he is told of her beauty and wit. Petruchio is even more excited at the prospect of marrying this wildcat of a woman after meeting her. Katherine will have none of it, even if it means her sister's spinsterhood, but has no choice but to marry him. Beyond the fact of the marriage itself, Katherine is even more irked by Petruchio's less than conventional behavior at the ceremony and post ceremony bridal feast. Each starts to play what they consider sly games of oneupsmanship with each other to gain the upper hand in the marriage.4/10
Contrary to legend, it's probable this was always intended to be a Vitaphone talkie (shot silently, with dialogue and music recorded later). It might have succeeded had it been released as a silent--the cinematography by Karl Struss (who later shot the wonderfully sinuous 1931 Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde) is fluid, the leads are gorgeous, and the sets spacious and attractive, while the action is nothing if not energetic. Unfortunately we have to listen to the inadequate voices of both Pickford and Fairbanks; it doesn’t help that they were particularly bad at the new art of looping. Perhaps we should be grateful that well over half of the Bard’s text was cut. The flick is of interest now only because it was the first full-length sound adaptation of one of Shakespeare's plays. - DirectorGeorge SidneyStarsKathryn GraysonHoward KeelAnn MillerAn ex-husband and wife team star in a musical version of 'The Taming of the Shrew'; off-stage, the production is troublesome with ex-lovers' quarrels and two gangsters looking for some money owed to them.7/10
"Brush up your Shakespeare!" Great Cole Porter tunes, fun performances. - DirectorDes McAnuffStarsChristopher PlummerGeraint Wyn DaviesJohn VickeryExiled Prospero lives on a desolate island with his daughter, Miranda. When Prospero's usurping brother sails by the island, Prospero conjures a storm that wrecks the ship and changes all of their lives.8/10
Very enjoyable performance starring Christopher Plummer from the Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival. This one's played in the round with minimal sets, simple props, and sophisticated lighting effects to create its magic. - DirectorJohn GorrieStarsMichael HordernDerek GodfreyDavid WallerExiled Prospero lives on a desolate island with his daughter, Miranda. When Prospero's usurping brother sails by the island, Prospero conjures a storm that wrecks the ship and changes all of their lives.7/10
Conventional and competent. - DirectorJulie TaymorStarsHelen MirrenFelicity JonesDjimon HounsouShakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female.4/10
The good news: Mirren (an experienced Shakespearean actress) knows how to deliver the lines so that they are full of meaning. The bad news: almost everything else. Some of the actors flounder; the costumes are ugly; the direction too hyper. And it is so focused on theories about the play, it seems to have forgotten the play itself. It left me unmoved. - DirectorDerek JarmanStarsPeter BullDavid MeyerNeil CunninghamBanished to a forsaken island, the Right Duke of Milan and Sorcerer Prospero gets the chance to take his revenge on the King of Naples with the assistance of his airy spirit-servant, Ariel.4/10
Excessively campy and hyperkinetic. And noisy. Jarman is far more interested in his own imagination that he is in Shakespeare's. - DirectorPeter GreenawayStarsJohn GielgudMichael ClarkMichel BlancThe magician Prospero attempts to stop his daughter's affair with an enemy.3/10
A kind of visual psychoanalytic rummage sale. It's repetitive and surprisingly predictable. - DirectorFred M. WilcoxStarsWalter PidgeonAnne FrancisLeslie NielsenA starship crew in the 23rd century goes to investigate the silence of a distant planet's colony, only to find just two survivors, a powerful robot, and the deadly secret of a lost civilization.7/10
Despite what you may have heard, it's really not very much like The Tempest. But if Shakespeare had known about robots and ray guns and brain-enhancing machines, he would surely have included them in his play. - DirectorNeil ArmfieldStarsGillian JonesIvar KantsJacquy PhillipsShakespeare's comedy about twins, Viola and Sebastian, shipwrecked on the island of Illyria.8/10
Beautiful and haunting in a mid-winter Victorian staging. A lovely production in every way. - DirectorJohn GorrieStarsAlec McCowenRobert HardyFelicity KendalLookalike twins Viola and Sebastian are separated by a shipwreck. Viola lands in Illyria, where she disguises herself as her brother and goes into the service of the Duke Orsino. Orsino sends her to help him woo the Lady Olivia, who doesn't want the Duke, but finds that she likes the new messenger the Duke's sending. Then, of course, Viola's brother shows up, and merry hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle and his cohorts are trying to find some way to get back at Olivia's officious majordomo, Malvolio.8/10
A solid production, this one set in the mid-17th century. Hardy and Crosbie are the stand-outs in an excellent cast. - DirectorTrevor NunnStarsHelena Bonham CarterRichard E. GrantImogen StubbsShakespeare's comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves.6/10
A gloomy "comedy" indeed. This one is so over-laden with portentous symbolism and attitude, it never takes off in what should be a magical flight. - DirectorTim SuppleStarsParminder NagraRonny JhuttiChiwetel EjioforMulticultural version of the Shakespearean tale Twelth Night, Made in modern day society featuring Anglo-Indian cast.3/10
Postmodern in a creepy and unpleasant way. I'm still not sure why everyone is a gangsta in this against-the-text production. - StarsAlec McCowenMichael KitchenSuzanne BurdenCondensed animated adaptations of plays by William Shakespeare.7/10
Twelve 26-minute plays, created in a variety of animation styles. An enjoyable introduction to the Bard's work. - StarsMichael WoodGregory DoranRay FearonMichael Wood tours the English locations important to William Shakespeare as he explores the playwright and poet's life and work.8/10
Michael Wood takes us on a journey through Shakespeare's life and times. It overemphasizes the Bard's religious issues, but you won't want to miss the scenes, artifacts and insights. As a bonus, we get to view several clips from the Royal Shakespeare Company's versions of the plays. - DirectorPaul KafnoStarsAdam LongReed MartinAustin TichenorThree guys, one dead playwright, and 37 plays, all in under two hours. In this universally acclaimed theater experience, Adam Long (one of the troupe's founding members), Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor manage to compress the complete works of Shakespeare into about an hour and 40 minutes of high-speed over-the-top hilarity. Knowledge about Shakespeare's works is helpful, but not at all necessary. All that is needed is time enough to watch and someone to dial 911 in case you pass out from laughing so much.9/10
The RSC's motto: "More is more." A joyous romp--not to be missed by anyone who loves the Bard (and hates stuffed shirts). Highlights: Hamlet performed backwards, the rap version of Othello. - DirectorDouglas HickoxStarsVincent PriceDiana RiggIan HendryA Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.7/10
A gruesome delight for those of us who are fans of both the Bard and horror. Price eliminates his enemies while declaiming Shakespeare's lines from a variety of plays in a worthy manner. Groovy clothes (and a good performance from Diana Rigg) add to the festivities. - DirectorJohn MaddenStarsGwyneth PaltrowJoseph FiennesGeoffrey RushThe world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.8/10
Yes, it's a wee bit precious--but it's also a ravishing romp through grubby, glorious Elizabethan England viewed through a distinctly 20th century microscope. Sit back and enjoy.