William Shakespeare: Othello

Starring:Philip Sully, Marsha A. Hunt, Clive Swift, Ian McKellen, John Burgess, Brian Lawson, ZoÃ« Wanamaker, David Hounslow, Peter Rolinson, Imogen Stubbs, Willard White, Sean Baker, Michael Grandage
Director: Trevor Nunn
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
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.

Orson Welles' Othello
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
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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William Shakespeare: Othello

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:

Unbiased Review?
The Green Eyed Monster Strikes with Ferocity
Amazing
Not perfect but getting there
Farewell content!

William Shakespeare: Othello
Starring: Michael Grandage , Ian McKellen , Clive Swift , Willard White , and Sean Baker
Director: Trevor Nunn
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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William Shakespeare's Othello

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:

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.

Farewell content!.......2005-01-04

So much of Orson Welles' Othello rendered unintelligible by technical glitches, it is somehow back-handedly fitting to find Ian McKellen achieving the same effect out of simple interpretive perversity, rushing wildly, incomprehensibly through 1/3 of his lines, chumblingly swallowing another 1/3. (It may not be fair to fault him for so 'interesting' an attempt--the notion of phony working class touchy-feeliness might have been Trevor Nunn's.) Whereas traditional plumes, turbans,"neighing steeds" and floor length robes can cover a lot of inanity, this obviously low budget, lower imagination production offers no space in which to hide it's time-shifted pointlessness. (Recalling the legends of Welles' costuming problems, one wonders if this entire concept hinged on Royal Shakespeare's wardrobe out-of-stock except for left-overs from some Yank Civil War turkey.)

It has to be said that Imogen Stubbs might have made a touching Desdemona in a less change-for-the-sake-of-change production. And what a delight to hear Willard White articulating in his vibrant, Robesonesque bass tones, battling not only Iago and the Fates, but the sort of clever-dick innovations that transmute a High Testosterone Warrior/Man-of-Action into a bureaucratic paper shuffler and wielder of rubber stamps.

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
Binding: 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!

The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 6 - Othello

Average customer rating:

The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 6 - Othello
Starring: Jenny Agutter , Bob Hoskins , Peter MacLean , Ron Moody , and Jay Robinson
Director: Franklin Melton
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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William Shakespeare: Othello
The Plays of William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet

ASIN: B000059XTU
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Amazon.com

Produced in 1981 and intended primarily for classroom viewing, this conventional staging of Othello strips away the adornments of traditional English accents to focus entirely on the power of Shakespeare's tragedy. Despite the disadvantage of a lackluster video transfer, flat overhead lighting, and sound recording that occasionally smothers dialogue with music, the play itself is faithfully preserved. William Marshall's stentorian tones give him a commanding presence as the doomed Moor Othello, whose jealousies are stirred and manipulated by Ron Moody's scheming Iago. But his mannered performance clashes with Moody (best known as Fagin in Oliver!), whose Iago lacks the villainous premeditation that the role demands. Jenny Agutter acquits herself nicely as Othello's ill-fated wife, Desdemona, but she, too, lacks the passion of her character's righteous convictions. The production is unerringly authentic, however, and compensates for its dryness by presenting Shakespeare with reverent fidelity. Overall, a worthy starting point for exploring other, more daring interpretations. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The clearest and most understandable Shakespeare productions ever made. Staged as seen in the 16th Century, featuring award-winning performers. A lover's jealousy results in tragedy and death. Starring William Marshall, Ron Moody and Jenny Agutter. 195 minutes.

Average customer rating:

A Shame
astounding film adaption
PLEASE PUT THIS ADAPTATION OF OTHELLO ON DVD!
A Shame!
riveting

Othello
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Maggie Smith , Joyce Redman , Frank Finlay , and Derek Jacobi
Director: John Dexter (II) , and Stuart Burge
Manufacturer: Ruscico
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Richard Burton's Hamlet

ASIN: B0009F78BU

Product Description

A screen adaptation of William Shakespeares tragedy. The somber Elsinore Castle that keeps secrets of many a crime is looming over the rocky coastline. Prince Hamlet once again puts the question: To be, or not to be? He is the first thinker in the line of warriors, a poet and a philosopher, a character so close to future generations. In the utterly corrupted kingdom, a lone hero is bound to take up arms to avenge his fathers death. This film became a champion among Lenfilm Studios prize-winning motion pictures 23 awards in four years. The musical score was written by the great Russian composer Dmitry Shostakovich.

Customer Reviews:

A Shame .......2007-03-27

It is a shame that people like C. Hopkins"the poetess" can`t enjoy a movie like this.This is one of the greatest performances by possibly the greatest actor(certainly the greatest Shakespearian actor)of the 20th century.Don`t watch the Laurence Fishburne version,it is lame in comparison.

astounding film adaption.......2006-09-12

The quintessential film adaptation of one of the bard's greatest works, performed by one of his greatest interpreters and arguably the 20th century's finest actor.

It's troubling that so many people have made it fashionable to target the play in recent times because of it's alleged racism - centered around the fact that the central role has historically been taken by Caucasians until recently. Even the blackface makeup work has come under fire as some sort of mocking routine - how pray tell is one to play a Moor with a pale skin one wonders?

Nothing better exemplifies the utter stupidity of some of the commentary than those penned by 'the poetess' on this listing. Only an African-American like Fishburn can possibly understand how to play the role of a 'fellow African' she boldly states. Presumably this also means that an African-American couldn't possibly deal with the complexities and subtleties of taking on a white dramatic role because we too are somehow 'different' and beyond the ken of other races? Of course, the fact that the role of Othello was imaginatively written centuries ago by a white dramatist with next to no personal experience of Moorish or African culture is a moot point in her assertion that the role can only be successfully interpreted by an African-American. Wonderful logic at play there!

PLEASE PUT THIS ADAPTATION OF OTHELLO ON DVD!.......2005-12-22

This is the movie adaptation of Othello from the mid 1960's and this is not really a review but really more of a plea to get this movie on DVD. Will someone please put this movie out on a DVD? Anyway I highly recommend this movie!

A Shame!.......2005-12-11

What a shame that white racist media did not allow a true African American to protray the Black Othello. I am so very thankful that times have changed somewhat. Laurence Fishburne does a magnificent job and is quite senual in portraying the great protagonist Othello in a moving and convincing manner. The movie moves one to tears and at last, Shakespeare's intentions for the character of Othello are portrayed on film.

If you really want to see and understand the beauty of Othello, buy the movie starring Laurence Fishburne.

Great job Fishburne. A white man could never play a black man--

riveting.......2005-10-07

It is basicly a film of a play.The warner home video plays very well in color and sound and picture quality.It is a filmed play and at times clunky and uncinamatic.Oh, but what a performance. There he is in all of his splendor.The performance of the century.At one point I thought olivier was actually crazy not acting, but really transformed from a great actor saying his lines, to actually gone mad in costume.At one point he actually has a seisure on stage and in character.Pauline Kael said it best;as a movie it is so-so.But you can not afford to miss Oliviers towering performance.(Where is the DVD?paging criterion.)

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