Suspense - "Othello" (1953) Radio Recall - MWOTRC On May 4 and May 11, 1953, Suspense presented a two-part presentation of Shakespeare’s Othello, one of the few two-part presentations offered on Suspense, and the only Suspense presentation based on a stage play by William Shakespeare. There were many episodes of Suspense that featured quotes from Shakespeare, and even John Dickson Carr’s “Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble” from April 6, 1943 originated from a Shakespeare theme, but this was definitely the only adaptation of a Shakespeare play dramatized on Suspense. William Conrad and Richard Widmark make a great Iago and Othello. The music was cleverly arranged. In 1887, Giuseppe Verdi introduced “Otello” (that’s not a misspelling), a musical opera based on Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Verdi composed other operas based on Shakespeare’s plays, but to put his music to the actual drama (during short musical intervals and as musical bridges) was pure genius.
Julius Caesar (1970) Now in PD. Notorious for the terrible (by his own admission) performance of the great Jason Robards as Brutus (he was in the depths of alcoholism at the time). Charlton Heston as Mark Antony Jason Robards as Brutus John Gielgud as Julius Caesar Richard Johnson as Cassius Robert Vaughn as Casca Richard Chamberlain as Octavius Diana Rigg as Portia Jill Bennett as Calpurnia Christopher Lee as Artemidorus Michael Gough as Metellus Cimber André Morell as Cicero
Julius Caesar (1914 film) - Wikipedia Julius Caesar (Italian:Giulio Cesare) is a 1914 Italian silent historical film directed by Enrico Guazzoni and starring Amleto Novelli, Bruto Castellani and Pina Menichelli. Taking its inspiration from William Shakespeare's 1599 play of the same title, the film portrays the events leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar. In the wake of Guazzoni's internationally successful Quo Vadis it was produced on an epic scale, including vast sets recreating Ancient Rome and more than 20,000 extras.
I'm not sure I get the point of this silent film. They want to put some of the words from the play on title cards and then have long scenes where actors say more words but no one can hear them? For Shakespeare the sound of words is everything. That's like watching the play from outside with a window. Weird. I'm sure it was spectacular in its time but just weird as a concept.
We saw it in HS. Our teacher said that Robards was playing the role as stoic and emotionless. It was a method acting thing, he said
Watching the 1978 British TV mini-series on the life of Shakespeare starring Tim Curry. Below is the final episode, though the YT poster has most of them on his channel. DVD info
I pretty new to Shakespeare. I couple of years ago I decided to try him out so me and my girlfriend went and saw 'Macbeth' at the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta. It blew me away. That Christmas I got The Norton Shakespeare. I've read a few of the plays. Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummers Nights Dream. I know it's cliche to say but the best to me was Hamlet. I couldn't put it down. Truly one of the monuments of western civilization. Finally going to see the play in April.
Then check out the various movie versions. Olivier of course, Mel Gibson's unique version (with a fantastic turn by Glenn Close) and Branagh's complete uncut version which also has Alan Bates turning in a great performance as the Uncle. Richard Burton's version (my favorite) is available on dvd, but it takes place on a bare stage in street clothes, which takes some getting used to.
Currently watching and enjoying this version (in half-hour or so increments with my morning tea). I especially like James Mason's unpretentious approach.
The Shakespeare in the Park version with John Lithgow was excellent. Well, Lithgow was excellent, and the rest of the cast was (as is frequently the case in these typically lame productions) uneven. But there was a time . . .
I’m in New England, but have been able to see Shakespeare plays at the Tavern in Atlanta twice - and enjoyed them tremendously. You’ve got a real treasure there...
Among all the other great suggestions one of my favourite takes is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. It is a great inversion of Hamlet using these two minor characters. The writing and use of Shakespeare is superb. The language and visual play is brilliant. The play itself is a bit different from the film as I recall and the film has a great, young Gary Oldman and Tim Roth in the titular roles.
I've only read the play, but the mere idea of flipping minor and major roles in a classic was a brilliant idea. The brilliant writing, inspired by Waiting for Godot, was the icing on the cake. I'd like to see it some day.
Then, of course, there's Stoppard's 15-Minute Hamlet (followed by the one-minute encore, I believe). There are some examples on Youtube, but none are very good. Stoppard's idea was "used" as a basis for the Reduced Shakespeare Company's work. The latter stuff got old pretty quickly for me.
Soothsayer Caesar! CAESAR Ha! who calls? CASCA Bid every noise be still: peace yet again! CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear. Soothsayer Beware the ides of March. CAESAR What man is that? BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face. CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar. CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again. Soothsayer Beware the ides of March. CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass. CAESAR [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come. Soothsayer Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
