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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 8:43:16 GMT
William Shakespeare was never British but he was certainly English, which is why this thread resides here. Also, because the British do The Bard on a regular basis their collective knowledge of the plays supersedes most. The film adaptations are another story. Shakespeare has been one of England's greatest exports and by now the world has interpreted and reinterpreted the works. Some of the most imaginative takes of classics on film have been Shakespeare adaptations. 2023 will mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of The First Folio, the first collection of 36 plays prepared by Shakespeare's colleagues, John Heminges and Henry Condell, 7 years after the poet's death. It'll be interesting to observe the number of films that go into production in celebration of the event.
Here's an informed look at the historical/culural background which gave rise to Shakespeare -
And a brief look at the history of Shakespeare's work on film -
Got any Shakespeare favorites on film? Seen any lately? Share!
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Post by ando on Nov 7, 2022 0:28:55 GMT
Been meaning to sit down to an uninterrupted viewing of this one. A fun, modern day take on The Merry Wives of Windsor, done by the RSC back in 2018 -
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Post by ando on Nov 15, 2022 7:24:08 GMT
Simon Schama's 2 part Shakespeare program, Shakespeare And Us
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Post by ando on Nov 15, 2022 7:40:28 GMT
For the record I firmly believe that, whoever he was, Shakespeare wrote the plays of Shakespeare. Where he personally fit into the socio-ecomic scheme of Elizabethan-Jacobean England is far less interesting and, compared to the literary legacy he left, nearly irrelevant.
Ran into an amusing criticism of the Oxfordian theory and the dreck they produce, like the film Anonymous:
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Post by Hrothgar on Nov 18, 2022 19:10:35 GMT
This may be more properly considered as TV, not sure. The Hollow Crown Series. The are availale on Netflix as full feature films, but they ae also expressed in terms of episodes. Perhaps initially TV and later cobbled together as full-length features. Not sure, as I say.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RMdMLrW_k4&t=1s |
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Post by ando on Nov 20, 2022 8:09:38 GMT
This may be more properly considered as TV, not sure. The Hollow Crown Series. The are availale on Netflix as full feature films, but they ae also expressed in terms of episodes. Perhaps initially TV and later cobbled together as full-length features. Not sure, as I say.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RMdMLrW_k4&t=1sThanks. Vimeo has a free version of Richard II, the first in the Hollow Crown series. I love Derek Jacobi's performance as Richard from the late 70s/early 80s BBC tv series. Ben Whishaw's uber effette Richard takes some getting used to... Good ensemble all around, though. vimeo.com/channels/551513/58737725 |
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Post by mrminiver on Nov 20, 2022 13:47:59 GMT
For as much as I love the classics I also like and appreciate the reinterpreted or reimagined or whatever they're calling it now.
The retelling of the stories set in modern times or different times is what helps keep him alive. People take it in and like it without even knowing
that it's Shakespeare.
Kurosawa did it with an entirely different culture and nailed it. Shout out to Kenneth Branagh and what he did to keep the classic versions alive.
As far as the reinterpretations go Richard 3 with Ian McKellen is probably my favorite. I thought it was brilliantly done.
Something else I very much appreciated was Looking for Richard. Released in 1996 but filmed for several years prior with Al Pacino.
It's a really good documentary to help people get in touch with their inner Shakespeare.
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Post by ando on Nov 20, 2022 16:55:47 GMT
For as much as I love the classics I also like and appreciate the reinterpreted or reimagined or whatever they're calling it now...
Re: Shakespeare Retold
The "Scottish" film in that series is one of my faves. Fun one.
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Post by Swithin on Nov 25, 2022 18:18:43 GMT
Been meaning to sit down to an uninterrupted viewing of this one. A fun, modern day take on The Merry Wives of Windsor, done by the RSC back in 2018 -
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Post by Swithin on Nov 26, 2022 2:21:38 GMT
A Shakespeare play which I have been rather fixated upon the last few months is Love's Labour's Lost. It's an early Shakespeare play as much about language as about character, and includes some of Shakespeare's most beautiful songs.I've seen two live productions, both RSC, the first in 1977, the second in 1995. I also saw a screening of the RSC 2017 production. All fine productions, unlike Kenneth Branagh's 2000 film of the play, which is a bit of a mess. I don't mind updates, extra songs, etc.; but Branagh deleted so much of the beautiful text; and after all, this is a play about words!My current obsession with the play arose out of idleness, early during the pandemic, and led me to look at various versions on YouTube. The BBC has presented a production every ten years: 1965, 1975, 1985. The 1975 version is my favorite, presented totally outdoors, which suits the play. The leads are Jeremy Brett as Berowne; Martin Shaw as the King of Navarre; and Sinead Cusack as Rosaline. It's a gorgeous, moving production which does justice to the play.![]() ![]()  Jeremy Brett as Berowne in the 1975 BBC production of Love's Labour's Lost.
Berowne has one of Shakespeare's most beautiful monologues about love.
("And I, forsooth, in love?")
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Post by ando on Nov 26, 2022 22:36:34 GMT
A Shakespeare play which I have been rather fixated upon the last few months is Love's Labour's Lost... The 1975 version is my favorite, presented totally outdoors, which suits the play. The leads are Jeremy Brett as Berowne; Martin Shaw as the King of Navarre; and Sinead Cusack as Rosaline. It's a gorgeous, moving production which does justice to the play. |
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Post by ando on Dec 2, 2022 4:46:52 GMT
  Othello (1951, Orson Welles) A great print of the classic Moor of Venice is currently streaming free on PLEX. The "making-of" documentary and conversation between Welles, Micheál MacLiammóir (Iago) and Hilton Edwards (Brabantio) above is a great supplement to the film.
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Post by Swithin on Dec 2, 2022 12:57:24 GMT
Othello (1951, Orson Welles) A great print of the classic Moor of Venice is currently streaming free on PLEX. The "making-of" documentary and conversation between Welles, Micheál MacLiammóir (Iago) and Hilton Edwards (Brabantio) above is a great supplement to the film.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/othello
www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/othello-national-giles-terera_57921.html |
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Post by ando on Dec 2, 2022 16:51:13 GMT
Thanks. Looks intriguing!
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Post by galacticgirrrl on Dec 8, 2022 5:04:27 GMT
Got any Shakespeare favorites on film? Seen any lately? Share! [Now I am the one having link troubles. Can you try posting those video links again?] I don't know if this really counts as film but I remember when The Met started broadcasting in HD to movie theatres. The first one I went to was Macbeth. It was all a bit distracting - or so I thought. Seniors roaming around with headlamps, popcorn snacking, sticky soda pop floors and the place was packed. It was good but I didn't think much more about it and went on with my day. That night I had some of the bloodiest most terrifying nightmares I have ever experienced. I tried The Met sight just now to try and see who/when I saw this but their site is down it seems. Pity. >The Met has experienced a cyberattack that has temporarily impacted our network systems, which include our website, box office, and call center. |
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