The play tells the story of a powerful general of the venetian army, othello, whose life and marriage are ruined by a conniving, deceitful, and envious soldier, iago. In the opening scene, iago complains to roderigo that othello, his commander, has passed him over to promote the handsome young cassio to be his lieutenant. O by tim blake nelson, 2000 nelsons 2000 movie production of o is based on shakespeares play othello, and shows differences as well as similarities to the original seventeenth century play by william shakespeare. Kenneth branagh as william shakespeare in all is true 2019. Anyone interested in making a lowbudget movie ought to see orson welles screen adaptation of william shakespeare s othello, a striking example of how much can be achieved with very little money. That makes shakespeare the most filmed playwright of all time. Othello the tragedy of othello, william shakespeare othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. The movie othello by william shakespeare essay bartleby. Venice needs othello to protect its commercial interests in cyprus where the turkish fleet is headed. Download othello william shakespeare pdf genial ebooks. In cyprus, iago plots to convince othello that desdemona has betrayed him with cassio david yelland. List of william shakespeare screen adaptations wikipedia. The newlymarried couple fall prey to the machinations of iago, othello s jealous ensign, who plots to. Universal themes of racism, jealousy and the role of women.
When othello and his men have a feast to celebrate his victory and marriage, iago. Othello is a tragedy written by the big dog of english theater himself. Set at a prestigious high school, the othello character is the schools star basketball player, and iago the coachs son who is. On the stage, in the movies, and on television his plays are watched by vast audiences. It was directed by oliver parker and stars laurence. Othello is a 1995 american drama film based on william shakespeares tragedy of the same name. The play is indeed entitled othello, but the focus is almost always stolen by the. Othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603.
For more than 350 years, william shakespeare has been the worlds most popular playwright. William shakespears othello directed by dimitri buchowetzki 1922 music composed and conducted by loris tjeknavorian recorded by. In othello, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of characters love. Othello, the protagonist of the tragedy is trapped in the conspiracies. William shakespeare was the son of john shakespeare, an alderman and a successful glover glovemaker originally from snitterfield, and mary arden, the daughter of an affluent landowning farmer.
The 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. Library of congress cataloginginpublication data shakespeare, william, 15641616. Although he never existed during the time of movies or television, his name and works were used in some disney movies and characters. Even though hes the only black student at the elite palmetto grove academy, he has the adoration of all, including the teams coach and the deans beautiful daughter, desi. Essay on a comparison of othello and the movie o 1548. Parker manages to capture the passion and love between othello and desdemona and even plays it up, making the betrayal and tragedy more powerful. Othello, a tragedy by william shakespeare, 1565 this study guide and infographic for william shakespeares othello offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Check out william shakespeares othello video sparknote. The 25 best shakespeare movies of all time to film, or not to film, that is the question. A still of british actor sir laurence olivier in blackface, from the 1965 film adaptation of william shakespeares play, othello. Librivox recording of othello, by william shakespeare. William shakespeare s the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice,or simply othello, is a tragedy written in approximately 1603. Othello short summary by william shakespeare othello is considered to be one of the best tragedies of all times. Shakespeares othello is a tragic tale of jealousy and deceit set in venice.
It investigates themes such as gender equality and jealousy that are still pervasive today. Othello shakespeare and saxs film adaptation essay 938. Othello, his wife desdemona, his lieutenant cassio, and his trusted advisor iago. Considering that the play was performed in apartheid johannesburg in 1988 makes it even more daring and brilliant. The guinness book of records lists 410 featurelength film and tv versions of william shakespeare s plays, making shakespeare the most filmed author ever in any language. Those are the human emotional engines that drive shakespeares play and that have made it so powerful for so many different audiences for so. As of july 2018, the internet movie database lists shakespeare as having writing credit on 1,371 films, including those under production but not yet released. Over her protests that she loves him and is innocent, he smothers her.
Explore the different themes within william shakespeares tragic play, othello. Othello 1951 orson welles synopsis, characteristics. Iago is able to plant his cruel seeds of jealousy only because othello s character is so thoroughly prepared to receive them. One of shakespeare s most tightly woven works, it explores themes of racism, betrayal, love, revenge, and forgiveness, and has spawned multiple film, literary, and operatic adaptations. The tragedy of othello, the moor of venice video 1981 imdb. Factchecking plot points in all is true, kenneth branagh. Othello, a tragedy by william shakespeare, 1565 this study guide and infographic for william shakespeare s othello offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Iago first asks roderigo to tell desdemonas father, brabantio, that his daughter has left to marry othello, a marriage brabantio opposes because othello is a moor. The text published in the first folio of 1623 seems to have been based on a version revised by shakespeare himself that sticks close to the original almost line by line but introduces numerous. 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. Quick and easy othello synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes in the play.
Othello, 2001 this madefortv movie turns othello into a modern day crime story o, 2001 o, a teen movie based on othello, starring mekhi phifer as othello, julia stiles as desdemona, and josh hartnett as a heartthrob iago. Othello, a moorish general in the service of the venetian state, is disdained for his race but valued for his military skills. Othello william shakespeare s othello is discussed by the cast and crew of a folger shakespeare library production of the play. The contemporary american rendition of othello by william shakespeare 1191 words 5 pages. The tragedy of othello, the moor of venice 1981 3h 15min drama, romance video. The guinness book of records lists 410 featurelength film and tv versions of william. The force of evil in othello has its origin, like the origin of everything else in the tragedy, in the character of its hero, mark van doren wrote.
Some modernists might be turned off by this plays accuracy in depicting the very young desdemona and the older othello played brilliant by south african, john cani. People read his plays again and again for pleasure. Othello, composed by shakespeare in 1603, is a standout amongst the most disputable and pertinent plays to both society and people. The movie o was somewhat accurate to the play, othello, in which it is based upon. A lot more than political ambition seems to be motivating iago. To blame desdemonas death on iago is to turn othello into a pawn, and that violates the. Tragedy of othello, the moor of venice 1981, starring william. Comparisons of shakespeares othello and the movie o essay. Mar 04, 2016 the 25 best shakespeare movies of all time to film, or not to film, that is the question. Feb 03, 20 othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. The film othello is a remake of the classic novel by william shakespeare. Othello by william shakespeare dramatic reading full. Adaptations of shakespeares plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films andor videos worldwide. A still of british actor sir laurence olivier in blackface, from the 1965 film adaptation of william shakespeare s play, othello.
The last play shakespeare wrote on his own was the famous history of the life of henry the eighth, which was performed in london in 16. In othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. I believe it was laurence olivier who theorized that william shakespeare and his lead actor richard burbage were bending elbows one night when burbage drunkenly taunted, i can play any role you can write. The main strength of this film version of shakespeares othello, the moor of venice is its acting. Welles began shooting othello without securing full financing, so he would gather his cast. Othello 1951 allmovie movies and films database movie.
Othello, in full othello, the moor of venice, tragedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written in 160304 and published in 1622 in a quarto edition from a transcript of an authorial manuscript. This lowbudget, heavily edited version of the play stars orson welles as othello and took four years to complete while welles raised the funds. Themes are central to understanding othello as a play and identifying shakespeares social and political commentary. But othello s old ensign, iago frank finlay, doesnt like othello, and is determined to bring about the downfall of othello s new favorite, cassio sir derek jacobi, and destroy othello in the process, by casting aspersions on othello s new bride. The o movie is a modification of othello by william shakespeare and is set in the 20th century in a high school, where odin in contrast to othello is a star basketball star and dating desi, desdemona in the play. While it is difficult to gage the precise time setting of the film, one is led to believe based upon the dress of the characters that it occurs in the mid to late 1800s since characters, such as othello, wear civil war era military uniforms. O is odin james, a star high school basketball player and nba hopeful. Iago is able to plant his cruel seeds of jealousy only because othellos character is so thoroughly prepared to receive them.
In the second act of othello, william shakespeare introduces humor in regard to a drinking party act ii, scene 3. The villainous iago plans and executes his elaborate revenge on othello. Othello, also titled the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice, is a tragic play written by william shakespeare in 1603 as accepted by most scholars. But roderigo has just learned that desdemona has married othello, a general whom iago begrudgingly serves as ensign. The idea of comes from italian writers play the moorish captain, published in 1565. Othello summary and complete analysis william shakespeare. Essay on a comparison of othello and the movie o 1548 words.
Iago says he hates othello, who recently passed him. Othello is the story of a crosscultural romance between the title character, a noble moor who is a general in the venetian army, and desdemona, a beautiful and virtuous venetian lady. The most profound aspect of this film is that it was staged 1987, then filmed 1988 during the political context of the time cd cover comment amidst the racial turmoil of south africa. To create the blend of shakespeares tragedy as written, its racial theme, and resonant modernday parallels of apartheid was no small task. Later that same year, he collaborated with john fletcher on. Shakespeares othello, as it explores the universal themes of racism, jealousy and the role of women, which are also applicable to modern times, as is displayed in geoffrey saxs 2001 film adaptation, othello. Oliver parker adaptation, william shakespeare play. The caucasian actor laurence olivier appears in blackface for the role in this movie, but his. He was born in stratforduponavon, where he was baptised on 26 april 1564. One of shakespeares most tightly woven works, it explores themes of racism, betrayal, love, revenge, and forgiveness, and has spawned multiple film, literary, and operatic adaptations. Laurence olivier, cedric hardwicke, nicholas hannen.
William shakespeares the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice,or simply othello, is a tragedy written in approximately 1603. The moorish general othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife desdemona. Anyone interested in making a lowbudget movie ought to see orson welles screen adaptation of william shakespeares othello, a striking example of how much can be achieved with very little money. Video production of shakespeares stage play about othello, a moorish general in venice deeply in love with his wife desdemona and, unbeknown to him, deeply hated by his trusted ensign and best friend, iago, who has death on his mind.
Othello shakespeare and saxs film adaptation essay. Othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare based on the short story moor of venice by cinthio, believed to have been written in approximately 1603. He weds desdemona in a mixedrace marriage that offends her. Visually learn all about the characters, themes, and william shakespeare. It was edgar allan poes 206th birthday on january 19, and i came across an old post on open culture featuring a couple of cool clips, one being christopher walken reading poes poem the raven, and the other being the 1953 oscarnominated animated short of poes story the telltale heart, narrated by james mason. Othello short summary by shakespeare english summary. Aug 02, 2016 licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of varese. The life and works of william shakespeare v othello fm. Despite the barebones production, critics now praise it for its brevity and cinematic sophistication. Written in 1604, it has spanned a total of 12 movie adaptations othello, including the 2001 version directed by tim blake nelson. The emc masterpiece series access editions isbn 0821929569 1. Othello goes to high school, welsh 225 is an accurate description of the movie o as directed by tim blake nelson.
The film of othello by william shakespeare 1179 words cram. When the movie opened in the us critics objected to his blackface portrayal of the moor, which came in the midst of the civil rights movement. Quick and easy othello synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and. Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of othello that can help you study and better understand the play. The film is set in italy and follows the lives and interactions of several characters in a.
Shakespeares powerful tale of the wicked deformed king and his conquests, both on the battlefield and in the boudoir. Olive parkers othello is a beautifully filmed movie based on the play by william shakespeare. The newlymarried couple fall prey to the machinations of iago, othellos jealous ensign, who plots to destroy their union. Directed by oliver parker, it is the first theatrical production of the play that features an african american man in the lead role. Its extremely surreal, very creepy, and well worth watching. William shakespeare s othello and o 1760 words 8 pages. If you answered a, please go out and make this movie happen. After my studies in uk and teaching shakespeare here in us, i find this south african version of othello to be the closest to shakespeares original that youre going to find. The play was first staged on november 1 st, 1604 and 1 st published in 1622 by thomas walkley. Writerdirector oliver parker an ideal husband adapts shakespeares towering tragedy of passion and jealousy with shattering performances. After being the face of shakespeare film adaptations to a whole generation in films.
For years, stories about this singularly troubled movie circulated more widely than the film itself. Roderigo has been paying iago to help him in his suit to desdemona. Although he never existed during the time of movies or television, his. Othello begins on a street in venice, in the midst of an argument between roderigo, a rich man, and iago. Written in 1604, it has spanned a total of 12 movie adaptations othello, including the.
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