- Othello (1995 film)
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Othello
Promotional film posterDirected by Oliver Parker Produced by David Barron Written by William Shakespeare Starring Laurence Fishburne
Irène Jacob
Kenneth Branagh
Nathaniel Parker
Michael Maloney
Anna Patrick
Nicholas Farrell
Indra Ové
Michael Sheen
André Oumansky
Philip Locke
John Savident
Gabriele Ferzetti
Pierre VaneckMusic by Charlie Mole Cinematography David Johnson Editing by Tony Lawson Distributed by Columbia Pictures Release date(s) December 15, 1995 Running time 123 minutes Country United Kingdom
United StatesLanguage English Budget $11 million Box office $2,844,379 (United States) Othello is a 1995 film based on William Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name. It was directed by Oliver Parker and stars Laurence Fishburne as Othello, Irène Jacob as Desdemona, and Kenneth Branagh as Iago. This is the first cinematic reproduction of the play released by a major studio that casts an African-American actor to play the role of Othello, although low-budget independent films of the play starring Ted Lange[1] and Yaphet Kotto[2] predated it.
Contents
Adaptation
The film, shot in Italy, follows the story of the play closely, but cuts many lines. In addition it adds scenes not in the play, including a sex scene between Othello and Desdemona, dreams in which Othello imagines Desdemona's supposed affair with Cassio, a scene in which Desdemona dances for Othello and a final scene in which the bodies of those killed are buried at sea. The film also uses strong imagery - at the moment that Emilia says that men belch women when they are done with them, Iago, who has used her in his plot against Othello, is seen closing the door in the background.[neutrality is disputed]
Cast
Characters Role Actor Othello Laurence Fishburne Desdemona Irène Jacob Iago Kenneth Branagh Cassio Nathaniel Parker Roderigo Michael Maloney Emilia Anna Patrick Montano Nicholas Farrell Bianca Indra Ové Lodovico Michael Sheen Reception
The film was not a financial success, grossing only $2.1 million in the United States on its $11 million budget[3] (however, it had a very limited theater count). It received largely positive reviews, especially for Branagh's Iago. Janet Maslin wrote in the New York Times "Mr. Branagh's superb performance, as the man whose Machiavellian scheming guides the story of Othello's downfall, guarantees this film an immediacy that any audience will understand."[4] Branagh was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance, in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category[5].
Remake
In June 2011, a remake was announced.
References
- ^ Othello (1989)
- ^ Othello (1980)
- ^ Othello (1995) - Box office / business
- ^ "Fishburne and Branagh Meet Their Fate in Venice", New York Times, Dec. 14, 1995
- ^ Othello (1995) - Awards
External links
- Othello at the Internet Movie Database
William Shakespeare's Othello Characters Source - "Un Capitano Moro" from Gli Hecatommithi (1565) by Giovanni Battista Giraldi
Opera and
ballet adaptationsScreen adaptations Stage adaptations - Catch My Soul (US) (1969)
- Catch My Soul (UK) (1970)
Films directed by Oliver Parker 1990s Othello (1995) · An Ideal Husband (1999)2000s The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) · Fade to Black (2006) · I Really Hate My Job (2007) · St Trinian's (2007) · Dorian Gray (2009) · St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009)2010s Johnny English Reborn (2011)Categories:- English-language films
- 1995 films
- British films
- American films
- Films based on Othello
- 1990s drama films
- Films set in Venice
- Castle Rock Entertainment films
- Columbia Pictures films
- Films directed by Oliver Parker
- Films shot in Italy
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