Played previously in black face on film by actors orson welles and laurence. Branagh trained at the royal academy of dramatic art in london. Laurence fishburne, irene jacob, kenneth branagh, nathaniel parker en michael maloney. Kenneth branaghs iago was played perfectly in comparison to shakespeares othello. It was directed by oliver parker and stars laurence fishburne as othello, irene jacob as desdemona, and kenneth branagh as iago. His performance, more than anything else, makes this version compelling if flawed. A moviesavvy cast and directoradapter oliver parker have made the latest. The film version was also notable for being the first in which iago, portrayed by frank finlay, is implied to experience homoerotic desire which leads him to viciously lash out against othello. It was directed by oliver parker and stars laurence fishburne as othello, irene jacob as desdemona, and kenneth branagh as. Finally, the othello script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the kenneth branagh, laurence fishburne, and irene jacob movie. Adapted and directed by oliver parker and starring laurence fishburne, kenneth branagh and irene jacob as othello, iago and desdemona, the film gives us a distant, brooding moor who seems to have had his tragic fall almost before the play begins, and an iago who seems more interested in seducing roderigo, desdemonas former suitor, than in destroying othello. Oscarnominee laurence fishburne the the matrix trilogy, osmosis jones and kenneth branagh harry potter and the chamber of secrets, rabbitproof fence star in shakespeares thrilling tale about the doomed marriage between a moorish general and the daughter of a venetian noble irene jacob my life so far, u. Othello is a 1995 american drama film based on william shakespeares tragedy of the same name. He was even nominated for a screen actors guild award.
Othellos aide iago kenneth branagh, jealous over the elevation of his rival. The following is the filmography for actor, director, producer, and screenwriter kenneth branagh. With laurence fishburne, kenneth branagh, irene jacob, nathaniel parker. Oscar nominee laurence fishburne and kenneth branagh star in. Kenneth branagh hamlet gravediggers scene part 2 imperious caesar, dead and turned to clay keepvid com duration.
His readings are diabolical and fiery, but do not, as ive suggested, seem focused on othello. Orson welless 1952 film with welles as othello, michael macliammoir as iago, and suzanne cloutier as desdemona 1. Othello 1995 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Branaghs other film that year, in the bleak midwinter, went largely unseen, though he bounced back to a degree the following year with his allstar, uncut, 1996 adaptation of hamlet. Irene jacob the double life of veronique, red imbues desdemona with far more vitality than she has had in any other movie version.
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. The result is a movie that will not give its viewers much of an idea of the shakespeare play, and may inadvertently give them other ideas, about interracial love, that were. Even thought, the movie departs from the original play, due to the cutting of many dialogues, and an addition of new scenes, still this infusion of the authors vision and shakespearean genius not only changes a common perspective of the play, but. Othello is expertly acted by the excellent laurence fishburne, displaying well the insecurity and doubt in his marriage, culminating in overwhelming jealousy, rage and tragedy. With kenneth branagh, derek jacobi, simon shepherd, james larkin. Kenneth branaghs henry v, much ado about nothing, and hamlet offer audiences a vague notion of the past, and the shepperton soundstage for loves labours lost has been described as being decked out with walls, willows and punts to make a kind of movie oxbridge. Directed by oliver parker, it is the first theatrical production of the play that features an african american man in the lead role. They tell him that he will soon rise in power, first becoming thane of cawdor and then king of scotland. Shakespeare collection hamlet 1996 a midsummer nights. The spiffy production is undone slightly by branaghs tendency to overdirect the big moments, but the setting is marvelous and the cast is a consistent delight. Sony pictures classics has released the first trailer for kenneth branaghs latest directorial effort, all is true, a starstudded biopic set during william shakespeares twilight years. The most recent film in the bunch is kenneth branaghs 1996 take on hamlet, the first film to present shakespeares greatest text uncut. Sort kenneth branagh movies how they were received by critics and audiences.
Kenneth branagh has had great success with his own films of shakespeare. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to. Branaghs superb performance, as the man whose machiavellian scheming guides the story of othellos downfall, guarantees this film an immediacy that any audience will understand. Many have argued as i would that the play really is more about iago than othello, and branaghs performance really is the emotional center of this film. To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our fandango. Kenneth branagh celebrity profile check out the latest kenneth branagh photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. However, the best acting performance of all is kenneth branagh as iago. Branagh manipulates michael maloney roderigo and delivers iagos first soliloquy. The film is four hours longits so long that in the process of production, i believe branagh became a. For many lovers of shakespeare, kenneth branagh is the modern conduit for the bard the man most dedicated to interpreting and honoring the. In the midst of the hundred years war, the young king henry v of england sir kenneth branagh embarks on the conquest of france in 1415. Voor zijn bijrol als iago werd kenneth branagh genomineerd.
The evil iagokenneth branagh pretends to be friend of othellolaurence fishburn in order to manipulate him to serve his own end, comes up with a devious plan to suspect that othellos wife. The film is set in italy and follows the lives and interactions of several characters in a. Met laurence fishburne, irene jacob en kenneth branagh. How kenneth branagh makes shakespeare for the screen. Kenneth charles branagh was born on december 10, 1960, in belfast, northern ireland, to parents william branagh, a plumber and carpenter, and frances harper, both born in 1930.
Jonathan olsberg, luc roeg, oliver parker, william shakespeare. As macbeth rides home from battle, three witches stop him. Othello 1995 directed by oliver parker is an excellent adaptation of william shakespeares the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice. Kenneth branagh, irishborn english actor, director, and writer known for his film adaptations of shakespearean plays, including henry v, much ado about nothing, hamlet, othello, and as you like it.
Hiervoor verwerkte hij het gelijknamige toneelstuk van william shakespeare zelf tot filmscenario. I found this 1995 version of othello to be very well done. The main strength of this film version of shakespeares othello, the moor of venice is its. Analysis of adaptation othello 1995 by oliver parker. Iago is played in this movie by sir kenneth branagh, who played cyrano on bbc radio.
Laurence fishburne gave a stunning performance as the very intimidating and conflicted moor, and kenneth branagh as iago was his usual superb self, switching back and forth from menace in private to merriment or empathy when in the company of those he had to manipulate. In kenneth branaghs portrayal of iago, he displays the same qualities in the original play and stays true to shakespeares initial character. I have never witnessed a more cunning and wicked iago than this portrayal by the great kenneth branagh. 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 lowbudget independent films of the play starring ted lange and yaphet kotto predated it. When his rival, cassio nathaniel parker, is promoted above him, iago kenneth branagh manipulates the moor of venice, othello laurence fishburne, into seeking revenge against cassio. Kenneth branaghs fourhour film version of hamlet is intelligent. The film othello is a remake of the classic novel by william shakespeare. Sort kenneth branagh movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost. Kenneth branagh, perhaps better focused since hes only acting in this piece, makes iago a chillingly rational character whose acerbic asides to the camera draw the audience into his plot almost as an accomplice. Kenneth branagh decided he wanted to film all of hamlet, and thats important, because nearly every line sheds some kind of light on hamlet and the people around him. Sort kenneth branagh movies by adjusted worldwide box office grosses using current movie ticket cost. Kenneth branagh list of movies and tv shows tv guide. Kenneth branagh has the rare ability to deliver shakespearean dialogue as if it were street talk, with an expert casualness that keeps the meaning of the language crystal clear.
Among his other movies were my week with marilyn and. Iagos monolouge from the film othello 1995, when he talks about his diabolical plan to ruin cassio, desdemona, and othello by making othello think that his wife desdemona has been unfaithful. Kenneth branaghs inaction flick by lloyd rose washington post staff writer january 24, 1997. Despite othellos brooding and suspicious nature, he doesnt suspect that his. The moorish general othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife. Laurence fishburne is othello and kenneth branagh is iago. Kenneth branagh full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Othellos aide iago kenneth branagh, jealous over the elevation of his rival, cassio nathaniel parker, the directors reallife brother to lieutenant, begins scheming to make othello believe. Oscar nominee laurence fishburne and kenneth branagh star in shakespeares thrilling tale about the doomed marriage between a moorish general and the daughter of a venetian noble. King duncan has just pronounced macbeth thane of cawdor, and macbeth realizes the witches were telling the truth. An ideal husband adapts shakespeares towering tragedy of passion and jealousy with shattering performances by kenneth branagh iago, irene jacob desdemona and. Branagh at a press conference for thor in london in april 2011. Kenneth branagh iago, irene jacob desdemona and laurence fishburne as the titlerole warrior who ruled armies but not his own heart. With david annen, andy apollo, elliot balchin, nari blairmangat.