MUST-HAVES FOR ANY SHAKESPEAREAN CINEMA LIBRARY!
This is a list of films made from Shakespearean plays - FILMS, not recorded performances or films based upon Shakeapeare - that are absolute necessities for any Shakespearean libraries or collection.
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- DirectorJulie TaymorStarsHelen MirrenFelicity JonesDjimon HounsouShakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female.This film deserves the commendation of PURE SHAKESPEARE! One of the most beautiful and wonderful of any film adaptation of a Shakespearean play that I have ever seen! I have always been a big fan of Julie Taymor's film work, and the fact that the main character's gender is changed from male to female only brings new depths; choosing Helen Mirren was a stroke of genius, and Djimon Hounsou's "Caliban" deserves special commendation!
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsLeonard WhitingOlivia HusseyJohn McEneryWhen two young members of feuding families meet, forbidden love ensues.Again, PURE SHAKESPEARE and the best film adaptation of this play I've ever seen! Director Franco Zeffirelli's casting of young people (Leonard Whiting was 17 and Olivia Hussey was 15) was brilliant. This was the second Shakespearean film I ever saw, and I never get tired of seeing it!
- DirectorLaurence OlivierStarsLaurence OlivierJean SimmonsJohn LauriePrince Hamlet struggles over whether or not he should kill his uncle, whom he suspects has murdered his father, the former king.This was the first Shakespearean film I ever saw and has been the standard against which I have judged all other film Hamlets (and never mind all of the Freudian stuff that's been written about the performances in this film). Even though Olivier, while agreeing to direct, didn't want to play the role (and dyed his hair blond to do so), he is magnificent! Another stand-out performance (while technically a minor role) is Osric, played by Peter Cushing.
- DirectorLaurence OlivierStarsLaurence OlivierCedric HardwickeNicholas HannenShakespeare's powerful tale of the wicked deformed King and his conquests, both on the battlefield and in the boudoir.One of Shakespeare's ultimate villains played by one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the twentieth century. One gets the idea that this role was one of Olivier's favorite Shakespearean roles and that he's really enjoying playing the villain in this film.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghDerek JacobiSimon ShepherdIn the midst of the Hundred Years War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France in 1415.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghEmma ThompsonKeanu ReevesYoung lovers, and soon to wed, Hero and Claudio conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles, Benedick and Beatrice, to wed as well.
- DirectorLaurence OlivierStarsLaurence OlivierRobert NewtonLeslie BanksIn the midst of the Hundred Years' War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France in 1415.
- DirectorStuart BurgeStarsCharlton HestonJason RobardsJohn GielgudThe growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate Caesar, but they have both sorely underestimated Mark Antony.
- DirectorGrigoriy KozintsevIosif ShapiroStarsJüri JärvetElza RadzinaGalina VolchekA Soviet adaptation of a world-famous tragedy about an aged king and how cruelly he lose his illusions.
- DirectorPeter BrookStarsPaul ScofieldIrene WorthCyril CusackKing Lear divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia refuses to idly flatter the old man, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters.
- DirectorPeter HallStarsDerek GodfreyBarbara JeffordNicholas SelbyThe adventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors and their interactions with fairies come to light in a moonlit forest.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJeanette NolanDan O'HerlihyMacbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
- DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsJon FinchFrancesca AnnisMartin ShawA ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord seizes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghJulie ChristieDerek JacobiHamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.The first and to date ONLY filmed version of the play in which every line of dialogue is included, with an all-star cast (including some stars in roles that you would never imagine them in, i.e. Gerard Depardieu, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams).
- DirectorFranco ZeffirelliStarsElizabeth TaylorRichard BurtonCyril CusackBrutish, fortune-hunting scoundrel Petruchio tames his wealthy, shrewish wife, Katharina.A joyous and colorful romp with Burton and Taylor as the Lord and Lady of Misrule!
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJeanne MoreauMargaret RutherfordWhen King Henry IV ascends to the throne, his heir, the Prince of Wales, is befriended by Sir John Falstaff, an old, overweight, fun-loving habitual liar. Through Falstaff's eyes we see the reign of King Henry IV and the rise of Henry V.Orson Welles in one of his greatest roles as "Falstaff".
- DirectorTrevor NunnStarsHelena Bonham CarterRichard E. GrantImogen StubbsShakespeare's comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves.Who knew Ben Kingsley ("Feste the Clown") could sing ... and sing so well?
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesMicheál MacLiammóirRobert CooteThe 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.
- DirectorGrigoriy KozintsevStarsInnokentiy SmoktunovskiyMikhail NazvanovElza RadzinaAfter the death of the King of Denmark - Hamlet's father - his brother Claudius ascends the throne, who takes his widow Gertrude as his wife. Hamlet meets the ghost of his father and learns that he was killed by Claudius.
- DirectorOliver ParkerStarsLaurence FishburneKenneth BranaghIrène JacobThe 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 first film version of this play to actually use an African-American actor in the title role.
- DirectorRichard LoncraineStarsIan McKellenAnnette BeningChristopher BowenThe classic Shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15th-century king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s England as clouds of fascism gather.Ian McKellen is superbly villainous in this modern-setting version!
- DirectorBob KomarStarsJosephine RogersDaniel RobertsSimon PhillipsContemporary re-working of the Shakespeare's problem play set in the British army.An little-known independent film version that is actually done quite well.
- StarsAnton LesserSimon Russell BealeTom GeorgesonA mini-series of adaptations of Shakespeare's history plays: Richard II, Henry IV: Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V.An excellent grouping/filming of the first four History Plays.
- DirectorCharlton HestonStarsCharlton HestonHildegard NeilEric PorterAfter the murder of her lover Caesar, Egypt's queen Cleopatra needs a new ally. She seduces his probable successor Mark Antony. This develops into real love and slowly leads to a war with the other possible successor: Octavius.A sort of follow-up for Heston to his role in the 1970 JULIUS CAESAR and better than critics give it credit (Roger Delgado as the Soothsayer is thrillingly chilling, but Hildegarde Neils as Cleopatra could have done better).
- DirectorJulie TaymorStarsAnthony HopkinsJessica LangeOsheen JonesTitus returns victorious from war, only to plant the seeds of future turmoil for himself and his family.I've always been a fan of Julie Taymor's work, but some viewers might find her style a little off-beat.