Othello (1965)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Stuart Burge

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Release Date:

January 1967 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The greatest Othello ever by the greatest actor of our time

Plot:

Desdemona defies her father to marry the Moor of Venice, the mighty warrior, Othello. But Othello's old lieutenant...

Plot Keywords:

Moor | General | Cyprus | Tragedy | Jealousy

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Laurence Olivier	...	Othello
Maggie Smith	...	Desdemona
Joyce Redman	...	Emilia
Frank Finlay	...	Iago
Derek Jacobi	...	Cassio
Robert Lang	...	Roderigo
Kenneth MacKintosh	...	Lodovico
Anthony Nicholls	...	Brabantio
Sheila Reid	...	Bianca
Malcolm Terris	...	Senate Officer
Harry Lomax	...	Duke of Venice
Michael Turner	...	Gratiano
Terence Knapp	...	Duke's Officer
Keith Marsh	...	Senator
Tom Kempinski	...	Sailor

Runtime:

USA:165 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track | Stereo

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

BHE Films

Trivia:

Derek Jacobi 's film debut.

Quotes:

Othello: [to the Senate] Most, potent, grave and reverend Seigniors; My very noble and approved good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true I have married her. The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Toast of the Town: (#19.20)" (1966)

Excellent Performances

This is the best film of a Shakespeare play that I have ever seen. (Throne of Blood is a great movie, but it's an adaptation, not really Shakespeare's Macbeth.) What makes the difference for me are the outstanding performances by the entire cast, not just Olivier. Maggie Smith's Desdemona is truly touching as a woman overwhelmed by fate. A young Derek Jacobi hits all the right notes as Michael Cassio: smart, loyal, eager to please, but a little immature. I haven't seen any other roles played by either Frank Finlay or Joyce Redman, but in any case, they're excellent here. I much prefer Olivier's Othello to his film role as Hamlet. That's because too many of Hamlet's lines were cut from that version. More text gives more characterization to Othello, and gives Olivier the chance to really fill the role, which he does beautifully. My only real complaint is that on the videotape, the widescreen picture is cropped too much. Everybody who is a fan of Shakespeare or any of the above mentioned actors should see this movie!