Titus Andronicus: The Movie (1997) (V)

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Director:

Lorn Richey

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Plot Keywords:

Murder Of Family | Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus | Based On Play | Character Name In Title

Company:

Lorn Richey Productions

Movie Connections:

References Mr. Wu (1927)

An Interesting and Sincere Production

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

It's my opinion that most people are in agreement that "Tius" is ,at best,a rather crude and sensational work in the opus.Many are convinced that the Bard was basing this as a reworking of an older play,while others think that he was trying to outdo Marlow with a horror story.Reports indicate that this WAS a highly popular work with those of rather crude tastes(pun intended),and indulged those with the Elizabethan preferences for what would today be termed "slasher"films.I've read,rather recently,that some believe that the Bard was writing this play as a sort of a sick joke,and asked everybody(indirectly)to laugh alone with him.Who knows?

This particular production,listed as a cult classic(although I don't know by who) does appear to have it's own virtues.Done on an apparently limited budget, the players seem to be a number of fairly talented and industrious amateurs.They know their lines and cues,delivering them with respect and an appreciation for the verse.The use of the "blue screen",for background changes and scene changes is reasonably well done.The costumes are appropriate,and remind me of the work of a college and/or community theater approach.(I could have done without all of the exposed flesh from folks NOT in the best of physical shape and the hairy chests.)In addition,the view of the "son pie"at the end,with the eye showing up in the sauce,was rather silly.

The text has been rather extensively,yet tastefully cut(pun definitely intended here).Still,I think that this is a better adaptation,all around,than Traymor's.