As You Like It (2006)

A daughter of the powerful Duke must show her courage and inventiveness to be with the man she loves.

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

Kenneth Branagh (adaptation), William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Takuya Shimada, Brian Blessed, Richard Clifford

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Takuya Shimada	...	Geisha
Brian Blessed	...	Duke Senior / Duke Frederick
Richard Clifford	...	Le Beau
Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Rosalind
Patrick Doyle	...	Amiens
Romola Garai	...	Celia
Adrian Lester	...	Oliver De Boys
Alfred Molina	...	Touchstone
Kevin Kline	...	Jaques
Janet McTeer	...	Audrey
Gerard Horan	...	Denis
David Oyelowo	...	Orlando De Boys
Richard Briers	...	Adam
Nobuyuki Takano	...	Charles
Paul Chan	...	William

Storyline

Rosalind, the daughter of Duke Senior (the banished Duke), is raised at the court of Duke Frederick (who is younger brother to Duke Senior and took over his Dukedom), with her cousin Celia (daughter to Duke Frederick). She falls in love with a young man named Orlando, but before she can even think twice about it, she is banished by Duke Frederick, who threatens death if she comes near the court again. Celia, being Rosalind's best friend, goes with Rosalind (who is disguised as a boy, Ganymede) and Touchstone, the court's fool, to the forest of Arden. Upon their arrival in the forest, they happen upon Orlando and his manservant, who are fleeing the wrath of Orlando's eldest brother. What follows is an elaborate scheme devised by the cross-dressing Rosalind to find out the verity of Orlando's supposed passion for her, and to further capture his heart, through the witty and mischievous façade of Ganymede.

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Plot Keywords:

sonnet | black man white woman romance | black man white woman kiss | black man white woman relationship | forest | 

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Taglines:

Romance...or something like it.

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for violence and some sexual material

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in Wakehurst Place, a botanical expert from Kew Gardens was on hand in order to check the ground to ensure endangered plants were not damaged during filming. Cast and crew literally were told where they could and couldn't step when off footpaths.

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Quotes

Jaques: I prithee, pretty youth, let me be better acquainted with thee.
Rosalind: They say you are a melancholy fellow.
Jaques: I am so; I do love it better than laughing.
Rosalind: Those that are in extremity of either are abominable fellows and betray themselves to every modern censure worse than drunkards.
Jaques: Why, 'tis good to be sad and say nothing.
Rosalind: Why then, 'tis good to be a post.
Jaques: I have neither the scholar's melancholy, which is emulation, nor the musician's, which is fantastical, nor the courtier's, which is proud, nor the ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The character "Sir Oliver Martext" (he is the "vicar" who is supposed to marry Audrey and Touchstone) appears in this film, but is not listed as Oliver Martext in the credits. The reason for this is that in this film, the vicar is actually the shepherd Corin (who is listed in the credits) in disguise.

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Alternate Versions

The version shown on cable television has been formatted to the aspect ratio commonly used in HDTV production (that is, anywhere from 1.78:1 to 1.85:1), while the version released to movie theatres was released in the typical CinemaScope/Panavision aspect ratio (2.39:1). It is the theatrical version which has been issued on DVD. Since the film was made using the Super 35 format, it was possible to make versions of the film in different aspect ratios.

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Connections

Version of Miten haluatte (1964)

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Soundtracks

Blow, Blow
Composed by Patrick Doyle
Lyrics by William Shakespeare
Performed by Patrick Doyle and London Symphony Orchestra

User Reviews

"All the world's a stage"- Shakespeare in a new environment

Kenneth Branagh takes the Bard to Japanese setting the time being the late 19th century.As You Like It (2006) tells about Rosalind, the daughter of banished duke.She is raised by his younger brother Frederick, who took over dukedom.She falls for a young man named Orlando, but also she is soon banished by Frederick.Her cousin Celia leaves with her.They go to the forest of Arden, and they take the fool Touchtone with them.And also, Rosalind is disguised as a boy, and she goes by the name of Ganymede, while Celia goes by the name of Aliena.Also Orlando happens to be in the same forest, fleeing the wrath of his older brother.William Shakespeare wrote the original, pastoral comedy, around 1599 or 1600.I read it some time ago.Shakespeare sure knew how to write of love, and it is all well adapted to the screen here.And there are also mighty fine players in this play.Let's start with Bryce Dallas Howard, whose work as a boy is almost as good as her work as a girl.Romola Garai is a real treat as Celia.Brian Blessed is great both as Duke Frederick as he is as Duke Senior.David Oyelowo is terrific as Orlando De Boys.Adrian Lester is very good as his brother Oliver.Richard Briers gives a very fine performance of Adam.Alfred Molina is superb as Touchtone.And so is Janet McTeer as his love interest Audrey.Kevin Kline is brilliant as Jaques.Jade Jefferies is marvelous as Phebe.This may not be the funniest thing I've ever seen, nor was the play the funniest thing I've ever read.Maybe I'm too modern and should think more medievally.But it all works because of the words, and the grand feelings it has to offer.And sure I found myself slightly amused when Phebe went head over heels for Rosalind/Ganymede.Branagh shows us that Shakespeare works also in a new environment, in a new era.

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

As You Like It

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$563,162

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, HBO Films, Shakespeare Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1