|
Othello Cast: Orson Welles, Michael MacLiammoir, Michael Laurence, Suzanne Cloutier, Robert Coote Director: Orson Welles RunTime: 90 minutes (aprox.) Genre: Drama Language: English (audio) Subtitles: Greek (Optional - Removable) Region: REGION-FREE DVD, PAL (DVD & TV must be PAL system) Picture: . Anyone interested in making a low-budget movie ought to see Orson Welles' screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello, a striking example of how much can be achieved with very little money. For years, stories about this singularly troubled movie circulated more widely than the film itself, Welles began shooting Othello without securing full financing, so he would gather his cast, assemble a crew, and shoot until his money ran out. He would then take an acting assignment to raise some cash, reassemble his cast, and start filming again until the latest batch of money was gone. For the sequence featuring the murder of Cassio, Welles (depending on who tells the story) either couldn't pay the bill for the costumes or they just didn't arrive in time, so he reset the scene in a Turkish bath with his players wrapped in towels borrowed from their hotel. This process went on for four years, by the time Welles was done, the film was on its third Desdemona, and the director, himself, had to dub several voices, since most of the dialogue was recorded after the fact. Remarkably, the finished film not only isn't a disaster, it's a triumph, that rare example of a movie based on a Shakespeare play that's as exciting to look at as it is to listen to. While Welles pared the Bard's story of jealousy, betrayal, and murder to the bone (this version clocks in at a mere 92 minutes), the film's striking compositions and energetic quick-cutting allow the camera to tell more of the story than almost any other Shakespeare adaptation. Repeat viewers will see that Welles picked many of his camera angles to obscure the fact that Othello's mighty army was merely a handful of extras, but the unexpected bonus is a lean, muscular look that's the perfect match for the film's brisk narrative style. The spare, but powerful, visuals feel like a product of Expressionism, not a low budget, and the images have atmosphere to spare. In addition, it's truly a pleasure to hear Welles' rich baritone wrap itself around Shakespeare's dialogue, his con brio performance as the noble Moor undone by jealousy and betrayal has the impact of a fine stage rendition without overplaying its hand. Michael MacLiammoir is his equal as the conniving (and lustful) Ia We do not sell copies, bootleg, or DVD-R. Item was circulated in Greece. Full movie in promotional sleeve. WE DO NOT ACCEPT RETURNS DUE YOUR EQUIPMENT INCOMPATIBILITY NO RETURNS WILL BE ACCEPT DUE NO CAREFULLY READING OF THE ITEM DESCRIPTION ADVD2769
WARNING: NO USA COMPATIBLE OUR DVD DO NOT PLAY IN STANDARD USA/CANADA DVD PLAYERS (BUT PLAYS FINE IN ANY PC/LAPTOP DVD-PLAYER) OUR DVD IS GREEK (EUROPEAN) VERSIONS NOT FOR STANDARD USA/CANADA DVD PLAYERS PROMOTIONAL DVD NOT SEALED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION Dvd case is partial in Greek language WARNING: NO USA COMPATIBLE |