Shakespeare on screen
This is a list of movies and television programmes based on the works of
William Shakespeare. 420 feature-length films have been made based on his plays and poems (according to the
Guinness Book of Records).
See also: Tragedy on screenSilent Film Era
In the
1900s when the
silent film industry began to develop in Euope and America, Shakespearean plays became a small part of its repertoire.
In France and Italy at that time cinema was not considered an art form in itself, but as a medium to present the art of traditional theatre. This idea was named
"Film d'Art". Shakespearean plays' "
public domain" status have made them attractive to film producers, who wanted freedom from a "faithful" representation of a theatre play.
In the United States, a couple of thousand cheap and wide-spread "
nickelodeons" drove the film industry. American film makers then began to seek to attract viewers of higher class. They might also have been influenced by the "Film d'Art" spirit. They set out to shift the themes of their films from stories of contemporary workers, to classical works. Film makers were also responding to calls from religious groups, and the authorities, for a reduction of the amount of brutality displayed in historical films. Film makers chose Shakespearean plays because they were widely respected by both the higher and lower classes of American society, and also because their
public domain status avoided copyright issues. The authorities also favored Shakespearean films, since they were suitable tools to construct a new Anglo-American identity on the vast, mostly immigrant, nation. Vitagraph in New York was a notable Shakespearean film studio of this time.
All's Well That Ends Well
:''See main article
All's Well That Ends Well*
BBC Television Shakespeare All's Well That Ends Well (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
As You Like It
:''See main article
As You Like It*
As You Like It (USA,
1936):
Paul Czinner director:
Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind:
Laurence Olivier as Orlando
*
BBC Television Shakespeare As You Like It (TV, UK,
1979) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
As You Like It (UK,
1992):
Christine Edzard director:
Emma Croft as Rosalind:
James Fox as Jacques:
Griff Rhys Jones as Touchstone
*
The Animated Shakespeare As You Like It (TV, Russia and UK,
1994):
Alexei Karayev director:
Sylvestra Le Touzel as the voice of Rosalind
*
As You Like It (UK,
2006):
Kenneth Branagh director:
Bryce Dallas Howard as Rosalind :
David Oyelowo as Orlando
The Comedy of Errors
See main article The Comedy of ErrorsPerformances
*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Comedy of Errors (TV, UK,
1983) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
Adaptations
*
Angoor (
Hindi,
India,
1982), a
Bollywood adaptation.
*
The Boys from Syracuse (USA, 1940), a film of a musical adaptation of the play.
Cymbeline
See main article Cymbeline*
Cymbeline (1913, USA):
Frederick Sullivan director:
Florence La Badie as Imogen :
James Cruze as Posthumous Leonatus
*
Cymbeline (1981, USA):
Patrick Tucker director:
Gail Chugg as Cymbeline :
Rebecca Engle as Imogen
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Cymbeline (TV, UK,
1983) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
Love's Labour's Lost
See main article Love's Labour's Lost*
BBC Television Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost (TV, UK,
1985) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Love's Labour's Lost (UK,
2000) - part performance and part musical adaptation.:
Kenneth Branagh director and as Biron:
Alicia Silverstone as the Princess:music by
Cole Porter,
Irving Berlin, and others
Measure For Measure
See main article Measure for Measure*
BBC Television Shakespeare Measure For Measure (TV, UK,
1978) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Measure for Measure (UK, 1994, TV):
David Thacker director:
Tom Wilkinson as Duke Vincentio :
Corin Redgrave as Angelo :
Juliet Aubrey as Isabella :
Ian Bannen Provost:
Ben Miles as Claudio
The Merchant of Venice
See main article The Merchant of Venice*
The Merchant of Venice (US,
1973):
Laurence Olivier as Shylock:
Joan Plowright as Portia:
Jeremy Brett as Bassanio
*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The Merchant of Venice (UK,
2003):Film of Royal National Theatre's stage version:
Trevor Nunn director:
Henry Goodman as Shylock:
Derbhle Crotty as Portia
*
The Merchant of Venice (USA,
2004):
Michael Radford director:
Al Pacino as Shylock :
Lynn Collins as Portia:
Jeremy Irons as Antonio
The Merry Wives of Windsor
See main article The Merry Wives of WindsorPerformances
*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Merry Wives of Windsor (TV, UK,
1982) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Quantum Leap The Merry Wives of Windsor (aka "The Shakespeare Collection") (TV/video, USA,
1982):
Jack Manning director:
Leon Charles as Falstaff
Adaptations
*
Chimes at Midnight (aka "Falstaff") (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from
Richard II,
Henry IV part 1,
Henry IV part 2,
Henry V and
The Merry Wives of Windsor.:
Orson Welles director and as Falstaff:
Keith Baxter as Hal:
John Gielgud as Henry IV
*See also
Falstaff (opera) by
Verdi, since it and all films derived from it are adaptations of the Falstaff plays, in particular The Merry Wives of Windsor.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
See main article A Midsummer Night's DreamPerformances
*
A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA,
1935):
Max Reinhardt director:
Olivia De Havilland as Titania:
James Cagney as Bottom:
Mickey Rooney as Puck
*
A Midsummer Night's Dream Royal Shakespeare Company film (UK,
1968):
Peter Hall director:
Judi Dench as Titania:
Paul Rogers as Bottom:
Diana Rigg as Helena:
David Warner as Lysander:
Ian Holm as Puck
*
BBC Television Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, UK,
1981) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The Animated Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, Russia and UK,
1992):
Robert Saakiants director:
Suzanne Bertish as the voice of Titania:
Bernard Hill as the voice of Bottom
*
A Midsummer Night's Dream Royal Shakespeare Company film (UK,
1995):
Adrian Noble director:
Lindsay Duncan as Titania:
Desmond Barrit as Bottom
*
A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA, 1999):
Michael Hoffman director:
Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania:
Kevin Kline as Bottom:
Rupert Everett as Oberon:
Calista Flockhart as Helena:
Stanley Tucci as Puck
*
Midsummer (USA, 1999) sets the
Dream story against a surreal backdrop of techno clubs and ancient symbols.:
James Kerwin screenplay and director:
Travis Schuldt as Demetrius
*
The Children's Midsummer Night's Dream (UK, 2001) is a film of the play, performed by a cast of children:
Christine Edzard director
Adaptations
*
El Sueño de una noche de San Juan (aka "
Midsummer Dream", Spain and Portugal,
2005) is an animated adaptation of the
Dream story.:
Ángel de la Cruz and
Manolo Gómez directors
*
ShakespeaRe-Told A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, UK, 2005) is a modern adaptation by
Peter Bowker:
Sharon Small as Titania:
Lennie James as Oberon:
Johnny Vegas as Bottom
Much Ado About Nothing
See main article Much Ado About NothingPerformances
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing (TV, UK,
1984) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Much Ado About Nothing (UK,
1993):
Kenneth Branagh director and as Benedick:
Emma Thompson as Beatrice:
Denzel Washington as Don Pedro:
Robert Sean Leonard as Claudio:
Kate Beckinsale as Hero:
Michael Keaton as Dogberry:
Keanu Reeves as Don John
Adaptations
*
ShakespeaRe-Told Much Ado About Nothing (UK, TV, 2005) is a modern adaptation by
David Nicholls.:
Sarah Parish as Beatrice:
Damian Lewis as Benedick:
Billie Piper as Hero:
Martin Jarvis as Leonard (the Leonato character)
Pericles
See main article Pericles, Prince of Tyre*
BBC Television Shakespeare Pericles, Prince of Tyre (TV, UK,
1984) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
The Taming of the Shrew
See main article The Taming of the ShrewPerformances
*
The Taming of the Shrew (USA,
1929):
Mary Pickford as Katherine:
Douglas Fairbanks as Petruchio
*
The Taming of the Shrew (USA,
1967):
Franco Zeffirelli director:
Elizabeth Taylor as Katherine:
Richard Burton as Petruchio
*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.:
John Cleese as Petruchio
*
Quantum Leap The Taming of the Shrew (aka "The Shakespeare Collection") (TV/video, USA, 19??):
John Allinson director:
Karen Austin as Katherine:
Franklin Seales as Petruchio
*
The Animated Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew (TV, Russia and UK,
1994):
Aida Ziablikova director:
Amanda Root as the voice of Katherine:
Nigel Le Vaillant as the voice of Petruchio
Adaptations
*
Kiss Me, Kate (USA, 1948):
Howard Keel as 'Petruchio':
Kathryn Grayson as 'Katerina':
Ann Miller as 'Bianca'
*
10 Things I Hate about You (USA, 1999):
Julia Stiles as Kat:
Larisa Oleynik as Bianca
*
ShakespeaRe-Told The Taming of The Shrew (UK, TV, 2005) is a modern adaptation by
Sally Wainwright.:
Shirley Henderson as Katherine:
Rufus Sewell as Petruchio
*
Shrew in the Park (Canada, TV, 2003):
Andrew Honor director
The Tempest
See main article The Tempest (play)Performances
*
Showcase Theatre The Tempest (TV, USA,
1960):
George Schaefer director:
Maurice Evans as Prospero:
Richard Burton as Caliban:
Lee Remick as Miranda:
Roddy McDowall as Ariel
*
The Tempest (UK,
1979):
Derek Jarman director:
Heathcote Williams as Prospero:
Toyah Willcox as Miranda:"Stormy Weather" sung by
Elisabeth Welch*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Tempest (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Quantum Leap The Tempest (aka "The Shakespeare Collection") (TV/video, USA,
1983):
William Woodman director:
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Prospero
*
Prospero's Books (Netherlands, France, UK, Italy
1991) partial adaptation.:
Peter Greenaway director:
John Gielgud as Prospero:
Isabelle Pasco as Miranda
*
The Animated Shakespeare The Tempest (TV, Russia and UK,
1992):
Stanislav Sokolov director:
Timothy West as the voice of Prospero
Adaptations
*
Forbidden Planet (USA,
1956):
Fred M. Wilcox director:
Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Mobius:
Anne Francis as Alataria:
Leslie Nielsen as the captain
*
Tempest (USA,
1982):
Paul Mazursky director:
John Cassavetes as Phillip Dimitrious:
Molly Ringwald as Miranda:
Susan Sarandon as Aretha:
Raul Julia as Kalibanos
*
The Tempest (USA, 1998):
Jack Bender director:
Peter Fonda as Gideon Prosper
Twelfth Night
See main article Twelfth Night (play) and its section Film and television adaptionsPerformances
*
Twelfth Night (film, USA, 1910):
Eugene Mullin and
Charles Kent directors:
Julia Swayne Gordon as Olivia:
Chales Kent as Malvolio:
Florence Turner as Viola:
Edith Storey as Sebastain:
Tefft Johnson as Orsino :
Marin Sais as Maria:
Willim Humphrey as Sir Toby Belch:
James Young as Sir Andrew Aguecheek
*
Twelfth Night (TV, UK, 1969):
John Dexter and
John Sichel directors:
Joan Plowright as Viola and Sebastian :
Alec Guinness as Malvolio:
Ralph Richardson as Sir Toby Belch :
Tommy Steele as an unusually prominent Feste
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Twelfth Night (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Twelfth Night (TV, UK, 1988):
Kenneth Branagh director:
Richard Briers as Malvolio:
Caroline Langrishe as Olivia:music by
Pat Doyle (TRIVIA: the arrangement of
Come Away Death in this production is an adaption of
Paul McCartney's
One Upon A Long Ago.)
*
The Animated Shakespeare Twelfth Night (TV, Russia and UK,
1992):
Maria Muat director:
Fiona Shaw:
Hugh Grant:
William Rushton as the voice of Sir Toby Belch
*
Twelfth Night (UK,
1996):
Trevor Nunn director:
Imogen Stubbs as Viola:
Helena Bonham Carter as Olivia:
Nigel Hawthorne as Malvolio:
Mel Smith as Sir Toby Belch:
Richard E. Grant as Sir Andrew Aguecheek:
Ben Kingsley as Feste
*
Twelfth Night, or What You Will (TV, UK, 2003) :
Tim Supple director:
Parminder Nagra as Viola :
Ronny Jhutti as Sebastian :
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Orsino :
Claire Price as Olivia :
Maureen Beattie as Maria :
David Troughton as Sir Toby Belch :
Richard Bremner as Sir Andrew Aguecheek :
Zubin Varla as Feste :
Michael Maloney as Malvolio
Adaptations
*
She's the Man (US, 2006) adapts the story to a high-school setting:
Andy Fickman director:
Amanda Bynes as Viola:
Channing Tatum as Duke Orsino:
Laura Ramsey as Olivia
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
See main article The Two Gentlemen of Verona*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Two Gentlemen of Verona (TV, UK,
1984) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
The Winter's Tale
See main article The Winter's TalePerformances
*
BBC Television Shakespeare The Winter's Tale (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The Animated Shakespeare The Winter's Tale (TV, Russia and UK,
1994):
Stanislav Sokolov director:
Anton Lesser:
Jenny Agutter*
RSC " The Winter's Tale, a straight-to-video filming of the
1999 RSC Barbican production.:
Greg Doran director:
Antony Sher as Leontes
Adaptations
*
RSC Production Casebook " The Winter's Tale a straight-to-video documentary of the
RSC production listed separately above, including interviews with
Antony Sher,
Greg Doran,
Cicely Berry (the RSC's voice coach) and other members of the cast and crew, together with lengthy excerpts from the show itself.
Antony and Cleopatra
See main article Antony and CleopatraPerformances
*
Antony and Cleopatra, (TV, UK,
1974):
Jon Scoffield director:
Janet Suzman as Cleopatra:
Richard Johnson as Antony:
Patrick Stewart as Enobarbus (TRIVIA: This was his first film role.)
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Antony and Cleopatra (TV, UK,
1981) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
Adaptations
*
Carry On Cleo (UK,
1965) is a
Carry On film adaptation of
Shakespeare's
Antony and Cleopatra and
Julius Caesar.:
Gerald Thomas director:
Kenneth Williams as Caesar:
Sid James as Mark Antony:
Amanda Barrie as Cleopatra
Coriolanus
See main article Coriolanus (play)*
BBC Television Shakespeare Coriolanus (TV, UK,
1984) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
Hamlet
See main article Hamlet, and the section Hamlet in cinema and TV.Performances
*
Hamlet (silent film):Sir
Johnstone Forbes-Robertson as Hamlet
*
Hamlet (UK,
1948):
Laurence Olivier director and as Hamlet:
Jean Simmons as Ophelia
*
Hamlet, Prinz von Dänemark (West Germany, 1961) (aka
Hamlet, in the USA):
Franz Peter Wirth director:
Maximilian Schell as Hamlet
*
Hamlet (aka
Gamlet) (Russia, 1964):
Grigori Kozintsev director:
Innokenti Smoktunovsky as Hamlet
*
Hamlet (filmed Broadway play,
1964):Sir
John Gielgud director and voice of the ghost of Hamlet's father:
Richard Burton as Hamlet:
Alfred Drake as Claudius:
Hume Cronyn as Polonius
*
Hamlet (UK,
1969):
Tony Richardson director:
Nicol Williamson as Hamlet:
Marianne Faithfull as Ophelia:
Anthony Hopkins as Claudius
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Hamlet (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.:
Rodney Bennett director:
Derek Jacobi as Hamlet:
Claire Bloom as Gertrude:
Patrick Stewart as Claudius:
Lalla Ward as Ophelia
*
Hamlet liikemaailmassa (aka
Hamlet Goes Business in the USA) (Finland,
1981).:
Aki Kaurismäki director:
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius as Hamlet
*
Hamlet (USA,
1990):
Franco Zeffirelli director:
Mel Gibson as Hamlet:
Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia:
Glenn Close as Gertrude:
Ian Holm as Polonius
*
New York Shakespeare Festival Hamlet (Video, USA,
1990) film based on the 1990 stage production.:
Kirk Browning co-director:
Kevin Kline co-director and as Hamlet
*
The Animated Shakespeare Hamlet (TV, Russia and UK,
1992):
Natalia Orlova director:
Nicholas Farrell as the voice of Hamlet
*
Hamlet (UK,
1996) the first version of the complete, uncut play ever filmed - an almost literally "all star cast" included:
Kenneth Branagh director and as Hamlet:
Kate Winslet as Ophelia:
Derek Jacobi as Claudius:
Richard Briers as Polonius
*
Hamlet (TV, USA,
2000):
Campbell Scott director and as Hamlet:
Blair Brown as Gertrude
*
Hamlet (USA,
2000):
Michael Almereyda director:
Ethan Hawke as Hamlet:
Julia Stiles as Ophelia:
Bill Murray as Polonius
*
Hamlet (Video, UK, 2000):
Mike Mundell director:
William Houston as Hamlet
Adaptations
*
The Bad Sleep Well (aka
Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru) (Japan, 1960) is an adaptation of the Hamlet story set in corporate Japan.:
Akira Kurosawa director:
Toshirô Mifune as Koichi Nishi
*
Strange Brew (Canada, 1983), a comedy. Something is rotten in the Elsinore Brewery.:
Dave Thomas co-director and as Doug McKenzie :
Rick Moranis co-director and as Bob McKenzie
*
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (USA,
1990) film based on
Tom Stoppard's stage play.:
Tom Stoppard director:
Gary Oldman as Rozencrantz (or Guildenstern):
Tim Roth as Guildenstern (or Rozencrantz):
Richard Dreyfuss as the Player King
*
Renaissance Man (USA,
1994) is the story of an unemployed advertising executive teaching "Hamlet" to a group of underachieving trainee soldiers.:
Penny Marshall director:
Danny DeVito as Bill
*
The Lion King (USA, 1994)
Disney's animated classic adaptation of the Hamlet story.:
Roger Allers and
Rob Minkoff directors:
Matthew Broderick as the voice of Simba (the Hamlet character):
James Earl Jones as the voice of Mufasa (the Old Hamlet character):
Jeremy Irons as the voice of Scar (the Claudius character)
*
In The Bleak Midwinter (aka "A Midwinter's Tale") (UK,
1996) tells the story of a group of actors performing
Hamlet.:
Kenneth Branagh director:
Michael Maloney as Joe (Hamlet):
Julia Sawalha as Nina (Ophelia)
Julius Caesar
See main article Julius Caesar (play)Performances
*
Julius Caesar (USA,
1949):
David Bradley director and as Brutus:
Harold Tasker as Caesar:
Charlton Heston as Mark Antony
*
Julius Caesar (USA,
1953):
Joseph L. Mankiewicz director:
James Mason as Brutus:
John Gielgud as Cassius:
Marlon Brando as Mark Antony
*
Julius Caesar (USA,
1970):
Charlton Heston as Mark Antony:
Jason Robards as Brutus:
John Gielgud as Caesar
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Julius Caesar (TV, UK,
1979) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The Animated Shakespeare Julius Caesar (TV, Russia and UK,
1994):
Yuri Kulakov director:
Joss Ackland as the voice of Julius Caesar
Adaptations
*
Carry On Cleo (UK,
1965) is a
Carry On film adaptation of
Shakespeare's
Antony and Cleopatra and
Julius Caesar.:
Gerald Thomas director:
Kenneth Williams as Caesar:
Sid James as Mark Antony:
Amanda Barrie as Cleopatra
King Lear
:''See main article
King Lear and its section on
film adaptations.
Performances
*
King Lear (TV, USA,
1953):
Andrew McCullough director:
Orson Welles as Lear
*
King Lear (UK, 1970):
Peter Brook director:
Paul Scofield as Lear
*
King Lear (aka
Korol Lir) (Russia, 1971):
Grigori Kozintsev director:
Jüri Järvet as Lear
*
New York Shakespeare Festival King Lear (USA, 1974):
James Earl Jones as Lear:
Raul Julia as Edmund:
Rene Auberjonois as Edgar:
Rosalind Cash as Goneril:
Douglass Watson as Kent
*
King Lear (TV, UK,
1976):
TRIVIA: no-one is credited as the director of this show.:
Patrick Magee as Lear
*
BBC Television Shakespeare King Lear (TV, UK,
1982) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
King Lear (TV, UK,
1983):
Michael Elliot director:
Laurence Olivier as Lear
*
King Lear (TV, UK,
1997).
BBC film of the
Royal National Theatre's stage version. It was televised with an accompanying documentary, including interviews with the director and cast.:
Richard Eyre director:
Ian Holm as Lear:
Timothy West as Gloucester
*
King Lear (UK, 1999):
Brian Blessed director and as Lear:
Hildegard Neil as Fool
Adaptations
*
King Lear (Bahamas/USA, 1987) is post-
Chernobyl science fiction.:
Jean-Luc Godard director and Professor Pluggy (equivalent to the Fool):
Burgess Meredith as Don Learo:
Molly Ringwald as Cordelia:
Peter Sellars as William Shakespeare Junior the Fifth :
Woody Allen as Mr. Alien
*
Ran (Japan,
1985) is an adaptation of the Lear story to a Japanese setting.:
Akira Kurosawa director
*
A Thousand Acres (USA, 1997) is a modern retelling of the Lear story, from the perspective of the Goneril character (Ginny).:
Jocelyn Moorhouse director:
Jason Robards as Larry Cook:
Jessica Lange as Ginny:
Michelle Pfeiffer as Rose:
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Caroline
*
King of Texas (TV, USA, 2002) is a Western adaptation of King Lear.:
Uli Edel director:
Patrick Stewart as John Lear
Macbeth
See main article MacbethPerformances
*
Macbeth (USA, 1948):
Orson Welles director and as Macbeth:
Jeanette Nolan as Lady Macbeth
*
Macbeth (USA and UK,
1971):
Roman Polanski director:
Jon Finch as Macbeth:
Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth
*
Macbeth (UK, 1978) film of the
Royal Shakespeare Company's Other Place production.:
Trevor Nunn director:
Ian McKellen as Macbeth:
Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth
*
Macbeth (UK, 1981):
Arthur Allan Seidelman director:
Jeremy Brett as Macbeth:
Piper Laurie as Lady Macbeth
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Macbeth (TV, UK,
1983) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Macbeth (UK, 1996):
Jeremy Freeston and
Brian Blessed directors:
Jason Connery as Macbeth:
Helen Baxendale as Lady Macbeth
*
Macbeth (TV, UK,
1998):
Michael Bogdanov director:
Sean Pertwee as Macbeth:
Greta Scacchi as Lady Macbeth
*
The Animated Shakespeare Macbeth (TV, Russia and UK,
1992):
Nicolai Serebryakov director:
Brian Cox as the voice of Macbeth:
Zoe Wanamaker as the voice of Lady Macbeth
*
Macbeth (Video, UK, 2001). Film of the
Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan production.:
Greg Doran director:
Antony Sher as Macbeth:
Harriet Walter as Lady Macbeth
Adaptations
*
Joe MacBeth (UK, 1955) is set among 20th century gangsters.:
Ken Hughes director:
Paul Douglas as Joe MacBeth:
Ruth Roman as Lily Macbeth
*
Throne of Blood (aka
Cobweb Castle or
Kumonosu-jo) (Japan,
1957) is an adaptation of the Macbeth story to a Japanese setting.:
Akira Kurosawa director:
Toshiro Mifune:
Isuzu Yamada*The first series of
The Black Adder (TV, UK,
1983), written by
Richard Curtis and
Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare's plays, particularly
Macbeth,
Richard III and
Henry V.
*
Men of Respect (USA 1991) is a retelling of the Macbeth story in a mafia setting.:
William Reilly director:
John Turturro as Mike Battaglia:
Katherine Borowitz as Ruthie Battaglia
*
Scotland, Pa. (USA,
2001) is Macbeth fast-food style.
*
Maqbool (India,
2004) is a Macbeth adaptation set in the Mumbai underworld.:
Vishal Bharadwaj director
*
ShakespeaRe-Told Macbeth (UK, TV, 2005) is a modern adaptation by
Peter Moffat.:
James McAvoy as Joe Macbeth:
Keeley Hawes as Ella (the Lady Macbeth character)
Othello
See main article OthelloPerformances
*
Othello (Silent, Germany,
1922):
Dimitri Buchowetzki director:
Emil Jannings as Othello
*
Othello (UK, 1946):
David MacKane director :
Sebastian Cabot as Iago :
Sheila Raynor as Emilia :
Luanna Shaw as Desdemona :
John Slater as Othello
These are the only actors in this 45-minute condensation.*
Othello (USA,
1952):
Orson Welles director and as Othello:
Micheal MacLiammoir as Iago:
Suzanne Cloutier as Desdemona
*
Otello (Russia,
1955):
Sergei Yutkevich director and screenplay:
Sergei Bondarchuk as Othello :
Irina Skobtseva as Desdemona :
Andrei Popov as Iago
*
Othello (UK,
1965) film of the
National Theatre's stage production.:
Stuart Burge director:
Laurence Olivier as Othello:
Frank Finlay as Iago:
Maggie Smith as Desdemona
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Othello (TV, UK,
1980) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.:
Anthony Hopkins as Othello
*
Othello (UK,
1990) film of the
Royal Shakespeare Company's stage production.:
Trevor Nunn director:
Willard White (the opera singer) as Othello:
Imogen Stubbs as Desdemona:
Ian McKellen as Iago
*
The Animated Shakespeare Othello (TV, Russia and UK,
1994):
Nicolai Serebryakov director:
Colin McFarlane as the voice of Othello:
Gerald McSorley as the voice of Iago:
Sian Thomas as the voice of Desdemona
*
Othello (USA, 1995):
Oliver Parker director:
Laurence Fishburne as Othello:
Kenneth Branagh as Iago:
Irene Jacob as Desdemona
Adaptations
*
A Double Life (USA, 1947) is a film noir adaptation of the Othello story, in which an actor playing the moor takes on frightening aspects of his character's personality.:
George Cukor director:
Ronald Colman as Anthony John
*
Kaliyattam (India, 1997):
Jayaraaj director:
Suresh Gopi as Kannan Perumalayan (the Othello character)
*
O (USA, 2001) is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's
Othello:
Tim Blake Nelson director:
Mekhi Phifer as Odin James:
Josh Hartnett as Hugo:
Julia Stiles as Desi
*
Othello (TV, UK, 2001) is an adaptation by
Andrew Davies of Shakespeare's
Othello, set in the police force in modern London.
*
Omkara (India, 2006)
:
Vishal Bharadwaj director:
Ajay Devgan as Omkara 'Omi' Shukla (Othello):
Saif Ali Khan as Langda Tyagi (Iago):
Vivek Oberoi as Kesu Firangi (Cassio):
Kareena Kapoor as Dolly Mishra (Desdemona):
Konkona Sen Sharma as Indu (Emilia):
Bipasha Basu as Billo Chamanbahar (Bianca):
Naseeruddin Shah as Bhaisaab (Doge of Venice|Duke of Venice)
Romeo and Juliet
See main article Romeo and JulietPerformances
*
Romeo and Juliet (USA, 1908):
J. Stuart Blackton director:
Florence Lawrence as Juliet:
Paul Panzer as Romeo
*
Romeo and Juliet (USA, 1936):
George Cukor director:
Norma Shearer as Juliet:
Leslie Howard as Romeo
*
Romeo and Juliet (UK,
1954):
Renato Castellani director:
Susan Shentall as Juliet:
Laurence Harvey as Romeo
*
Romeo and Juliet (Italy,
1968):
Franco Zeffirelli director:
Olivia Hussey as Juliet:
Leonard Whiting as Romeo
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet (TV, UK,
1978) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (USA, 1982):
William Woodman director:
Blanche Baker as Juliet :
Alex Hyde-White as Romeo
*
Romeo and Juliet (TV, UK,
1988):
Joan Kemp-Welch director:
Ann Hasson as Juliet:
Christopher Neame as Romeo
*
The Animated Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet (TV, Russia and UK,
1992):
Efim Gamburg director:
Felicity Kendall as narrator:
Clare Holman as the voice of Juliet:
Linus Roache as the voice of Romeo
*
Romeo+Juliet (aka "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet") (USA, 1996):
Baz Luhrmann director:
Claire Danes as Juliet:
Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo
Adaptations
*
West Side Story (USA, 1961) is the film of a
Broadway musical adaptation of the Romeo and Juliet story, set in 1950s New York, by
Stephen Sondheim and
Leonard Bernstein:
Robert Wise and
Jerome Robbins directors:
Natalie Wood as Maria
*
Tromeo and Juliet (USA, 1996) is a "trash" adaptation, tagged:
Body Piercing, Kinky Sex, Dismemberment. The Things That Made Shakespeare Great.:
Lloyd Kaufman director:
Jane Jensen as Juliet Capulet :
Will Keenan as Tromeo Que
*
Romeo Must Die (2000) is a martial arts film variation on the Romeo and Juliet theme.:
Andrzej Bartkowiak director:
Jet Li as Han:
Aaliyah as Trish O'Day
* See also
Shakespeare in Love (entry below, and at its own page) which dramatises the writing and first performance of Romeo and Juliet.
Timon of Athens
See main article Timon of Athens*
BBC Television Shakespeare Timon of Athens (TV, UK,
1981) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series. (
TRIVIA: It is thought that this is the only filmed or televised version of this play.)
Titus Andronicus
See main article Titus Andronicus*
BBC Television Shakespeare Titus Andronicus (TV, UK,
1985) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Titus (USA, 1999):
Julie Taymor director:
Anthony Hopkins as Titus Andronicus:
Jessica Lange as Tamora:
Alan Cumming as Saturninus
*
Titus Andronicus (USA,
1999):
Christopher Dunne director:
Robert Reece as Titus Andronicus :
Candy K. Sweet as Tamora
Troilus and Cressida
See main article Troilus and Cressida*
BBC Television Shakespeare Troilus and Cressida (TV, UK,
1981) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
Henry IV Part 1
See main article Henry IV, Part 1Performances
*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
Tom Fleming as Henry IV :
Robert Hardy as Hal :
Frank Pettingell as Falstaff:
Sean Connery as Hotspur
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry IV Part I (TV, UK,
1979) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry IV Part 1 (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.
Adaptations
*
Chimes at Midnight (aka "Falstaff") (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from
Richard II,
Henry IV part 1,
Henry IV Part 2,
Henry V and
The Merry Wives of Windsor.:
Orson Welles director and as Falstaff:
Keith Baxter as Hal:
John Gielgud as Henry IV
*
My Own Private Idaho (USA,
1991) is loosely based on
Henry IV, Part 1, with elements from the other "Hal" plays.:
Gus Van Sant director:
River Phoenix as Mike Waters:
Keanu Reeves as Scott Favor
Henry IV Part 2
See main article Henry IV, Part 2Performances
*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
Tom Fleming as Henry IV :
Robert Hardy as Hal:
Frank Pettingell as Falstaff
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry IV Part II (TV, UK,
1979) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry IV Part 2 (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.
Adaptations
*
Chimes at Midnight (aka "Falstaff") (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from
Richard II,
Henry IV part 1,
Henry IV part 2,
Henry V and
The Merry Wives of Windsor.:
Orson Welles director and as Falstaff:
Keith Baxter as Hal:
John Gielgud as Henry IV
See also My Own Private Idaho.Henry V
See main article Henry V (play)Performances
*
Henry V (UK, 1944):
Laurence Olivier director and as Henry V
*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
Robert Hardy as Henry V
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry V (TV, UK,
1979) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
Henry V (UK, 1989):
Kenneth Branagh director and as Henry V:
Ian Holm as Fluellen:
Brian Blessed as Exeter:
Emma Thompson as Katherine
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry V (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.
Adaptations
*
Chimes at Midnight (aka "Falstaff") (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from
Richard II,
Henry IV part 1,
Henry IV part 2,
Henry V and
The Merry Wives of Windsor.:
Orson Welles director and as Falstaff:
Keith Baxter as Hal:
John Gielgud as Henry IV
*The first series of
The Black Adder (TV, UK,
1983), written by
Richard Curtis and
Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare's plays, particularly
Macbeth,
Richard III and
Henry V.
See also My Own Private Idaho.Henry VI Part 1
See main article Henry VI, Part 1*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
Terry Scully as Henry VI:
Eileen Atkins as Joan
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall:
David Warner as Henry VI
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VI Part I (TV, UK,
1983) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI " House of Lancaster (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays. This play is formed from Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 1 and from the earlier scenes of Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2.
Henry VI Part 2
See main article Henry VI, Part 2*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
Terry Scully as Henry VI
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall:
David Warner as Henry VI:
Ian Holm as Richard
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VI Part II (TV, UK,
1983) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI " House of Lancaster (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays. This play is formed from Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 1 and from the earlier scenes of Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI " House of York (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays. This play is formed from the later scenes of Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2 and from Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 3.
Henry VI Part 3
See main article Henry VI, Part 3*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director :
Terry Scully as Henry VI:
Julian Glover as Edward:
Paul Daneman as Richard
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall:
David Warner as Henry VI:
Ian Holm as Richard Duke of Gloucester
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VI Part III (TV, UK,
1983) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI " House of York (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays. This play is formed from the later scenes of Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2 and from Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 3.
Henry VIII
See main article Henry VIII (play)*
BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VIII (TV, UK,
1979) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
King John
See main article King John*
BBC Television Shakespeare King John (TV, UK,
1984) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
Richard II
See main article Richard II (play)Performances
*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
David William as Richard II :
Tom Fleming as Bolingbroke
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall*
BBC Television Shakespeare Richard II (TV, UK,
1978) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Richard II (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.
*
Richard The Second (USA,
2004):
John Farrell director:
Matte Osian as Richard
Adaptations
*
Chimes at Midnight (aka "Falstaff") (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from
Richard II,
Henry IV, Part 1,
Henry IV, Part 2,
Henry V and
The Merry Wives of Windsor.:
Orson Welles director and as Falstaff:
Keith Baxter as Hal:
John Gielgud as Henry IV
Richard III
See main article Richard III (play)Performances
*
Richard III (UK,
1955):
Laurence Olivier director and as Richard:
John Gielgud as Clarence:
Ralph Richardson as Buckingham:
Claire Bloom as Lady Anne
*
An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries
1960):
Michael Hayes director:
Julian Glover as Edward IV:
Paul Daneman as Richard III :
Jerome Willis as Richmond
*
The War of the Roses television miniseries
1965:Directed by
John Barton and
Peter Hall:
Ian Holm as Richard III
*
BBC Television Shakespeare Richard III (TV, UK,
1982) :Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.
*
The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Richard III (UK, 1990):A direct filming, from the stage, of
Michael Bogdanov and
Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.
*
The Animated Shakespeare King Richard III (TV, Russia and UK,
1994):
Natalia Orlova director:
Antony Sher as the voice of Richard
*
Richard III (1995 film) (UK,
1995):
Richard Loncraine director:
Ian McKellen as Richard:
Annette Bening as Elizabeth:
Nigel Hawthorne as Clarence:
Kristin Scott Thomas as Lady Anne
Richard III, 2006, forthcoming
Adaptations
*
Tower of London is a horror-film adaptation of the
Richard III story.:
Rowland V. Lee director:
Basil Rathbone as Richard:
Boris Karloff as Mord (an executioner)
*
The Goodbye Girl (USA,
1977) contains scenes in which the
Richard Dreyfuss character rehearses and performs
Richard III.
*The first series of
The Black Adder (TV, UK,
1983), written by
Richard Curtis and
Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare's plays, particularly
Macbeth,
Richard III and
Henry V.
*
Looking for Richard (USA, 1996) is a documentary account of
Al Pacino's quest to perform
Richard III, featuring substantial excerpts from the play. It includes the talents of
Winona Ryder,
Alec Baldwin and
Kevin Spacey.
Shakespeare as a character
*
Shakespeare in Love is a fictional love story about Shakespeare's romance with a noblewoman, at the time of writing Romeo and Juliet.:
John Madden director:
Mark Norman and
Tom Stoppard screenwriters:
Joseph Fiennes as Will Shakespeare:
Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola De Lesseps:
Colin Firth as Lord Wessex:
Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I
Acting Shakespeare
*
To Be or Not To Be (USA,
1942) is the story of an acting company in 1939 Germany.:
Ernst Lubitsch director
*
Shakespeare Wallah (UK,
1965) is the story of an acting company in India.:
James Ivory director:
Felicity Kendal as Lizzie:
Shashi Kapoor as Sanju:
Madhur Jaffrey (later famous as a TV chef) as Manjula
*
The Goodbye Girl (USA,
1977) contains scenes in which the
Richard Dreyfuss character rehearses and performs
Richard III.
*
To Be or Not To Be is a remake of the Ernst Lubitsch film.:
Mel Brooks director
*
In The Bleak Midwinter (aka "A Midwinter's Tale") (UK,
1996) tells the story of a group of actors performing
Hamlet.:
Kenneth Branagh director:
Michael Maloney as Joe (Hamlet):
Julia Sawalha as Nina (Ophelia)
*
Looking for Richard (USA, 1996) is a documentary account of
Al Pacino's quest to perform
Richard III, featuring substantial excerpts from the play. It includes the talents of
Winona Ryder,
Alec Baldwin and
Kevin Spacey.
*
RSC Production Casebook " The Winter's Tale a straight-to-video documentary of the
RSC production listed separately above, including interviews with
Antony Sher,
Greg Doran,
Cicely Berry (the RSC's voice coach) and other members of the cast and crew, together with lengthy excerpts from the show itself.
See also Shakespeare in Love above.
Television series
''NOTE: "ShakespeaRe-Told", "The Animated Shakespeare" and "BBC Television Shakespeare" series have been covered above, under the respective play performed in each episode.
*
Playing Shakespeare (TV, UK, 1983-1984) began as two consecutive episodes of the UK arts series
The South Bank Show, and developed into a nine-part series of its own. It features director
John Barton, then a leading light of the Royal Shakespeare Company, putting a host of actors through their paces. Many of those actors are now household names, including
Judi Dench,
Michael Pennington,
Patrick Stewart,
Ben Kingsley,
David Suchet and
Ian McKellen. The episodes were::*The South Bank Show: Speaking Shakespearean Verse:*The South Bank Show: Preparing to Perform Shakespeare:*1. The Two Traditions:*2. Using the Verse:*3. Language and Character:*4. Set Speeches and Soliloquies:*5. Irony and Ambiguity:*6. Passion and Coolness:*7. Rehearsing the Text:*8. Exploring a Character:*9. Poetry and Hidden PoetryThree further episodes were filmed but never edited or screened. They were to be called "Using the Prose", "Using the Sonnets" and "Contemporary Shakespeare". Their text can be read in the book "Playing Shakespeare" by
John Barton.
*
The Shakespeare Sessions (USA 19??) was an American spin-off from
Playing Shakespeare (above) in which
John Barton directs notable American actors in Shakespeare scenes.
*The first series of
The Black Adder (TV, UK, 1983), written by
Richard Curtis and
Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare's plays, particularly
Macbeth,
Richard III and
Henry V.
*
Conjuring Shakespeare (TV, UK, 199?) was a series of half-hour documentaries hosted by
Fiona Shaw, each episode dealing with scenes from a particular play.
*
In Search of Shakespeare (UK, TV,
2003) was a BBC documentary series of four 1-hour episodes, chronicling the life of William Shakespeare, written and presented by
Michael Wood.
Academic
* The "Themes of Shakespeare" series contains straight-to-video short documentaries, each considering the theme of a particular play. The contributors are Professor
Stanley Wells, and Dr. Robert Smallwood of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
* Two lecture series given by professor
Peter Saccio were filmed and are commercially available on DVD.
Miscellaneous
*
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by the
Reduced Shakespeare Company is a successful
West End stage comedy, containing some element of all 37 canonical plays. A film of one of the live performances is commercially available.
*The
Royal Shakespeare Company have released a number of videos in the "Great Performances" series, which contain excerpts from stage performances.
*Rothwell, Kenneth S. "Shakespeare in silence: from stage to screen."
A History of Shakespeare on Screen. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1999.
*"WALKING SHADOWS: Shakespeare in the National Film and Television Archive" Ed. Luke McKernan and Olwen Terris, (BFI Publishing, 1994) is a detailed listing of performances, adaptations and allusions to Shakespeare in film and on television.
*"Shakespeare in the Movies: From the Silent Era to Today" Douglas Brode (Oxford University Press, 2001).
*
Internet Movie Database listing for William Shakespeare (writer)
