SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Feature film. Ann, secretary to a theatre critic, is persuaded to alter a poor review of actor Edmond Davey’s performance as Othello at the behest of his actress wife, Barbara. Ann is sacked, then falls in love with Davey, and he with her. He determines to strangle Barbara on stage during a performance of Othello. Ann’s screams are heard and the murder is interrupted; Barbara and Edmond are reconciled when she tells her husband that she is pregnant. Lanier (op cit) details all the Shakespeare citations and allusions.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film; Video

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of release

1936

Duration

83 mins; 7,429 feet

Credits

Director

Walter Reisch

Producer

Alexander Korda

Cinematographer

Charles Rosher

Screenplay

G.B. Stern; Iris Wright; Walter Reisch

Art Direction

Vincent Korda

Cast

Sebastian Shaw	Edmond Davey (Othello)
Gertrude Lawrence	Barbara (Desdemona)
Miriam Hopkins	Ann
Rex Harrison	Tommy
Val Gielgud	The Producer

Additional Details

Production type

Fiction Films

Plays

Othello

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

drama in English; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General

Adapted from a story by Walter Reisch.

Documentation

Accompanying booklet.

Reviews

Lanier, Douglas ‘Film Spin-Offs and Citations’ in Burt, Richard (ed). Shakespeares After Shakespeares: an Encyclopedia of the Bard in Mass Media and Popular Culture. 2 vols. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2006 (p. 234, entry 979).

Production Company

Name

London Film Productions

Online Retailer

Name

amazon.co.uk

Web

http://www.amazon.co.uk External site opens in new window