SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Extracts from a promotional film which Welles made to attract financial backers for what was to be originally a short television adaptation. Filmed on location in Venice, Welles as Shylock (in costume) speaks lines from II v (Irina Maleeva as Jessica)and from I iii (Charles Gray as Antonio). The masquers are dressed as participants in the Venice Carnival. F FOR FAKE also includes Welles re-recording of speeches after the footage was believed lost. From the Arizonian desert Welles speaks in close-up to camera (wearing a trench coat) Shylock’s lines from (I iii) ‘you call me cut throat’ and part of his soliloquy `...I am a Jew ' (IV iii).

Language

English

Country

United States

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Recording date

1 Jan 1969

Duration

2 mins

Credits

Director

Orson Welles

Cinematographer

Giorgio Tonti; Ivica Rajkovic; Tomislav Pinter

Cast

Orson Welles	Shylock
Charles Gray	Antonio
Irina Maleeva	Jessica

Additional Details

Production type

Advertising/Trailers/Promos

Plays

Merchant of Venice, The

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

The footage is included in F FOR FAKE, Welles’ homage to forgery and illusion, available on DVD (Region 1) from amazon.co.uk. A forty minute version is held by the Munich Filmmuseum. A video clip of Welles delivering Shylock’s speech (III, i, 45-67 can be accessed at www.canadianshakespeares.ca

General

It is believed that although filming, editing ,scoring and mixing were completed, some of the negatives were stolen.

Archive

Name

Munich Filmmuseum

Email

filmmuseum@muenchen.de

Web

http://www.filmmuseum-muenchen.de External site opens in new window

Phone

49-89 233 223 48

Fax

49-89 233 239 31

Address

St Jakobs-Platz 1
D-80331
Munich
Germany

Online Retailer

Name

amazon.co.uk

Web

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