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Shakespeare on Film Beyond Olivier
By an Amazon.com customer
William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition)William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Buy new: $19.99 / Used from: $12.97
Sumptuous production, including virtually every word of this, Shakespeare's best, play.
HamletHamlet
Buy new: $7.49 / Used from: $2.62
Modern setting with very interesting ideas.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are DeadRosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $6.99
Tom Stoppard's hilarious "worm's eye" view of the Hamlet story a la Waiting for Godot.
Chimes At MidnightChimes At Midnight
Incorporating scenes from both Henry IV and Merry Wives of Windsor, with Welles as Falstaff and Sir John Gielgud as Henry IV.
My Own Private Idaho - Criterion CollectionMy Own Private Idaho - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $26.49 / Used from: $15.24
Scenes from Henry IV make an unexpected appearance in this offbeat but great film by Gus Van Sant, starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
Henry VHenry V
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $6.96
Branagh's first and best, with Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson and Brian Blessed.
Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $4.00
Marlon Brando, James Mason and Sir John Gielgud in a memorable Hollywood production.
King Lear [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]King Lear [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]
Buy used from: $23.09
Peter Brook directs Paul Scofield. Production values notwithstanding, this is by far the best Lear
Grigori Kozintsev's King LearGrigori Kozintsev's King Lear
Buy new: $29.95 / Used from: $11,536.71
Yuri Yarvet is incredible as Lear in Kozintsev's best (translated into Russian by novelist Boris Pasternak). Epic score by Dmitri Shostakovich.
MacbethMacbeth
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $10.93
Visceral direction by Roman Polanski.
Throne of Blood - Criterion CollectionThrone of Blood - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $27.99 / Used from: $18.78
Kurosawa's lyrical Macbeth, his best Shakespeare adaption.
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of VeniceWilliam Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $3.34
Flawed but worthwhile, especially Jeremy Irons as Antonio.
A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $5.20
Max Reinhardt directs James Cagney, Olivia de Haviland, Mickey Rooney and Joe E. Brown, among many others, in this amazing German Expressionist extravaganza.
Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $4.55
Branagh's best of the comedy plays, with Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves and Michael Keaton.
Othello (Fully Restored Version)Othello (Fully Restored Version)
Buy used from: $6.98
Visually stunning. If only Welles had Olivier's budget.
OthelloOthello
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $10.52
With Branagh as Iago.
Richard IIIRichard III
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $5.68
McKellen in dystopic WW II setting. Exceptional.
Looking for Richard [VHS]Looking for Richard [VHS]
Buy used from: $3.85
Al Pacino riffing on Richard III.
Romeo & JulietRomeo & Juliet
Buy new: $5.99 / Used from: $4.48
Zefferelli directs real teenagers.
West Side Story (Special Edition Collector's Set)West Side Story (Special Edition Collector's Set)
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $8.99
Romeo and Juliet in New York as imagined by Jerome Robbins with unforgettable music by Leonard Bernstein.
Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $3.94
Tom Stoppard co-wrote this playful Oscar winning screenplay about the origins of Romeo and Juliet (and Twelfth Night . . . ). With Dame Judi Dench.
The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $5.38
Zefferelli directs Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, fighting and hamming it up.
10 Things I Hate About You10 Things I Hate About You
Buy used from: $4.82
Surprisingly good modern version of Taming of the Shrew.
Prospero's BooksProspero's Books
Sir John Gielgud in Peter Greenaway's version of The Tempest.
Forbidden PlanetForbidden Planet
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $4.72
The Tempest meets Star Trek. And it's quite good. Really.
TitusTitus
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $6.97
Julie Taymor directs Anthony Hopkins in what may be the best Shakespeare adaption on film.
Twelfth NightTwelfth Night
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $7.72
Trevor Nunn directs Helena Bonham Carter as Olivia and Ben Kinglsey as the fool Feste, as well as Imogen Stubbs as Viola.
Antony and CleopatraAntony and Cleopatra
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $7.16
Production values make this all but unwatchable, but the acting is good.
As You Like ItAs You Like It
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $3.87
Branagh puts the Forest of Arden in Japan with mixed results. Kevin Kline excels as Jacques.
Love's Labour's LostLove's Labour's Lost
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $2.55
Branagh's 1930s musical version with Alicia Silverstone and Nathan Lane. Love it or hate it.