Internet Shakespeare Editions

Shakespeare in Performance: Film

Othello: The Moor of Venice (1985, Franklin Melton)

TitleOthello: The Moor of Venice
Year1985
Release LocationsUSA
DirectorFranklin Melton
MediumColor video
Length3 hrs, 15 mins
LanguagesEnglish
Audiencecollege and university
high school
Play ConnectionsOthello (interpretation)
SeriesThe Bard Series

Description

A major purpose of this series of video productions (for others see 27, 340, 494 and 627) seems to have been to offer Shakespeare on screen with North American actors, many of whom would be recognizable to students familiar with commercial tv drama. That way Shakespeare might seem less remote and formidable to American high school and college students. A rival to the BBC series, which notoriously excluded American actors, some titles have been transmitted on the Arts & Entertainment cable network in the U.S

Description from Shakespeare on Screen : an International Filmography and Videography by Kenneth S. Rothwell and Annabelle Henkin Melzer. ©1990 Kenneth S. Rothwell. Cited by permission. — Added 2008-11-14

Cast Overview

Duke Of VeniceJay Robinson
BrabantioPeter MacLean
Second SenatorJohn Bliss
First SenatorLanny Broyles
GratianoArnold Markussen
LudovicoPhil Persons
OthelloWilliam Marshall
CassioDeVeren Bookwalter
IagoRon Moody
RoderigoJoel Asher
MontanoMike Hayward
DesdemonaJenny Agutter
EmiliaLeslie Paxton
CourtesanAnna Dresdon
BiancaEugenia Wright
MessengerDan Steininger
SoldierWill Nye

Production Team and Crew Overview

DirectorFranklin Melton
ProducerJack Manning
ProducerJack Nakano
ComposerGerard Bernard Cohen
ProductionJack Manning

Production information courtesy of: Kenneth Rothwell