Internet Shakespeare Editions

Shakespeare in Performance: Film

Othello (1955, William de Lane Lea)

TitleOthello
Year1955
DirectorWilliam de Lane Lea
MediumColor video
Length1 hrs, 48 mins
LanguagesRussian
Dubbed LanguagesEnglish
Audiencecollege and university
general public
Play ConnectionsOthello (interpretation)

Description

Originally the film was made with a Russian-speaking cast, using Boris Pasternak's translation. Subsequently a version with dubbed-in English, spoken by British actors, was completed. Director Yutkevich's commitment to filmed Shakespeare may best be indicated by the existence of his book, Shekspir i Kino [Shakespeare and Film] (Moscow, 1973). Reviewer Mark Pomar wrote that Yutkevich thought of film as the heir to Shakespeare's theatre because of its ability to "encompass different events, entertain the public, and at the same time, probe the serious questions of life" (Pomar, Mark G. "Books in Review." SFNL 4.1 [Dec. 1979]: 10)

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

Brabantio, VoiceMichael Moore
BrabantioE. Teterin
LodovicoN. Brilling
Lodovico, VoiceRoger Snowdon
OthelloSergei Bondarchuk
Othello, VoiceHoward Marion Crawford
CassioVladimir Soshalsky
Cassio, VoicePatrick Westwood
Iago, VoiceArnold Diamond
IagoAndrei Popov
RoderigoE. Vesnik
Roderigo, VoiceRichard Warner
MontanoA. Kelberer
Desdemona, VoiceKatherine Byron
DesdemonaIrina Skobtseva
EmiliaA. Maximova
Emilia, VoiceNancy Nevinson
Bianca, VoiceYbanne Churchman
The Doge, VoiceOliver Burt
The DogeM. Troyanovsky

Production Team and Crew Overview

DirectorWilliam de Lane Lea
DirectorSergei Yutkevich
ComposerAram Khatchaturian
Adaptor/TranslatorBoris Pasternak
Adaptor/TranslatorAnna Radlova
CostumesM. Kariakin
CostumesO. Krochinina
SoundB. Volsky
ProductionV. Dorrer
ProductionA. Vaisfield

Company Overview

Producer Mosfilm

Production information courtesy of: Kenneth Rothwell