List of William Shakespeare screen adaptations

More than 420 feature-length film versions of William Shakespeare's plays have been produced, making Shakespeare the most filmed author ever. Some are faithful to the original story and text, while others are adaptations that use only the plots rather than his dialogue.

History

"When 'Shakespeare' meets 'The Movies', two mighty entities converge."

Harry Keyishian

Silent Film Era

In the 1900s when the silent film industry began to develop in Europe and America, Shakespearean plays became a small part of its repertoire.

In France and Italy at that time cinema was not considered an art form in itself, but as a medium to present the art of traditional theatre. This idea was named "Film d'Art". Shakespearean plays' "public domain" status have made them attractive to film producers, who wanted freedom from a "faithful" representation of a theatre play.

"It was learned early on that the Bard was poison at the box office and would have to be variously disguised if he was to sell any tickets."

Luke McKernan

In the United States, a couple of thousand cheap and wide-spread "nickelodeons" drove the film industry. American film makers then began to seek to attract viewers of higher class. They might also have been influenced by the "Film d'Art" spirit. They set out to shift the themes of their films from stories of contemporary workers, to classical works. Film makers were also responding to calls from religious groups, and the authorities, for a reduction of the amount of brutality displayed in historical films. Film makers chose Shakespearean plays because they were widely respected by both the higher and lower classes of American society, and also because their public domain status avoided copyright issues. The authorities also favored Shakespearean films, since they were suitable tools to construct a new Anglo-American identity on the vast, mostly immigrant, nation. Vitagraph in New York was a notable Shakespearean film studio of this time.^[1]

"[I am] less than ever convinced that there is an aesthetic justification for filming Shakespeare at all."

Graham Greene

Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well

See main article All's Well That Ends Well

• BBC Television Shakespeare All's Well That Ends Well (TV, UK, 1980)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

As You Like It

See main article As You Like It

• As You Like It (USA, 1936)

Paul Czinner director

Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind

Laurence Olivier as Orlando

• BBC Television Shakespeare As You Like It (TV, UK, 1979)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Helen Mirren as Rosalind

• As You Like It (Canada 1983, Stratford Festival of Canada, Stratford, Ontario) (filmed on stage, 2 hrs 40 min)

John Hirsch - Director

Roberta Maxwell as Rosalind

Andrew Gilles as Orlando

• As You Like It (UK, 1992)

Christine Edzard director

Emma Croft as Rosalind

James Fox as Jaques

Griff Rhys Jones as Touchstone

Andrew Tiernan as Orlando & Oliver

• The Animated Shakespeare As You Like It (TV, Russia and UK, 1994)

Alexei Karayev director

Sylvestra Le Touzel as the voice of Rosalind

• As You Like It (UK, 2006)

Kenneth Branagh director

Bryce Dallas Howard as Rosalind

Kevin Kline as Jaques

Alfred Molina as Touchstone

David Oyelowo as Orlando

The Comedy of Errors

See main article The Comedy of Errors

Performances

• The Comedy of Errors (UK 1978, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon) (filmed on stage)

Philip Casson - Director

Roger Rees as Antipholus of Syracuse

Mike Gwilym as Antipholus of Ephesus

Michael Williams as Dromio of Syracuse

Nickolas Grace as Dromio of Ephesus

Judi Dench as Adriana

Francesca Annis as Luciana

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Comedy of Errors (TV, UK, 1983)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Michael Kitchen as the Antipholi

Roger Daltrey as the Dromios

Suzanne Bertish as Adriana

• The Comedy of Errors (Canada 1983, Stratford Festival of Canada, Stratford, Ontario) (filmed on stage, 1 hr 17 min)

Richard Monette - Director

Nicholas Pennell as Aegeon

Geordie Johnson as Antipholus of Ephesus/Antipholus of Syracuse

Keith Dinicol as Dromio of Ephesus/Dromio of Syracuse

Goldie Semple as Adriana

Lucy Peacock as Luciana

Adaptations

• Angoor (Hindi, India, 1982), a Bollywood adaptation.
• The Boys from Syracuse (USA, 1940), a film of a musical adaptation of the play.

Cymbeline

See main article Cymbeline

Performances

• Cymbeline (1913, USA)

Frederick Sullivan director

Florence La Badie as Imogen

James Cruze as Posthumous Leonatus

• Cymbeline (1981, USA)

Patrick Tucker director

Gail Chugg as Cymbeline

Rebecca Engle as Imogen

• BBC Television Shakespeare Cymbeline (TV, UK, 1983)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Adaptations

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Cymbeline.

Love's Labour's Lost

See main article Love's Labour's Lost

• BBC Television Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost (TV, UK, 1985)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Love’s Labour’s Lost (UK, 2000) - part performance and part musical adaptation.

Kenneth Branagh director and as Berowne

Alicia Silverstone as the Princess

music by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and others

Measure For Measure

See main article Measure for Measure

• BBC Television Shakespeare Measure For Measure (TV, UK, 1978)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Measure for Measure (UK, 1994, TV)

David Thacker director

Tom Wilkinson as Duke Vincentio

Corin Redgrave as Angelo

Juliet Aubrey as Isabella

Ian Bannen as Provost

Ben Miles as Claudio

The Merchant of Venice

See main article The Merchant of Venice

Performances

• The Merchant of Venice (US, 1973)

John Sichel director

Laurence Olivier as Shylock

Joan Plowright as Portia

Jeremy Brett as Bassanio

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice (TV, UK, 1980)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The Merchant of Venice (UK, 2003)

Film of Royal National Theatre’s stage version

Trevor Nunn director

Henry Goodman as Shylock

Derbhle Crotty as Portia

• The Merchant of Venice (USA, 2004)

Michael Radford director

Al Pacino as Shylock

Lynn Collins as Portia

Jeremy Irons as Antonio

Adaptations

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by The Merchant of Venice.

The Merry Wives of Windsor

See main article The Merry Wives of Windsor

Performances

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Merry Wives of Windsor (TV, UK, 1982)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Quantum Leap The Merry Wives of Windsor (aka “The Shakespeare Collection”) (TV/video, USA, 1982)

Jack Manning director

Leon Charles as Falstaff

Adaptations

• Chimes at Midnight (aka “Falstaff”) (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from Richard II, Henry IV part 1, Henry IV part 2, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Orson Welles director and as Falstaff

Keith Baxter as Hal

John Gielgud as Henry IV

• See also Falstaff (opera) by Verdi, since it and all films derived from it are adaptations of the Falstaff plays, in particular The Merry Wives of Windsor.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

See main article A Midsummer Night's Dream

Performances

• A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA, 1935)

Max Reinhardt director

Olivia de Havilland as Hermia

James Cagney as Bottom

Mickey Rooney as Puck

• A Midsummer Night's Dream Royal Shakespeare Company film (UK, 1968)

Peter Hall director

Judi Dench as Titania

Paul Rogers as Bottom

Diana Rigg as Helena

David Warner as Lysander

Ian Holm as Puck

• BBC Television Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, UK, 1981)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The Animated Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, Russia and UK, 1992)

Robert Saakiants director

Suzanne Bertish as the voice of Titania

Bernard Hill as the voice of Bottom

• A Midsummer Night's Dream Royal Shakespeare Company film (UK, 1995)

Adrian Noble director

Lindsay Duncan as Titania

Desmond Barrit as Bottom

• A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA, 1999)

Michael Hoffman director

Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania

Kevin Kline as Bottom

Rupert Everett as Oberon

Calista Flockhart as Helena

Stanley Tucci as Puck

• Midsummer (USA, 1999) sets the Dream story against a surreal backdrop of techno clubs and ancient symbols.

James Kerwin screenplay and director

Travis Schuldt as Demetrius

• The Children's Midsummer Night's Dream (UK, 2001) is a film of the play, performed by a cast of children

Christine Edzard director

Adaptations

• El Sueño de una noche de San Juan (aka "Midsummer Dream", Spain and Portugal, 2005) is an animated adaptation of the Dream story.

Ángel de la Cruz and Manolo Gómez directors

• Get Over It (2001), a modern musical adaptation set at a highschool which includes another version of the play performed as a show-within-a-show, much like the Pyramus and Thisbe subplay in the original Shakespeare.

• A Midsummer Night's Rave (2002) is a modern adaptation set at a warehouse party

• ShakespeaRe-Told A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, UK, 2005) is a modern adaptation by Peter Bowker

Sharon Small as Titania

Lennie James as Oberon

Johnny Vegas as Bottom

Much Ado About Nothing

See main article Much Ado About Nothing

Performances

• Much Ado About Nothing (TV, US, 1973)

A CBS Television Adaptation of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival Production

Sam Waterston as Benedick

Kathleen Widdoes as Beatrice

Barnard Hughes as Dogberry

Douglass Watson as Don Pedro

Nick Havinga and A.J. Antoon, directors

• BBC Television Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing (TV, UK, 1984)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Much Ado About Nothing (UK, 1993)

Kenneth Branagh director and as Benedick

Emma Thompson as Beatrice

Denzel Washington as Don Pedro

Robert Sean Leonard as Claudio

Kate Beckinsale as Hero

Michael Keaton as Dogberry

Keanu Reeves as Don John

Adaptations

• ShakespeaRe-Told Much Ado About Nothing (UK, TV, 2005) is a modern adaptation by David Nicholls.

Sarah Parish as Beatrice

Damian Lewis as Benedick

Billie Piper as Hero

Martin Jarvis as Leonard (the Leonato character)

Pericles

See main article Pericles, Prince of Tyre

• BBC Television Shakespeare Pericles, Prince of Tyre (TV, UK, 1984)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Mike Gwylim as Pericles
• Edward Petherbridge as Gower

The Taming of the Shrew

See main article The Taming of the Shrew

Performances

• The Taming of the Shrew (USA, 1929)

Mary Pickford as Katherine

Douglas Fairbanks as Petruchio

• The Taming of the Shrew (USA, 1967)

Franco Zeffirelli director

Elizabeth Taylor as Katherine

Richard Burton as Petruchio

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew (TV, UK, 1980)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Jonathan Miller, director

John Cleese as Petruchio

Sarah Badel as Katherine

• Quantum Leap The Taming of the Shrew (aka “The Shakespeare Collection”) (TV/video, USA, 19??)

John Allinson director

Karen Austin as Katherine

Franklin Seales as Petruchio

• The Animated Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew (TV, Russia and UK, 1994)

Aida Ziablikova director

Amanda Root as the voice of Katherine

Nigel Le Vaillant as the voice of Petruchio

Adaptations

• Kiss Me, Kate (USA, 1948)

Howard Keel as 'Petruchio'

Kathryn Grayson as 'Katerina'

Ann Miller as 'Bianca'

• Moonlighting (TV, USA; 25 Nov 1986 episode "Atomic Shakespeare") presented the play through multiple fourth-wall layers with a self-referential frame tale, in which a young fan of the TV show has a Shakespeare reading assignment and imagines it as presented by the show's regular cast.

Will Mackenzie director

Cybill Shepherd as Katerina

Bruce Willis as Petruchio

• 10 Things I Hate about You (USA, 1999)

Julia Stiles as Kat

Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron

Larisa Oleynik as Bianca

• Deliver Us from Eva (USA, 2003)
• ShakespeaRe-Told The Taming of The Shrew (UK, TV, 2005) is a modern adaptation by Sally Wainwright.

Shirley Henderson as Katherine

Rufus Sewell as Petruchio

• Shrew in the Park (Canada, TV, 2003)

Andrew Honor director

The Tempest

See main article The Tempest (play)

Performances

• The Tempest, (USA, 1911)

Edwin Thanhouser director

• Hallmark Hall of Fame The Tempest (TV, USA, 1960)

George Schaefer director

Maurice Evans as Prospero

Richard Burton as Caliban

Lee Remick as Miranda

Roddy McDowall as Ariel

• The Tempest (UK, 1979)

Derek Jarman director

Heathcote Williams as Prospero

Toyah Willcox as Miranda

"Stormy Weather" sung by Elisabeth Welch

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Tempest (TV, UK, 1980)

Michael Hordern as Prospero

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Quantum Leap The Tempest (aka “The Shakespeare Collection”) (TV/video, USA, 1983)

William Woodman director

Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Prospero

• Prospero's Books (Netherlands, France, UK, Italy 1991) partial adaptation.

Peter Greenaway director

John Gielgud as Prospero

Isabelle Pasco as Miranda

• The Animated Shakespeare The Tempest (TV, Russia and UK, 1992)

Stanislav Sokolov director

Timothy West as the voice of Prospero

Adaptations

• Yellow Sky

William A. Wellman director

Gregory Peck as Stretch

• Forbidden Planet (USA, 1956)

Fred M. Wilcox director

Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Mobius

Anne Francis as Alataria

Leslie Nielsen as the captain

• Tempest (USA, 1982)

Paul Mazursky director

John Cassavetes as Phillip Dimitrious

Molly Ringwald as Miranda

Susan Sarandon as Aretha

Raul Julia as Kalibanos

• The Tempest (USA, 1998)

Jack Bender director

Peter Fonda as Gideon Prosper

• King of California (USA, 2007)

Michael Douglas as Charlie (Based of the character of Prospero)

Evan Rachel Wood as Miranda

Twelfth Night

See main article Twelfth Night (play) and its section Film and television adaptions

Performances

• Twelfth Night (film, USA, 1910)

Eugene Mullin and Charles Kent directors

Julia Swayne Gordon as Olivia

Chales Kent as Malvolio

Florence Turner as Viola

Edith Storey as Sebastain

Tefft Johnson as Orsino

Marin Sais as Maria

Willim Humphrey as Sir Toby Belch

James Young as Sir Andrew Aguecheek

• Twelfth Night (TV, UK, 1969)

John Sichel and John Dexter directors

Joan Plowright as Viola and Sebastian

Alec Guinness as Malvolio

Ralph Richardson as Sir Toby Belch

Tommy Steele as an unusually prominent Feste

• BBC Television Shakespeare Twelfth Night (TV, UK, 1980)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Twelfth Night (TV, UK, 1988)

Kenneth Branagh director

Richard Briers as Malvolio

Caroline Langrishe as Olivia

music by Pat Doyle (TRIVIA: the arrangement of Come Away Death in this production is an adaption of Paul McCartney's Once Upon A Long Ago.)

• The Animated Shakespeare Twelfth Night (TV, Russia and UK, 1992)

Maria Muat director

Fiona Shaw

Hugh Grant

William Rushton as the voice of Sir Toby Belch

• Twelfth Night (UK, 1996)

Trevor Nunn director

Imogen Stubbs as Viola

Helena Bonham Carter as Olivia

Toby Stephens as Orsino

Nigel Hawthorne as Malvolio

Mel Smith as Sir Toby Belch

Richard E. Grant as Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Ben Kingsley as Feste

• Twelfth Night, or What You Will (TV, UK, 2003)

Tim Supple director

Parminder Nagra as Viola

Ronny Jhutti as Sebastian

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Orsino

Claire Price as Olivia

Maureen Beattie as Maria

David Troughton as Sir Toby Belch

Richard Bremner as Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Zubin Varla as Feste

Michael Maloney as Malvolio

Adaptations

• She's the Man (US, 2006) adapts the story to a high-school setting

Andy Fickman director

Amanda Bynes as Viola

Channing Tatum as Duke Orsino

Laura Ramsey as Olivia

James Kirk as Sebastian

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

See main article The Two Gentlemen of Verona

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Two Gentlemen of Verona (TV, UK, 1984)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

The Winter's Tale

See main article The Winter's Tale

Performances

• BBC Television Shakespeare The Winter's Tale (TV, UK, 1980)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The Animated Shakespeare The Winter’s Tale (TV, Russia and UK, 1994)

Stanislav Sokolov director

Anton Lesser

Jenny Agutter

• RSC – The Winter’s Tale, a straight-to-video filming of the 1999 RSC Barbican production.

Greg Doran director

Antony Sher as Leontes

Adaptations

• RSC Production Casebook – The Winter’s Tale a straight-to-video documentary of the RSC production listed separately above, including interviews with Antony Sher, Greg Doran, Cicely Berry (the RSC’s voice coach) and other members of the cast and crew, together with lengthy excerpts from the show itself.

Tragedies

Antony and Cleopatra

See main article Antony and Cleopatra

Performances

• Antony and Cleopatra, (1972)

Charlton Heston, director and star, as Antony

Hildegarde Neil as Cleopatra

Eric Porter as Enobarbus

• Antony and Cleopatra, (TV, UK, 1974)

Jon Scoffield director (television version) Trevor Nunn director (stage version)

Janet Suzman as Cleopatra

Richard Johnson as Antony

Patrick Stewart as Enobarbus (TRIVIA: This was his first television role.)

• BBC Television Shakespeare Antony and Cleopatra (TV, UK, 1981)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Adaptations

• Carry On Cleo (UK, 1965) is a Carry On film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.

Gerald Thomas director

Kenneth Williams as Caesar

Sid James as Mark Antony

Amanda Barrie as Cleopatra

• Kannaki (India, Malayalam, 2002) is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.

Jayaraaj director

Lal as Manikyan

Siddique as Choman

Nandita Das as Kannaki

Coriolanus

See main article Coriolanus (play)

• BBC Television Shakespeare Coriolanus (TV, UK, 1984)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Hamlet

This is a summary of the main article Hamlet on screen.

See also the main article for the play Hamlet.

The most significant screen performances are:

• Hamlet (Germany, 1920) Svend Gade & Heinz Schall directors
• Hamlet (UK, 1948) Laurence Olivier director
• Hamlet, Prinz von Dänemark (West Germany, 1961) Franz Peter Wirth director
• Hamlet (aka Gamlet) (Russia, 1964) Grigori Kozintsev director
• Hamlet (aka Richard Burton's Hamlet) (1964), Bill Colleran and John Gielgud directors
• Hamlet at Elsinore (TV, UK, 1964) Philip Saville director
• Hamlet (UK, 1969) Tony Richardson director
• BBC Television Shakespeare Hamlet (TV, UK, 1980) Rodney Bennett director
• Hamlet (USA, 1990) Franco Zeffirelli director
• The Animated Shakespeare Hamlet (TV, Russia and UK, 1992) Natalia Orlova director
• Hamlet (UK, 1996) Kenneth Branagh director
• Hamlet (USA, 2000) Michael Almereyda director
• The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark (2007) (AUS, 2007) Oscar Redding director

Adaptations, and films using elements of "Hamlet" include:

• The Bad Sleep Well (aka Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru) (Japan, 1960) Akira Kurosawa director
• Strange Brew (Canada, 1983) Dave Thomas & Rick Moranis directors.
• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (USA, 1990) Tom Stoppard director
• Renaissance Man (USA, 1994) Penny Marshall director
• The Lion King (USA, 1994) Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff directors.
• In The Bleak Midwinter (aka “A Midwinter’s Tale”) (UK, 1996) Kenneth Branagh director
• Let the Devil Wear Black (USA, 1999) Stacy Title director
• The Banquet, (China, 2006) Feng Xiaogang, director

Julius Caesar

See main article Julius Caesar (play)

Performances

• Julius Caesar (USA, 1949)

David Bradley director and as Brutus

Harold Tasker as Caesar

Charlton Heston as Mark Antony

• Julius Caesar (USA, 1953)

Joseph L. Mankiewicz director

James Mason as Brutus

John Gielgud as Cassius

Marlon Brando as Mark Antony

• Julius Caesar (USA, 1970)

Charlton Heston as Mark Antony

Jason Robards as Brutus

John Gielgud as Caesar

• BBC Television Shakespeare Julius Caesar (TV, UK, 1979)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The Animated Shakespeare Julius Caesar (TV, Russia and UK, 1994)

Yuri Kulakov director

Joss Ackland as the voice of Julius Caesar

Adaptations

• Carry On Cleo (UK, 1965) is a Carry On film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.

Gerald Thomas director

Kenneth Williams as Caesar

Sid James as Mark Antony

Amanda Barrie as Cleopatra

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Julius Caesar.

King Lear

See main article King Lear and its section on film adaptations.

Performances

• King Lear (TV, USA, 1953)

Andrew McCullough director

Orson Welles as Lear

• King Lear (UK, 1970)

Peter Brook director

Paul Scofield as Lear

• King Lear (aka Korol Lir) (Russia, 1971)

Grigori Kozintsev director

Jüri Järvet as Lear

• New York Shakespeare Festival King Lear (USA, 1974)

James Earl Jones as Lear

Raul Julia as Edmund

Rene Auberjonois as Edgar

Rosalind Cash as Goneril

Douglass Watson as Kent

• King Lear (TV, UK, 1976)

Tony Davenall director

Patrick Magee as Lear

Beth Harris as Goneril

Ann Lynn as Regan

Wendy Alnutt as Cordelia

Patrick Mower as Edmund

Robert Coleby as Edgar

• BBC Television Shakespeare King Lear (TV, UK, 1982)

Jonathan Miller director

Michael Hordern as Lear

Frank Middlemass as the Fool

Brenda Blethyn as Cordelia

Anton Lesser as Edgar

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• King Lear (TV, UK, 1983)

Michael Elliot director

Laurence Olivier as Lear

Leo McKern as Gloucester

Robert Lindsay as Edmund

John Hurt as The Fool

David Threlfall as Edgar

• King Lear (TV, UK, 1997). BBC film of the Royal National Theatre’s stage version. It was televised with an accompanying documentary, including interviews with the director and cast.

Richard Eyre director

Ian Holm as Lear

Barbara Flynn as Goneril

Amanda Redman as Regan

Victoria Hamilton as Cordelia

Timothy West as Gloucester

Finbar Lynch as Edmund

Paul Rhys as Edgar

• King Lear (UK, 1999)

Brian Blessed director and as Lear

Hildegard Neil as Fool

Adaptations

• King Lear (Bahamas/USA, 1987) is post-Chernobyl science fiction.

Jean-Luc Godard director and Professor Pluggy (equivalent to the Fool)

Burgess Meredith as Don Learo

Molly Ringwald as Cordelia

Peter Sellars as William Shakespeare Junior the Fifth

Woody Allen as Mr. Alien

• Ran (Japan, 1985) is an adaptation of the Lear story to a Japanese setting.

Akira Kurosawa director

Tatsuya Nakadai as Lord Hidetora (equivalent to King Lear)

Peter (equivalent to the Fool)

• A Thousand Acres (USA, 1997) is a modern retelling of the Lear story, from the perspective of the Goneril character (Ginny).

Jocelyn Moorhouse director

Jason Robards as Larry Cook

Jessica Lange as Ginny

Michelle Pfeiffer as Rose

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Caroline

• King of Texas (TV, USA, 2002) is a Western adaptation of King Lear.

Uli Edel director

Patrick Stewart as John Lear

Macbeth

This is a summary of the main article Macbeth on screen.

See also the main article for the play Macbeth.

The most significant screen performances are:

• Macbeth (USA, 1948), Orson Welles director
• 'Play of the Month' Macbeth (1965 TV, UK), John Gorrie director
• Macbeth (USA and UK, 1971), Roman Polanski director
• Macbeth (UK, 1978, Royal Shakespeare Company), Trevor Nunn director
• Macbeth (UK, 1981), Arthur Allan Seidelman director
• BBC Television Shakespeare Macbeth (TV, UK, 1983)
• Macbeth (UK, 1997), Jeremy Freeston and Brian Blessed directors
• Macbeth (TV, UK, 1998), Michael Bogdanov director
• The Animated Shakespeare Macbeth (TV, Russia and UK, 1992), Nicolai Serebryakov director
• Macbeth (Video, UK, 2001, Royal Shakespeare Company), Greg Doran director
• Macbeth (2006 film) (Australia, 2006), Geoffrey Wright director

The most significant screen adaptations are:

• Joe MacBeth (UK, 1955), Ken Hughes director
• Throne of Blood (aka Cobweb Castle or Kumonosu-jo) (Japan, 1957), Akira Kurosawa director
• Men of Respect (USA 1991), William Reilly director
• Rave Macbeth (Germany, 2001)
• Scotland, Pa. (USA, 2001), Billy Morrissette director
• Maqbool (India, 2004), Vishal Bharadwaj director
• ShakespeaRe-Told Macbeth (UK, TV, 2005)

Othello

See main article Othello

Performances

• Othello (Silent, Germany, 1922)

Dimitri Buchowetzki director

Emil Jannings as Othello

• Othello (UK, 1946)

David MacKane director

Sebastian Cabot as Iago

Sheila Raynor as Emilia

Luanna Shaw as Desdemona

John Slater as Othello

These are the only actors in this 45-minute condensation.

• Othello (USA, 1952)

Orson Welles director and as Othello

Micheal MacLiammoir as Iago

Suzanne Cloutier as Desdemona

• Otello (Russia, 1955)

Sergei Yutkevich director and screenplay

Sergei Bondarchuk as Othello

Irina Skobtseva as Desdemona

Andrei Popov as Iago

• Othello (UK, 1965) film of the National Theatre’s stage production.

Stuart Burge director

Laurence Olivier as Othello

Frank Finlay as Iago

Maggie Smith as Desdemona

• BBC Television Shakespeare Othello (TV, UK, 1980)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Anthony Hopkins as Othello

• Othello (TV, UK, 1990) film of the Royal Shakespeare Company's stage production.

Trevor Nunn director

Willard White (the opera singer) as Othello

Imogen Stubbs as Desdemona

Ian McKellen as Iago

• The Animated Shakespeare Othello (TV, Russia and UK, 1994)

Nicolai Serebryakov director

Colin McFarlane as the voice of Othello

Gerald McSorley as the voice of Iago

Sian Thomas as the voice of Desdemona

• Othello (USA, 1995)

Oliver Parker director

Laurence Fishburne as Othello

Kenneth Branagh as Iago

Irene Jacob as Desdemona

Adaptations

• A Double Life (USA, 1947) is a film noir adaptation of the Othello story, in which an actor playing the moor takes on frightening aspects of his character's personality.

George Cukor director

Ronald Colman as Anthony John

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Othello.

• Kaliyattam (India, 1997)

Jayaraaj director

Suresh Gopi as Kannan Perumalayan (Othello)

Lal as Paniyan (Iago)

Biju Menon as Kanthan (Cassio)

Manju Warrier as Thamara (Desdemona)

• O (USA, made in 1999, but not released until 2001) is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello

Tim Blake Nelson director

Mekhi Phifer as Odin James

Josh Hartnett as Hugo

Julia Stiles as Desi

• Othello (TV, UK, 2001) is an adaptation by Andrew Davies of Shakespeare’s Othello, set in the police force in modern London.
• Omkara (India, 2006)

Vishal Bharadwaj director

Ajay Devgan as Omkara 'Omi' Shukla (Othello)

Saif Ali Khan as Langda Tyagi (Iago)

Vivek Oberoi as Kesu Firangi (Cassio)

Kareena Kapoor as Dolly Mishra (Desdemona)

Konkona Sen Sharma as Indu (Emilia)

Bipasha Basu as Billo Chamanbahar (Bianca)

Naseeruddin Shah as Bhaisaab (Duke of Venice)

Romeo and Juliet

This is a summary of the main article Romeo and Juliet on screen.

See also the main article for the play Romeo and Juliet.

The most significant screen performances are:

• Romeo and Juliet (USA, 1908), J. Stuart Blackton director
• Romeo and Juliet (USA, 1936), George Cukor director
• Romeo and Juliet (UK, 1954), Renato Castellani director
• Romeo and Juliet (Italy, 1968), Franco Zeffirelli director
• BBC Television Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet (TV, UK, 1978)
• The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (USA, 1982), William Woodman director
• Romeo and Juliet (TV, UK, 1988), Joan Kemp-Welch director
• The Animated Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet (TV, Russia and UK, 1992) Efim Gamburg director
• Romeo+Juliet (USA, 1996) Baz Luhrmann director

The most significant screen adaptations are:

• West Side Story (USA, 1961), Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins directors
• Romie-0 and Julie-8 (Canada, 1979), Clive A. Smith, director
• Tromeo and Juliet (USA, 1996), Lloyd Kaufman director
• Romeo Must Die (2000), Andrzej Bartkowiak director

Timon of Athens

See main article Timon of Athens

• BBC Television Shakespeare Timon of Athens (TV, UK, 1981)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Jonathan Miller Director

Jonathan Pryce as Timon

Norman Rodway as Apemantus

The Long Johns as Painter and Poet

Titus Andronicus

See main article Titus Andronicus

Performances

• BBC Television Shakespeare Titus Andronicus (TV, UK, 1985)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Titus (USA, 1999)

Julie Taymor director

Anthony Hopkins as Titus Andronicus

Jessica Lange as Tamora

Alan Cumming as Saturninus

• Titus Andronicus (USA, 1999)

Christopher Dunne director

Robert Reece (actor) as Titus Andronicus

Candy K. Sweet as Tamora

Adaptations

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Titus Andronicus.

Troilus and Cressida

See main article Troilus and Cressida

Performances

• BBC Television Shakespeare Troilus and Cressida (TV, UK, 1981)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Adaptations

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Troilus and Cressida.

Histories

Henry IV Part 1

See main article Henry IV, Part 1

Performances

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Tom Fleming as Henry IV

Robert Hardy as Hal

Frank Pettingell as Falstaff

Sean Connery as Hotspur

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry IV Part I (TV, UK, 1979)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Anthony Quayle as Falstaff

Jon Finch as Henry IV

David Gwillim as Hal

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry IV Part 1 (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays.

Adaptations

• Chimes at Midnight (aka “Falstaff”) (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from Richard II, Henry IV part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Orson Welles director and as Falstaff

Keith Baxter as Hal

John Gielgud as Henry IV

• My Own Private Idaho (USA, 1991) is loosely based on Henry IV, Part 1, with elements from the other "Hal" plays.

Gus Van Sant director

River Phoenix as Mike Waters

Keanu Reeves as Scott Favor

Henry IV Part 2

See main article Henry IV, Part 2

Performances

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Tom Fleming as Henry IV

Robert Hardy as Hal

Frank Pettingell as Falstaff

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry IV Part II (TV, UK, 1979)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Anthony Quayle as Falstaff

Jon Finch as Henry IV

David Gwillim as Hal

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry IV Part 2 (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays.

Adaptations

• Chimes at Midnight (aka “Falstaff”) (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from Richard II, Henry IV part 1, Henry IV part 2, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Orson Welles director and as Falstaff

Keith Baxter as Hal

John Gielgud as Henry IV

• See also My Own Private Idaho.

Henry V

See main article Henry V (play)

Performances

• Henry V (UK, 1944)

Laurence Olivier director and as Henry V

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Robert Hardy as Henry V

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry V (TV, UK, 1979)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• Henry V (UK, 1989)

Kenneth Branagh director and as Henry V

Ian Holm as Fluellen

Brian Blessed as Exeter

Emma Thompson as Katherine

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry V (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays.

Adaptations

• Chimes at Midnight (aka “Falstaff”) (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from Richard II, Henry IV part 1, Henry IV part 2, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Orson Welles director and as Falstaff

Keith Baxter as Hal

John Gielgud as Henry IV

• The first series of The Black Adder (TV, UK, 1983), written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare’s plays, particularly Macbeth, Richard III and Henry V.
• See also My Own Private Idaho.

Henry VI Part 1

See main article Henry VI, Part 1

Performances

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Terry Scully as Henry VI

Eileen Atkins as Joan

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

David Warner as Henry VI

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VI Part I (TV, UK, 1983)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI – House of Lancaster (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays. This play is formed from Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 1 and from the earlier scenes of Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 2.

Adaptations

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Henry VI, part 1.

Henry VI Part 2

See main article Henry VI, Part 2

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Terry Scully as Henry VI

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

David Warner as Henry VI

Ian Holm as Richard

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VI Part II (TV, UK, 1983)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI – House of Lancaster (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays. This play is formed from Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 1 and from the earlier scenes of Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 2.
• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI – House of York (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays. This play is formed from the later scenes of Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 2 and from Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 3.

Henry VI Part 3

See main article Henry VI, Part 3

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Terry Scully as Henry VI

Julian Glover as Edward

Paul Daneman as Richard

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

David Warner as Henry VI

Ian Holm as Richard Duke of Gloucester

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VI Part III (TV, UK, 1983)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Henry VI – House of York (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays. This play is formed from the later scenes of Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 2 and from Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 3.

Henry VIII

See main article Henry VIII (play)

• BBC Television Shakespeare Henry VIII (TV, UK, 1979)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

King John

See main article King John

• BBC Television Shakespeare King John (TV, UK, 1984)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

Richard II

See main article Richard II (play)

Performances

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

David William as Richard II

Tom Fleming as Bolingbroke

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

• BBC Television Shakespeare Richard II (TV, UK, 1978)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Richard II (UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays.
• Richard II (UK, TV, 1997)

Deborah Warner director

Fiona Shaw as Richard II

Richard Bremner as Bolingbroke

Graham Crowden as John of Gaunt

Kevin McKidd as Hotspur

• Richard The Second (USA, 2004)

John Farrell director

Matte Osian as Richard

Adaptations

• Chimes at Midnight (aka “Falstaff”) (USA, 1967) is an amalgamation of scenes from Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Orson Welles director and as Falstaff

Keith Baxter as Hal

John Gielgud as Henry IV

Richard III

See main article Richard III (play)

Performances

• Richard III (UK, 1955)

Laurence Olivier director and as Richard

John Gielgud as Clarence

Ralph Richardson as Buckingham

Claire Bloom as Lady Anne

• An Age of Kings (UK, TV, Miniseries 1960)

Michael Hayes director

Julian Glover as Edward IV

Paul Daneman as Richard III

Jerome Willis as Richmond

• The War of the Roses television miniseries 1965

Directed by John Barton and Peter Hall

Ian Holm as Richard III

• BBC Television Shakespeare Richard III (TV, UK, 1982)

Released in the USA as part of the "Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" series.

• The War of the Roses (English Shakespeare Company) Richard III (UK, 1990)

A direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington’s 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare’s history plays.

• The Animated Shakespeare King Richard III (TV, Russia and UK, 1994)

Natalia Orlova director

Antony Sher as the voice of Richard

• Richard III (1995 film) (UK, 1995)

Richard Loncraine director

Ian McKellen as Richard

Annette Bening as Elizabeth

Nigel Hawthorne as Clarence

Kristin Scott Thomas as Lady Anne

• Richard III, 2006, forthcoming

Adaptations

• Tower of London is a horror-film adaptation of the Richard III story.

Rowland V. Lee director

Basil Rathbone as Richard

Boris Karloff as Mord (an executioner)

• Theatre of Blood (UK, 1973)

Douglas Hickox director

Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg as Edwina Lionheart

Vincent Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition. He kills his critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including a murder inspired by Richard III.

• The Goodbye Girl (USA, 1977) contains scenes in which the Richard Dreyfuss character rehearses and performs Richard III.
• The first series of The Black Adder (TV, UK, 1983), written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare’s plays, particularly Macbeth, Richard III and Henry V.
• Looking for Richard (USA, 1996) is a documentary account of Al Pacino’s quest to perform Richard III, featuring substantial excerpts from the play. It includes the talents of Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey.

Other

Shakespeare as a character

• Shakespeare Writing 'Julius Caesar' (Silent Short, 1907) is the probable first appearance of Shakepeare as a character.
• William Shakespeare - His Life & Times (TV, UK, 1978) was a 6-part mini-series recounting Shakespeare's life in London. Produced by Cecil Clarke, directed by Mark Collingham and Robert Knights and written by John Mortimer. Tim Curry played Shakespeare, with Nicholas Clay as the Earl of Southampton, Patience Collier as Queen Elizabeth I and Ian McShane as Christopher Marlowe.
• Shakespeare in Love (UK, 1998) is a fictional love story about Shakespeare’s romance with a noblewoman, at the time of writing Romeo and Juliet.

John Madden director

Mark Norman and Tom Stoppard screenwriters

Joseph Fiennes as Will Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola De Lesseps

Colin Firth as Lord Wessex

Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I

• A Waste of Shame (UK, TV, 2005) is a dramatisation of Shakespeare's life at the time of writing the Sonnets.

John McKay director

Rupert Graves as Shakespeare

Anna Chancellor as Anne Shakespeare

Tom Sturridge as the Fair Youth (interpreted as William Herbert)

Indira Varma as the Dark Lady (named Lucie)

Andrew Tiernan as the Rival Poet (interpreted as Ben Jonson)

• The Shakespeare Code is an episode of the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, first screened on 7 April 2007. Dean Lennox Kelly plays the Bard in the story, set in 1599.
• Shakespeare makes cameo appearances in:
  • Looking for Richard
  • Blackadder: Back & Forth
  • Histeria!

Acting Shakespeare

• To Be or Not To Be (USA, 1942) is the story of an acting company in 1939 Poland.

Ernst Lubitsch director

• Shakespeare Wallah (UK, 1965) is the story of an acting company in India.

James Ivory director

Felicity Kendal as Lizzie

Shashi Kapoor as Sanju

Madhur Jaffrey (later famous as a TV chef) as Manjula

• The Goodbye Girl (USA, 1977) contains scenes in which the Richard Dreyfuss character rehearses and performs Richard III.
• To Be or Not To Be is a remake of the Ernst Lubitsch film.

Mel Brooks director

• The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story includes a badly-performed rendition of Hamlet's graveyard speech (not by Baum, who plays a watchman, though he did play Hamlet over 200 times in real life).

Jack Bender director

• Dead Poets Society (USA, 1989) portrays a student (played by Robert Sean Leonard) who performs the role of Puck in a school production of A Midsummer's Night Dream against his father's wishes.
• In The Bleak Midwinter (aka “A Midwinter’s Tale”) (UK, 1996) tells the story of a group of actors performing Hamlet.

Kenneth Branagh director

Michael Maloney as Joe (Hamlet)

Julia Sawalha as Nina (Ophelia)

• Looking for Richard (USA, 1996) is a documentary account of Al Pacino’s quest to perform Richard III, featuring substantial excerpts from the play. It includes the talents of Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey.
• RSC Production Casebook – The Winter’s Tale a straight-to-video documentary of the RSC production listed separately above, including interviews with Antony Sher, Greg Doran, Cicely Berry (the RSC’s voice coach) and other members of the cast and crew, together with lengthy excerpts from the show itself.
• See also Shakespeare in Love above.

Television series

NOTE: "ShakespeaRe-Told", “The Animated Shakespeare” and “BBC Television Shakespeare” series have been covered above, under the respective play performed in each episode.

• Playing Shakespeare (TV, UK, 1983-1984) began as two consecutive episodes of the UK arts series The South Bank Show, and developed into a nine-part series of its own. It features director John Barton, then a leading light of the Royal Shakespeare Company, putting a host of actors through their paces. Many of those actors are now household names, including Judi Dench, Michael Pennington, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley, David Suchet and Ian McKellen. The episodes were:

• The South Bank Show: Speaking Shakespearean Verse
• The South Bank Show: Preparing to Perform Shakespeare
• 1. The Two Traditions
• 2. Using the Verse
• 3. Language and Character
• 4. Set Speeches and Soliloquies
• 5. Irony and Ambiguity
• 6. Passion and Coolness
• 7. Rehearsing the Text
• 8. Exploring a Character
• 9. Poetry and Hidden Poetry

Three further episodes were filmed but never edited or screened. They were to be called “Using the Prose”, “Using the Sonnets” and “Contemporary Shakespeare”. Their text can be read in the book “Playing Shakespeare” by John Barton.

• The Shakespeare Sessions (USA 19??) was an American spin-off from Playing Shakespeare (above) in which John Barton directs notable American actors in Shakespeare scenes.
• The first series of The Black Adder (TV, UK, 1983), written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, is a parody of Shakespeare’s plays, particularly Macbeth, Richard III and Henry V.
• Conjuring Shakespeare (TV, UK, 199?) was a series of half-hour documentaries hosted by Fiona Shaw, each episode dealing with scenes from a particular play.
• In Search of Shakespeare (UK, TV, 2003) was a BBC documentary series of four 1-hour episodes, chronicling the life of William Shakespeare, written and presented by Michael Wood.

Academic

• The “Themes of Shakespeare” series contains straight-to-video short documentaries, each considering the theme of a particular play. The contributors are Professor Stanley Wells, and Dr. Robert Smallwood of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
• Two lecture series given by professor Peter Saccio were filmed and are commercially available on DVD.

Miscellaneous

• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by the Reduced Shakespeare Company is a successful West End stage comedy, containing some element of all 37 canonical plays. A film of one of the live performances is commercially available.
• The Royal Shakespeare Company have released a number of videos in the "Great Performances" series, which contain excerpts from stage performances.

Reference and Further reading

• Brode, Douglas. "Shakespeare in the Movies: From the Silent Era to Today." (Oxford University Press, 2001).
• Buhler, Stephen. "Shakespeare in the Cinema: Ocular Proof," (State University of New York Press, 2002).
• Jackson, Russell (ed.) "The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Film" (Cambridge University Press, 2000).
• McKernan, Luke and Olwen Terris, Ed. "WALKING SHADOWS: Shakespeare in the National Film and Television Archive" (BFI Publishing, 1994). A detailed listing of performances, adaptations and allusions to Shakespeare in film and on television.
• ^ Rothwell, Kenneth S. "Shakespeare in silence: from stage to screen." A History of Shakespeare on Screen. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1999.
• Jackson, Russell. "Shakespeare Films in the Making: Vision, Production and Reception," (Cambridge University Press, 2007).

External links

• Internet Movie Database listing for William Shakespeare (writer)
• Shakespeare classics; 7 early film adaptations
• Bardolatry.com -- reviews of Shakespeare-on-film.
• Info Please An adequate list of popular Shakespeare productions on film. The list is further broken down into three categories: Relatively Faithful Adaptations, Looser Adaptations, and Shakespeare as a Launching Pad. Site provides basic movie information as well as a brief description of movie.
• About Provides critic and scholarly reviews of most popular Shakespeare films. Also provides basic details and behind the scenes guides of Shakespeare film adaptations.