In this section, we assembled HLAS' collective wisdom about films based on Shakespeare's plays.

• What are some of the best Shakespeare movies?
• What are the BBC Television Shakespeare Plays?
• Where can I find more information on Shakespeare films?

What are some good Shakespeare movies?

Ever since the silent era, Shakespeare's works have been a popular source for cinematic adaptations. The Internet Movie Database lists well over 300 movies based directly or indirectly on the works of the Bard, and their inventory is far from complete. Shakespeare films, past and present, are frequent topics of discussion on HLAS. While it is not the intention of the FAQ to recommend particular films, our regulars suggested the following titles as among their favorites:

• Chimes at Midnight (1965) directed by Orson Welles
  (An adaptation of the two Henry IV plays, with Welles in the role of Falstaff)
• Hamlet (1948) directed by Laurence Olivier
  (Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director)
• Hamlet (1990) directed by Franco Zeffirelli
  ("...good for beginners...")
• Hamlet (1996) directed by Kenneth Branagh
  ("...you get the full text...")
• Henry V (1944) directed by Laurence Olivier
• Henry V (1989) directed by Kenneth Branagh
• Henry VI plays & Richard III (TV 1981/1982) directed by Jane Howell for the BBC/TV Shakespeare series
• Julius Caesar (1953) directed by Joseph Mankiewicz
• Looking For Richard (1996) directed by Al Pacino
  ("...Pacino & co. wrestle with Richard III...")
• Macbeth (1971) directed by Roman Polanski
• Merchant of Venice (TV, 1973) directed by Jonathan Miller
  ("...Olivier as Shylock...")
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV, 1981) directed by Elijah Moshinsky for the BBC/TV Shakespeare series
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) directed by Michael Hoffman
• Much Ado About Nothing (1993) directed by Kenneth Branagh
• Othello (1995) directed by Oliver Parker
• Prospero's Books (1992) directed by Peter Greenaway
  ("...an imaginative interpretation of 'The Tempest'...")
• Ran (1985) directed by Akira Kurosawa
  ("...probably the best Lear on film...")
• Richard III (1995) directed by Richard Loncraine
  ("...Ian McKellen as a 1930's neo-nazi Richard...")
• Romeo and Juliet (1936) directed by George Cukor
  ("...try to ignore the fact that the actors are all too old...")
• Romeo and Juliet (1996) directed by Baz Luhrmann
  ("...captures a wonderful spirit and energy...")
• Romeo and Juliet (1968) directed by Franco Zeffirelli
  ("...just to see the sets and costumes...")
• Shakespeare in Love (1998) directed by John Madden
  (Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture)
• The Taming of the Shrew (1967) directed by Franco Zeffirelli
• The Tempest (1980) directed by Derek Jarman
• A Thousand Acres (1997) directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
  (A modern adapatation of King Lear, transplanted to present-day Iowa "...great work from all the actors...quite wonderful...")
• Titus (1999) directed by Julie Taymor
  (An adaptation of Shakespeare's notorious gorefest, Titus Andronicus)
• Twelfth Night (1996) directed by Trevor Nunn

What are the BBC Television Shakespeare Plays?

No discussion of film/video adaptations of Shakespeare would be complete without mentioning the BBC Television Shakespeare Plays.

This ambitious project was the brainchild of BBC producer Cedric Messina, who was to become one of the three producers of the series itself (along with Jonathan Miller and Shaun Sutton). Messina was inspired by the idea of filming the entire canon of thirty-seven plays for television in 1975. The BBC, with financial assistance from Time/Life, Exxon, Metropolitan Life and Morgan Bank, agreed to undertake the project starting in 1978. Seven years, three producers, over a dozen different directors and millions of dollars later, the series was completed. Hundreds of different actors were involved including such stalwarts as John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi, Anthony Hopkins, Patrick Stewart, John Cleese, etc..

Critical reaction to the productions, as might be expected, was mixed. Many were applauded, others were deemed boring. Complete sets of the videos, while expensive to purchase, are often available in public libraries. Thanks to the BBC, Shakespeare fans have the opportunity to view all the plays, many in uncut form, including versions of the infrequently performed works.

Where can I find more information on Shakespeare films?

Some other resources for Shakespeare on film include Bardolatry which offers a survey of recent Shakespearean films, as well as links to their homepages. For specific information on any particular Shakespeare film, try the Internet Movie Database

And whenever a new Shakespeare film is released, it's sure to be vigorously discussed and debated on HLAS.