dsmith300

The concept of a black Iago torturing a black Othello is original, and adds a new dimension to the production. I was luck to see this on the stage on my 2012 visit to the UK, and I didn't rest until I was able to see the DVD version.

My copy shows Franco Zeffirelli as Director. The director listed on this entry is Brian Large, who appears in small print on the back of the sleeve, as the person who operated the video camera. If you consult the illustration of the front cover of the DVD, you will be able to see the director listed. The other director (Music Director) is James Levine. Quoting his name would make a lot more sense than Brian Large. I would have entered the correction myself, but it is not as user- friendly as I would have hoped - and I do not have the time to teach myself a new skill. (Is that enough words to allow me to post this comment? That was another roadblock I would suggest yo remove.)

I could forgive the bad history for the sake of the excellent cast. However the constantly whining background music found me cringing after half an hour or so, and wishing the director had opted for background silence. Movie music is supposed to heighten the drama without becoming intrusive. In this case I'm afraid there was very limited correlation between action and the music, which became monotonous after a very short time. I was persuaded to watch the movie by a cast list I respected. Mainly I was hopeful the plot would enhance my understanding of one of my favorite historical periods, and I was looking for a different perspective to that offered by Shakespeare, GB Shaw, to some degree Robert Graves and even Mankiewicz in his movie Cleopatra. Historically there is very little correlation between what I understand to be the facts of this period of Roman history, and the fantasy portrayed in the movie. Given that discrepancy, I would only recommend this as a historical fantasy. If you can stand the music, you can perhaps accept it on those terms.