Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Bard and the Big Screen: Bringing Shakespeare into the 21st Century



by Elizabeth Fritsch, senior English Major at Silver Lake College


Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears and your computer screens!  We are celebrating a historic year – the 450th birthday of Shakespeare (on April 23rd to be precise).  After roughly 400 years since Shakespeare gifted culture with a plethora of poems and plays, he is still celebrated by many as the most influential writer in British, western, and world literature.  Few writers have stood the test of time and are celebrated with such fervor.  (My apologies to Thomas Kyd and Ben Johnson for missing out on being the scorn of high school English students and joy of English majors.)  Shakespeare has remained a constant.  Who cannot recite the first line from Hamlet’s famous monologue (“To be or not to be?  That is the question.”) or Julius Caesar’s pitiable “Et tu Brute?”  How often do we compare a modern day tragic love story to Romeo and Juliet or a ruthless female villain to Lady Macbeth?  While Shakespeare has remained a constant, how we approach his plays has changed drastically.  Theatrical productions of Shakespearean dramas have by no means disappeared, but the world of filmmaking has provided an entirely new way to appreciate the Bard’s work.  So as we celebrate 450 years since Shakespeare’s birth (and in two years celebrate 400 years since his death), I encourage you to sit back and watch one of the many film adaptations of his work.  (And I really do mean ‘sit back.’  If you saw a play during Shakespeare’s time you were likely standing during the whole three hours.)  Here are a few suggestions:

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)


“Hey, nonny, nonny!”  With a cast that includes Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Denzel Washington, and Keanu Reeves this timeless Shakespearean comedy and story of betrayal comes brilliantly to life.  The acting is superb and setting is stunning.  Definitely a must watch if you’re in the mood for a happy ending.

Titus

If you are adamantly against a happy ending – fear not!  Titus Andronicus receives a pitiful lack of attention when it comes to the Shakespearean cannon and is often overshadowed by Shakespeare’s later tragedies such as Hamlet and Macbeth.  The modern film adaptation of Titus Andronicus aims to elevate the status of what could easily be considered Shakespeare’s darkest and most brutal plays.  Director Julie Taymor stylizes the violent drama and actress Jessica Lange makes Lady Macbeth look tame in comparison to Tamora, queen of the goths.  By the time you reach the end of the film, you will understand why Titus Andronicus never made it onto the high school syllabus.

The Tempest



The Tempest, one of Shakespeare’s most inventive plays has also been transformed by Julie Taymor.  The film modernizes the story by changing the gender of the protagonist to a female, played by Helen Mirren.  Prospero becomes Prospera and the slight change provides viewers with the chance to explore the ideas of gender and power.  As with Titus, The Tempest is highly stylized and visually alluring, especially with the character Ariel.  The sorcery of the play is brought beautifully and powerfully to the screen. 

Love’s Labour Lost



This adaptation of Love’s Labour Lost (set in Europe in 1939) turns the comedy into an entertaining musical.  Though the plot of Love’s Labour Lost is weaker than the previous plays mentioned, the film is cheerful and humorous and will put any viewer in a good mood.  Alas, there is no hope for a sequel -  no copies of Shakespeare’s play Love’s Labour Won remain in existence.

Do you have a favorite Shakespeare film adaptation or a play you'd like to see on the big screen?

Elizabeth Fritsch is a senior English major with minors in History and Theology. 

                                                         


 

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