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