Othello is one of Orson Welles' masterpieces, and is the best Shakespeare film that I have seen, even better than Kenneth Branaugh's Henry V. In fact, in some ways, it's better than the play it's based on, which I read in high school.
The only people who will probably hate the film are Shakespeare purests, as Welles the screenwriter made major cuts and added narration not found in the original. What results is a streamlined and more beleivable version of an obviously good but convoluted play. For reasons that are only hinted at, Iago (Michael MacLiammoir), a soldier in the Venician army, hates his Moorish commander, Othello (Welles). Othello has just secretly married Desdemona (Suzanne Clouteir), the daughter of a senator, whom he loves passionatley. Iago plots his commanders destruction by making him think that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio (Michael Laurence), Othello's friend an fellow soldier. Tragedy results for everyone.
Welles' version of the Shakespeare classic was one of those imfamous nightmare shoots, like Apocalyspe Now or Fitzcarrldo where it is a miracle the film is even completed, let alone good. Welles began shooting in 1949 and had to stop when funding fell through. The director could never get quiet enough to finish the film and had to shut down filmming several times to he could go out and raise more. By the time the movie was finished, many of the actors had left the film (one source states that he had gone through three Iagos and six Desdemonas). The sound track was always a problem, as Welles shot the movie silent with the intent to loop the dialouge in post. This ended up being the weakest aspect of the film. Despite the fact that my DVD featured a restored version with a re-recorded music and sound effects, much of the dialouge is still out of synch, as Welles put sound over images where none was intended, and occasionly decided to cut lines he wanted in. This means that characters sometimes say things without their mouths movings, or speak with no sound.
But the rest of the movie is so amazing this problem only rises to the level of an annoyance. Among the director's many achievements is that he has simplifed the most convuluted and unbeleivable part of the play, a lot of business concering a hankercheif that leads Othello to think that Desdemona has betrayed him. Instead of a long string of unlikley events, it feels as if the characters are predestined to their fate, as in a fairy tale. The acting in this movie is also beyond superb, with everyone creating a 3-D character with a beleivable psychological background. MacLiammor makes it totally beleivable that Iago is scumbag to his crony Roderigo (Robert Coote) one minuet, but can convince Othello he's his best friend. Furthermore, Welles never plays Othello as an idiot, as sometimes happens in adaptions of the play. His character is just emotionally unstable and goes off when the wrong buttons are pushed. Laurence and Clouteir are excellent as well in parts that could become dull in other actors hands, though Desdemona's voice belonged to another actress in the final print.
Finally, the photography is just amazing. Few other 50's film look like this. Shot on location in Italy and Morroco, Welles uses historical locations and high contrast black-and-white to create a movie world that is totally believable.
This is an absolute must see, for basically everyone. It's one of the best films from one of the best filmmakers of all time. If you want to see a cinematic record of genius, here it is.
Othello (1952)