April 23 is the approximate date of birth of William Shakespeare, a man surrounded by more secrets and mysteries than any other author in world literature. On the great playwright's birthday, Vogue.ua recalls the best film adaptations of his plays.
Shakespeare's 38 plays and 134 sonnets have survived to our time. It doesn't matter whether you like drama or not, you probably know the plot of most of these 38 plays: if not directly, then through the film adaptations of Shakespeare's texts, of which there were at least a dozen in the 20th century. Great directors turned to him: from the master of opera Franco Zeffirelli to the classic of Hollywood cinema Orson Welles. No matter what year it is outside the window, directors in theater and cinema have an informal rule: if you stage Shakespeare, then you are at the peak of your career.
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“The Taming of the Shrew”, 1967
Franco Zeffirelli is a cult opera director. He staged operas by Rossini and Verdi at the most famous venues in the world, from La Scala to the Metropolitan Opera. And he approached the adaptation of Shakespeare with his characteristic grandeur: he invited the most popular actors of the 1960s, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, to play the lead roles in The Taming of the Shrew. For his adaptation of Shakespeare's story about the wayward Catherine, whom her husband, the impoverished nobleman Petruchio, tries to tame, Zeffirelli received a dozen nominations and awards, including two nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. The set designers and costume designers did an incredible job: the action takes place in Padua and Florence in the 16th century, and the characters, including nobles and their servants, peasants and innkeepers, are dressed in rich, bright, even bizarre costumes. Spectacle, detail, theatricality — Zeffirelli's film is still unforgettable even after 60 years.
“Romeo and Juliet”, 1996
Director Baz Luhrmann turned the “saddest” story in the world into a modern action with gangster showdowns and touching love scenes, and moved the action to New York. But millions of viewers remembered the film not so much for the modernization of the Shakespearean tragedy, but because the role of Romeo was played by the then 22-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio. By that time, he had already received an Oscar nomination for the film “What's Wrong with Gilbert Grape” and became the first actor approved by Luhrmann – instantly and unconditionally. Both Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet auditioned for the role of Juliet, but in the end, Claire Danes played the duet with DiCaprio. Despite the modern “sets”, the characters speak classic Shakespearean lines – and it is very touching.
“A Midsummer Night's Dream”, 1999
Sophie Marceau, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, Christian Bale, Rupert Everett – the best actors were gathered by director Michael Hoffman in the 1999 film adaptation of the romantic Shakespearean comedy “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. The film is very decorative and resembles a play: for example, the characters move through the forest on a magic bicycle, and Michelle Pfeiffer wears flowing lace dresses in the style of Chloé. The film was shot in Tuscany and Umbria.
“The Merchant of Venice”, 2004
The 2004 film adaptation of “The Merchant of Venice” by Oscar-winning director Michael Redford also features a brilliant cast. Shylock, a gloomy Jewish moneylender who is disliked by all of Venice, is played by “Hollywood all-rounder” Al Pacino, and his main opponent, the Christian Antonio, is played by Jeremy Irons. “The Merchant of Venice” is one of Shakespeare's most famous and at the same time complex, dramatic plays, and Redford has managed to create a very atmospheric, tough and mystical film.
“Coriolanus”, 2010
British actor and director Ralph Fiennes is a big fan of Shakespeare: he is sure that any drama by the great playwright is a more than relevant response to modern events. “Coriolanus” was the directorial debut of the talented actor Fiennes: it was no coincidence that he chose the bloodiest Shakespearean text for this. According to rumors, Fiennes has been obsessed with “Coriolanus” for more than 20 years – ever since he once played Coriolanus in a London theater. He also plays the main role in this film. He was accompanied by Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain and Vanessa Redgrave, and the action takes place in our days – for example, the Roman troops resemble American soldiers.