Overall i think i prefer the interpretation that kenneth branaghs renaissance theatre company gave twelfth night in the 1988 tv play, though i had some problems with that which thankfully, nunns adaptation corrects. Twelfth night, or what you will 1988 rotten tomatoes. A noblewoman disguises herself as a young man and falls for her. Read a character analysis of viola, plot summary, and important quotes. Twelfth night, or, what you will is a videotaped 1988 television adaptation of kenneth branaghs stage production for the renaissance theatre company of william shakespeares twelfth night first broadcast in the uk by itv on 30 december 1988. The play centres on the twins viola and sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. With gillian jones, ivar kants, jacquy phillips, peter cummins. An excellent cast features ben kingsley, helena bonham carter, and nigel hawthorne. Frances barber, christopher hollis, julian gartside, richard briers, anton lesser, caroline langrishe show embed code. Nunns version shows him to be a deft theatrical juggler, whose gift is to toss up a dozen major roles among plots, subplots, and plotsaborning, and keep all balls in the air. William shakespeares farce about a woman who poses as a man after a shipwreck separates her and her twin brother. This film gives the play a victorian christmastime setting that suits the its bittersweet tone rather well. William shakespeares twelfth night, or what you will is a comedy about a crossdressing, shipwreck surviving, poetryloving girl who finds herself at the center of a notsoaverage love triangle. Entrusted with pleading on her masters behalf, viola is utterly disconcerted to find that olivia has fallen in love with her.
Shakespeares comedy about twins, viola and sebastian, shipwrecked on the island of illyria. Adapted from kenneth branaghs muchpraised renaissance theatre company stage production, the 1988 twelfth night was itvs first new shakespeare. Twelfth night, or what you will tv movie 1988 twelfth. Shakespeares twelfth night bears something of the same relationship to his serious romances like romeo and juliet that, if you will forgive the comparison, airplane. This theatre company turned out to be the theatrical. Adjust for period, genre and style, and acknowledge the fact that shakespeare occupies a different creative universe than, say, david zucker, and the intention is the same. Twelfth night is commonly read by academics as shakespeares most mature comedy. A noblewoman disguises herself as a young man and falls for her employer, a lovesick count. Twelfth night, or what you will 1988 tv movie soundtrack. Adapted from kenneth branaghs muchpraised renaissance theatre company stage production, the 1988 twelfth night was itvs first new shakespeare production in almost exactly a decade, the ian mckellenjudi dench macbeth having been shown in early 1979. Richard briers, frances barber, anton lesser, christopher ravenscroft, caroline langrishe. Twelfth night, or what you will 1988 directed by kenneth.
Kenneth branaghs twelfth night 1988 his hour upon the. Jan 02, 2016 twelfth night 1988 i first saw this early, bare bones offering from kenneth branagh around 20 years ago. An adaptation to television of kenneth branaghs renaissance theatre company production. Twelfth night, or what you will 1988 video detective. The twelfth night 1988 film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. This 1988 english television adaptation of kenneth branaghs stage production for the renaissance theater company of shakespeares twelfth night makes use of victorian costumes and setting decor. Director trevor nunn makes some questionable choices, but his stellar cast which includes helena bonhamcarter, ben kingsley, and nigel hawthorne more than.
Twelfth night 1988 film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Performed by the renaissance theatre company, this classic comic tale of romance and confused identities features performances by acclaimed actors caroline langrishe and richard briers. Separated from her twin brother by a shipwreck off the coast of illyria, viola gillian jones disguises herself as a male page, cesario. This modest 1988 film could not be more different from the nunn film. Even so, i was pleasantly surprised to find myself intellectually and emotionally invested in kenneth branaghs televised production of twelfth night, first broadcast in the united kingdom on december 30, 1988. Abigail mckern, james saxon, james simmons director. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Film production of twelfth night, starring geoffrey rush 1986. Its a low budget 1980s tv production largely shot on a single. The tale begins when a brother and sister are separated in a shipwreck, but survive to be washed up on the shore of illyria.
The twelfth night 1988 film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. As with some of the other film and tv productions of this play, the order of the first two scenes is reversed. At the time i found it hard going and hard to like, but was impressed by richard briers malvolio and his turn from the hilariously comic to the pitifully tragic. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies.
Twelfth night 1988 film wikimili, the best wikipedia. Twelfth night 1988 i first saw this early, bare bones offering from kenneth branagh around 20 years ago. Character fates in twelfth night and its 1988 version. Rent twelfth night 1988 starring frances barber and christopher hollis on dvd and bluray.
In my opinion, this movie is worth watching for feste alone, but a lot of the rest of it is great as well. Staring julian gartside, christopher hollis, shaun prendergast and james simmons. Viola who is disguised as cesario falls in love with duke orsino, who in turn is in love with countess olivia. Written between 1601 and 1602 right around the same time shakespeare wrote hamlet and troilus and cressida, the play is most famous today for being a socalled transvestite comedy which just.
Kenneth branagh takes on shakespeares twelfth night with the renaissance theatre company. Its a nice balance of funny and serious, and my elevenyearold sister enjoyed watching it just as much as i did. Twelfth night, or, what you will is a videotaped 1988 television adaptation of kenneth branaghs stage production for the renaissance theatre. Mccartney donated the melody for kenneth branaghs original stage production of twelfth night, performed by the renaissance theatre company, and allowed the melody to be used in the film version. Richard briers, frances barber, anton lesser, christopher ravenscroft, caroline langrishe other stars. First staged in 1602, twelfth night is one of shakespeares most performed plays. Twelfth night, or what you will tv movie 1988 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The most popular film production of the play is the 1996 trevor nunn version, which is awash is summery color and broad humor.
Twelfth night 1988 film symbols, allegory and motifs. As branagh states in an interview comprising one of the two pitifully scarce extras on the disc, he sought to bring. Twelfth night 1988, kenneth branagh shakespeare in. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of twelfth night 1988 film, directed by kenneth branagh. Part of the thames shakespeare collection, this production of twelfth night was adapted for television by renowned actor and director kenneth branagh in 1988.
The tale of a young woman who disguises herself as a man and becomes entangled in the courtship of two local aristocrats upends conventions of romance and gender roles. One of shakespeares most popular and enduring comedies twelfth night gets the full treatment in this acclaimed production by the renaissance theatre company and acclaimed director kenneth. The sister, viola, disguises herself as a man and takes service with duke orsino, who has fallen in love with lady olivia. Hollywood shakespeare presents twelfth night by william shakespeare, a modern retelling of this epic tale. Twelfth night, or what you will 1988 directed by kenneth branagh. Twelfth night is one of shakespeares most accessible and enjoyable comedies for modern audiences. Twelfth night, or what you will tv movie 1988 imdb. Twelfth night 1987 paul kafno, kenneth branagh synopsis. Twelfth night, or what you will staged at the lincoln center theatre in new york and televised on pbs in 1998, starring paul rudd duke orsino, helen hunt viola, and kyra sedgewick olivia. Twelfth night, or what you will introduction shmoop. Twelfth night, or what you will 1988 the movie database. The production starts with images of a violent storm preceding the scene between viola and the captain, a smart touch.
Set in the 18th century, this is a very british version of shakespeares romantic comedy. Twelfth night is no chamber comedy, but a sweeping, genderbent symphony of gags, deceptions, and love lost and regained. It was also the last for some thirteen years, and the last blankverse itv broadcast to date, as the 2001 othello featured modern dialogue. One of shakespeares most popular and enduring comediestwelfth nightgets the full treatment in this acclaimed production by the renaissance theatre company and acclaimed director kenneth. Rent twelfth night 1988 starring frances barber and christopher hollis on. Twelfth night, or what you will is a romantic comedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written around 16011602 as a twelfth nights entertainment for the close of the christmas season. Lovestruck duke orsino ivar kants uses cesario as a go.
Essays for twelfth night 1988 film twelfth night 1988 film essays are academic essays for citation. So if youre looking for a twelfth night that looks like a movie, this is not it. Unfortunately, the counts beloved falls for the disguised noblewoman and a comedy of unrequited love and mistaken identities ensues. What minor liberties it took to adapt the play effectively were balanced by its respect for and tasteful treatment of the source. Twelfth night or what you will 1996 official trailer ben kingsley, helena bonham carter movie hd duration. The exemplary cast includes richard briers as malvolio. Kenneth branaghs twelfth night 1988 i typically associate kenneth branaghs shakespeare with massive sets and budgets, starstudded casting and him doubling up as director and lead, all of which can have a variety of effects.
Brother and sister viola and sebastian, who are not only very close but look a great deal alike, are in a shipwreck, and both think the other dead. Documentary television series 2003 following the made for television 2003 movie twelfth night, or what you will see above. Aug, 2008 brother and sister viola and sebastian, who are not only very close but look a great deal alike, are in a shipwreck, and both think the other dead. Rent twelfth night 1988 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. The story of macbeth retold as a gritty, mob drama feels like an obvious choice. Twelfth night, or, what you will is a videotaped 1988 television adaptation of kenneth branaghs stage production for the renaissance theatre company of.
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