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PermalinkFriday, July 5, 1996
Laurence Fisburne and Kenneth Branagh in Oliver Parker's Othello. (Columbia)
Shakespeare's Othello has been brought to the screen by two famous stars: Orson Welles (who played the title role and directed a 1952 version) and Laurence Olivier (who recreated his stage performance for a 1965 film). Now the Bard's famous Moor is brought to life in a new adaptation starring Laurence Fishburne. As a stage actor, Oliver Parker played Iago and he realized that too often that Machiavellian character is made to overshadow the title character of Othello . Now as a director, Parker offers his version of Shakespeare's classic tragedy and tries to return the focus to the Moor.
Parker opens his film with Desdemona defying her father and convention by wedding Othello in a secret ceremony. Watching over them is Othello's longtime ensign, Iago (Kenneth Branagh). But before the lovers can consummate their marriage, Iago has already begun to plot their downfall.
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