Othello *** (1995, Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Branagh, Irène Jacob) – Classic Movie Review 3340

Ideally cast Kenneth Branagh scores a triumph as the scheming villain Iago in this penny-plain, much-cut 1995 film version of the Shakespeare play of scheming and betrayal in 16th-century Venice.

But, try as they might, a flashy-looking Laurence Fishburne and a wan-seeming Irène Jacob are at a loss as Othello the Moor of Venice and his wife Desdemona, both having terrible trouble with the verse speaking.

Director Oliver Parker rarely gets to grips with the piece in a conscientious and well-intentioned but often boring film. Unsatisfactory though it is, it is still worthwhile for Branagh. It is arguably his best screen performance.

The director’s brother, Nathaniel Parker, plays Cassio. Also in the cast are Michael Maloney as Roderigo, Anna Patrick as Emilia, Nicholas Farrell as Montano, Indra Ové as Bianca, Michael Sheen as Lodovico, André Oumansky, Philip Locke, John Savident, Gabriele Ferzetti as The Duke of Venice and Pierre Vaneck as Brabantio.

It runs 123 minutes, while Laurence Olivier’s 1965 version of Othello is 165 minutes, though the Russian 1956 version of Othello is 107 minutes and Orson Welles’s 1952 version of Othello is just 90 minutes!

Oliver Parker is the director of An Ideal Husband (1999), The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), St Trinian’s (2007), Dorian Gray (2009) Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Dad’s Army (2016).

Gabriele Ferzetti died on December 2 2015, aged 90.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3340

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/