E X T E N S I O N OTHELLO AND THE CINEMA Othello s drama of jealousy has inspired more than 20 films and television versions. Orson Welles (1915-85) as Othello and Michael MacLiammoir as Iago starred1 in one of the first films (1951). In this movie actress Suzanne Cloutier, Desdemona, was represented as the victim of a violent husband. Curiously enough she had to dye2 her hair fair in order to look innocent and full of angelic grace. Laurence Olivier (1907-89) was the protagonist in an acclaimed interpretation of 1964. He was a controversial3 but memorable Othello, represented in his domestic intimacy4 with Desdemona (Maggie Smith), consumed by jealousy for her and driven5 to violence by Iago (Frank Finlay). Then in 1980, BBC produced a television movie with Anthony Hopkins as Othello and Bob Hoskins as Iago. Ben Kingsley in the late 1980s stressed6 Othello s role as a victim of Iago s machinations. The inter-racial love story is still appealing after nearly 400 years: in 1995 the American director, Oliver Parker, brought7 the tragedy to the screen8 again. It was a risky9 business, both because of the many famous precursors, and because purists are usually very critical on the new unconventional interpretations of Shakespeare s text. In this version the general is acted10 by the black actor Laurence Fishburne with intense and dramatic realism; Irene Jacob is a young and fragile Desdemona, and Kenneth Branagh is a convincing, diabolical Iago.The film s advertising11 campaign stressed the sensuality of the story. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. star: essere tra gli interpreti principali. dye: tingere. controversial: controverso, discusso. intimacy: intimità. drive (drove-driven): spingere. stress: mettere in evidenza. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 21 bring (brought-brought): portare. screen: schermo. risky: rischioso. act: recitare. advertising: pubblicitario.