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Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 - April 23, 1616) is reputed to be the greatest of all writers in the English language, or indeed in any language. His ability to capture and convey the most profound aspects of human nature is regarded by many as unequalled, and the English Renaissance has often been called "the age of Shakespeare". He was among few playwrights who have excelled in both tragedy and comedy and several of his plays contain songs that are among the finest lyric poems in English. His prolific output is especially impressive in light of the fact that he lived only 53 years. "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." - Will Shakespeare

King Lear (Olivier) (1984)

8.3/10
Director: Michael Elliott
Starring: Laurence Olivier, John Hurt, Robert Lindsay, Diana Rigg

Laurence Olivier stars in and produces this adaptation of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, made exclusively for television. The ageing King Lear (Olivier... Read more

A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets (2005)

6.5/10
Director: John McKay
Starring: Indira Varma, Nicholas Rowe, Rupert Graves, Zoe Wanamaker, Tom Sturridge, Anna C...

In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature. But w... Read more

The Hollow Crown: Series 1 (2012)

8.4/10
Director: Richard Eyre
Starring: Michelle Dockery, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Julie Walters, Ben Whishaw

From executive producer Sam Mendes comes The Hollow Crown, stunning adaptations of four of Shakespeares most treasured plays featuring all-star casts.... Read more

Anarchy ( aka Cymbeline ) (2014)

6.6/10
Director: Michael Almereyda
Starring: Penn Badgley, Kevin Corrigan, Peter Gerety, Ed Harris, Ethan Hawke, Dakota Johns...

Aka 'Cymbeline'. This gritty and intense crime drama is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's late tragic work of innocence lost and jealousy avenged... Read more

Hamlet 2 (2008)

6.4/10
Director: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler, Jos...

Steve Coogan stars as a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama-teacher who, in an effort to save his newly acquired drama department, conceives a... Read more

Macbeth (Fassbender) ( Blu-ray ) (2015)

6.6/10
Director: Justin Kurzel
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor,...

Macbeth is the story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realiti... Read more

Romeo and Juliet (DiCaprio) ( Blu-ray ) (1996)

7.6/10
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Brian Dennehy, Claire Danes, Diane Venora, John Leguizamo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pa...

Baz Luhrmann's dazzling and unconventional adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic love story is spellbinding. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes... Read more

The Tempest (BBC) (1979)

5.4/10
Director: John Gorrie
Starring: Michael Hordern, Derek Godfrey, David Waller

In this BBC adaptation of one of Shakespeare's final plays, a tempest of wind and rain raised by the magician Prospero shipwrecks Alonso, King of Napl... Read more

Much Ado About Nothing (BBC) (1984)

7.4/10
Director: Stuart Burge
Starring: Cherie Lunghi, Robert Lindsay, Robert Reynolds, Michael Elphick, Clive Dunn

Cherie Lunghi and Robert Lindsay star as Benedick and Beatrice in this faithful BBC adaptation of Shakespeare's famous comedy. Benedick and Beatrice f... Read more

Twelfth Night (BBC) (1980)

8.1/10
Director: John Gorrie
Starring: Alec McCowen, Robert Hardy, Felicity Kendal, Sinead Cusack, Trevor Peacock

Directed by John Gorrie, this BBC production of Shakespeare's romantic comedy stars Felicity Kendall as Viola, a shipwrecked girl who disguises hersel... Read more