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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

Othello (Fishburne) (1995)

6.9/10
Director: Oliver Parker
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Branagh, Irene Jacob

Laurence Fishburne is very good in the title role bringing out the warrior Moor's essential innocence and passion, while Kenneth Branagh is brilliant... Read more

Richard III (McKellen) (1995)

7.5/10
Director: Richard Loncraine
Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Kristin Scott Thomas

Shakespeare's melodrama of treachery and murder during the War of the Roses is transplanted to the 1930s with evil King Richard (Ian McKellen) portray... Read more

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

7.4/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves, Emma Thompso...

Shakespeare's comedy of the wooing of Benedick (played by actor-director-screenwriter Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (his real life wife Emma Thompson)... Read more

Hamlet (Gibson) (1990)

7.8/10
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Starring: Alan Bates, Glenn Close, Mel Gibson, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Cart...

'God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another' wrote William Shakespeare in his classic tale of vengeance and obsession. Franco Zeffire... Read more

Henry V (Branagh) (1989)

7.7/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Alec McCo...

An energetic, extraordinarily well-acted and perfectly cast version of Shakespeare's play adapted and directed by tyro-star Kenneth Branagh. Henry V i... Read more

The Taming of the Shrew (BBC) (1988)

7.2/10
Director: Jonathan Miller
Starring: John Cleese, Sarah Badel

Jonathan Miller's sympathetic, vibrant and hilarious adaptation brilliantly blends the more subtle essences of Shakespeare's classic comedy with the p... Read more

Twelfth Night (1988)

7/10
Director: Paul Kafno
Starring: Richard Briers, Caroline Langrishe

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 sister, Viola, disgui... Read more

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

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

Antony And Cleopatra (BBC) (1981)

5.9/10
Director: Jonathan Miller
Starring: Colin Blakely, Janet Key, Jane Lapotaire, John Paul, Esmond Knight, Ian Charleso...

Colin Blakely and Jan Lapataire star in this BBC adaptation of Shakespeare's passionate tale. Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire... Read more