Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Robert Lang | ... | Roderigo | |
Frank Finlay | ... | Iago | |
Anthony Nicholls | ... | Brabantio | |
Laurence Olivier | ... | Othello | |
Roy Holder | ... | Clown | |
Derek Jacobi | ... | Cassio | |
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David Hargreaves | ... | Senate Officer |
Malcolm Terris | ... | Senate Officer / Senators-Soldiers-Cypriots | |
Michael Turner | ... | Gratiano | |
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Kenneth MacKintosh | ... | Lodovico (as Kenneth Mackintosh) |
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Harry Lomax | ... | Duke of Venice |
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Terence Knapp | ... | Duke's Officer / Senators-Soldiers-Cypriots |
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Keith Marsh | ... | Senator |
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Tom Kempinski | ... | Sailor / Senators-Soldiers-Cypriots |
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Nick Edmett | ... | Messenger / Senators-Soldiers-Cypriots (as Nicholas Edmett) |
Desdemona (Dame Maggie Smith) defies her father to marry the Moor of Venice, the mighty warrior, Othello (Sir Laurence Olivier). But Othello's old Ensign, Iago (Frank Finlay), doesn't like Othello, and is determined to bring about the downfall of Othello's new favorite, Cassio (Sir Derek Jacobi), and destroy Othello in the process, by casting aspersions on Othello's new bride. Written by Kathy Li
This is a filmed play. Second, his interpretation is a valid one and I didnt know there was a rule that actors could not play characters of different races. That kind of reverse racism is exactly what is to be avoided. Judge the acting for acting's sake. Olivier uses a full octave voice lower for the performance, unatural to his usual tenor voice. If one simply judges the acting, it should be seen as a powerful piece of work. Another performance of this is by Anthony Hopkins, also quite excellent, with different shadings.