Overall i think i prefer the interpretation that kenneth branaghs renaissance theatre company gave twelfth night in the 1988 tv play, though i had some problems with that which thankfully, nunns adaptation corrects. One of the things that twelfth night had going for it at the time was the fact that few well known adaptations had been made of the 1601 shakespeare text on film. Twelfth night by trevor nunn, 97804712806, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. It is beautifully filmed and not only immensely enjoyable for people who know and love shakespeare but a marvellous introduction to him for children. Cast in alphabetical order helena bonham carter, richard e. Twelfth night 1988 tv drama, a 1988 television adaptation of kenneth branaghs stage production. While reading i could be as imaginative as possible, thus giving the character of. Instead of simply playing this genderbending comedy of mistaken identity, the director highlights the dark undertones of the plot which show surprising depth. A stirring orchestral score for trevor nunns filmed version of twelfth night, released by fine line features in the u. An analysis of trevor nunns adaptation of twelfth night kibin. Charming full text, modern, location based screen adaptation of william shakespeares. An analysis of trevor nunns adaptation of twelfth night. Shakespeareonfilm twelfth night page 2 twelfth night dir. English playwright william shakespeare wrote the twelfth night or what you will during the 16011602 winter season.
Twelfth night original soundtrack original soundtrack. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more. Twelfth night was first adapted into a film in 1910, as a silent production. Or what you will is a 1996 britishamericanirish film adaptation of william shakespeare s play, directed by trevor nunn and featuring an allstar cast. Shakespeares comic, romantic tale of loss and love, disguise and gender takes on haunting, autumnal tones trevor nunn s screenplay together with an extensive introduction and production stills was published to coincide with the film s release in 1996. Trevor nunns interprtation of twelfth night to shakespeare. A stirring orchestral score for trevor nunn s filmed version of twelfth night, released by fine line features in the u. Audrey tinkham characterization malvolio what kind of man is malvolio. It is a recording of the dress rehearsal of welless own abridged production at his alma mater, the todd school for boys, where he had returned to direct this adaptation of shakespeares twelfth night for the chicago drama festival in 1933. Twelfth night, a short technicolor film made in 1933. Viola lands in illyria, where she disguises herself like her brother and goes into the service of the duke orsino. William shakespeares twelfth night is a masterful meditation on the comic and tragic effects of fluid emotions such as infatuation, ecstasy, and intoxication trevor nunns twelfth night, on the other hand, is a confused mess that so utterly misses the intent and tone of the original work, i struggle to conceive of a worse adaption.
Filmed on the coast of cornwall it stars helen bonham carter, richard e. While the time period for the film version has been changed from that of shakespeares play nunn, better known for directing stage productions, has chosen a 19thcentury setting, listeners had hoped for a more compact musical outing, with the presence of more antique. The twelfth night was originally written to be performed as a special christmas play, although its publication had to wait until 1623, when shakespeares first compilation of plays was published under the name of the first folio. Twelfth night critics consensus director trevor nunn makes some questionable choices, but his stellar cast which includes helena bonhamcarter, ben kingsley, and nigel hawthorne more than. Find movie and film cast and crew information for twelfth night. Twelfth night is a periodpiece bringing the delight and trickery of shakespeares comedies from the stage to the cinema with wonderful accuracy and a naturalistic realism that will delight drama fans. Use this resource to explore the themes of the text using film as a stimulus. Twelfth night, or what you will introduction shmoop. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
Famed british stage director trevor nunn better recognized for cats perhaps than his twenty years with the royal shakespeare company would tackle twelfth night in 1996, shifting the. Buy twelfth night by trevor nunn, william shakespeare from waterstones today. Stubbs often appears in his productions, including the 1996 twelfth night film. In 1996, trevor nunn directed a film version of twelfth night in which he offered his interpretation of the plays sexual and gender issues. This is a british star studded cast production of shakespeare s twelfth night directed by trevor nunn and the best you could see. Set in a hardyesque english countryside, circa 1890, this starts boldly with a shipwreck and scenesetting voiceover from kingsleys. More about twelfth night by trevor nunn screen play essay about film versions of shakespeare comedies 2208 words 9 pages. It would have starred oja kodar as a young french aristocratic widow during the 1870 francoprussian war. Twelfth night aka dvenadtsataya noch, russian language. The film was due to be a onehour adaptation of an isak dinesen story of the same name, from her collection winters tales 1942. A great film, good screenplay a pragmatic remix of the play.
Trevor nunn, a former artistic director of the royal shakespeare company, begins twelfth night modernized to the late victorian era with a nontextual prologue, showing viola and sebastian as a sisterbrother vaudeville team providing campy entertainment aboard ship. It really is a chance for us to open childrens minds to the power of film not just as a vehicle for entertainment but also as a way in to understanding their own world. And nunn directs it in something of the same spirit. Adaptations of shakespeares plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films andor videos worldwide. Grant, nicholas farrell, nigel hawthorne, ben kingsley. Trevor nunn s energetic 1996 tilt at this noisy, affectionate tale shows that a lush, fullbore screen treatment of twelfth night. Nunns vision of twelfth night, however, is comparable to a jane austen romance as what his characters experience is real love, whereas in branaghs version like others show orsinos love for olivia is possessive. The twins sing hey ho the wind and the rain during a howling. British filming locations for the movie twelfth night 1996 including maps, screenshots, and other nearby film locations. Nunns twelfth night, with its classic theatricality and its use of cinematic invention in the service of the text, is a film that may serve as an impetus for such explorations. Or what you will united kingdom, 1996, 4 minutes, color, 35 mm. That makes shakespeare the most filmed playwright of all time. Upon seeing the film i did notice some similarities and differences between my interpretation of the characters and the filmmakers. Twelfth night is a 1933 american precode short color film, notable as the very earliest surviving film directed by orson welles, then aged 17.
Trevor nunns screenplay together with an extensive introduction and production stills was published to coincide with the films release in 1996. Find movie and film cast and crew information for twelfth night 1996 trevor nunn on allmovie. Love therefore becomes a word used to hide the reality of the situation but nunn s skilful concessions in cutting dialogue and changing and adding scenes works not just to attract a. Trevor nunns new film version of twelfth night, a lighthearted comedy of romance and gender confusion, creates a romantic triangle out of the same sorts of mistaken sexual identities that inspired some like it hot. The plays highly charged sexual atmosphere makes twelfth night a popular choice for film and stage adaptation. Set in the late 19th century, it was filmed on location in cornwall, including scenes shot at padstow and at lanhydrock house near bodmin, with. Donald lyons 1997 regards the film as a success, praises the accomplishments of the. Shakespeares comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves. Trevor nunns energetic 1996 tilt at this noisy, affectionate tale shows that a lush, fullbore screen treatment of twelfth night. Read this essay on trevor nunns interprtation of twelfth night to shakespeare. Nunn s twelfth night, with its classic theatricality and its use of cinematic invention in the service of the text, is a film that may serve as an impetus for such explorations. Two articles linked on our course page discuss our two main sources for clips from twelfth night, the bbc studio production and trevor nunns film. Find movie and film cast and crew information for twelfth night 1996 trevor nunn on allmovie allmovie. Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of twelfth night that can help you study and better understand the play.
For eighteen years he was head of the royal shakespeare company and is world renowned for his stage productions. Trevor nunns adaptation of twelfth night is a masterpiece of insight and nuance. There is an interesting discussion of gender images and behaviors in the first of these articles. Overall i think i prefer the interpretation that kenneth branaghs renaissance theatre company gave twelfth night in the 1988 tv play, though i had some problems with that which thankfully, nunn s adaptation corrects. The first thing that caught me off guard was the portrayal of cesario viola. Grant, nigel hawthorne basedonshakespeare basedontheatre comedy. Film upon seeing the film i did notice some similarities and differences between my interpretation of the characters and the filmmakers.
Tobys for maria is a matter of casual, drunk conveniency. During these years, there had been a dozen macbeths, a fistful of hamlets, and more romeo and juliets than you can shake a codpiece at. Nunns vision of twelfth night, however, is comparable to a jane austen romance as what his characters experience is real love, whereas in branaghs version like others show orsinos love for olivia is possessiveand selfindulgent. Set in the late 19th century, it was filmed on location in cornwall, including scenes shot at padstow. Nunn s vision of twelfth night, however, is comparable to a jane austen romance as what his characters experience is real love, whereas in branaghs version like others show orsinos love for olivia is possessiveand selfindulgent. It is a relevant story to modern societys gender issues using breathtaking cinematography to laugh at human foolishness.
A shipwreck separates viola imogen stubbs from her twin brother, sebastian steven mackintosh. Film bends genders but not shakespeare nunns wistful. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays. Or, what you will trevor nunns popular 1996 film stars imogen stubbs viola, helena bonham carter olivia, and ben kingsley feste. Shakespeares comic, romantic tale of loss and love, disguise and gender takes on haunting, autumnal tones. The best movies directed by trevor nunn flickchart. Shakespeares comic, romantic tale of loss and love, disguise and gender takes on haunting, autumnal tones trevor nunns screenplay together with an extensive introduction and production stills was published to coincide with the films release in 1996. First, for vcr or dvd, there is a wonderful cinematic production directed by trevor nunn starring imogen stubbs, ben kingsley and helen bonham carter british 1996, 4 minutes. Cartoon shakespeare offers twelfth night the comic book by artist john howard. Twelfth night 1996 trevor nunn cast and crew allmovie. Twelfth night by trevor nunn screen play 1687 words. Trevor nunns energetic 1996 tilt at this noisy, affectionate tale shows that a lush, fullbore screen treatment of twelfth night was long overdue. Believing him to be dead, viola disguises herself as a boy and goes to work for duke orsino toby.