1988 Directed by Paul Kafno
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, disguises herself as a man and takes service with Duke Orsino, who has fallen in love with Lady Olivia. Entrusted with pleading on her master's behalf, Viola is utterly disconcerted to find that Olivia has fallen in love with her. Thus begins the confusion of this delightful comedy.
Twelfth Night, La nuit des rois, La nuit des rois, ou ce que vous voudrez, La douzième nuit, ou ce que vous voudrez
UK
UK
I first saw this early, bare bones offering from Kenneth Branagh around 20 years ago. At the time I found it hard going and hard to like, but was impressed by Richard Briers' Malvolio and his turn from the hilariously comic to the pitifully tragic.
Watching it again over the last couple of days - at 2 hours 35 I opted to break it up in a couple of sessions - I found it quite hard going once more to start with, but soon fell under its spell; for Twelfth Night is an intricate, thought provoking and mature comedy from Shakespeare that still feels bold, fresh and contemporary today.
Director Paul Kanfo brings Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company production to the…
A little-known early Kenneth Branagh film of Shakespeare in which he stays behind the camera. This film gives the play a Victorian Christmastime setting that suits the its bittersweet tone rather well.
It's a low budget 1980s TV production largely shot on a single set, but don't let the lack of spectacle put you off - the quality of the acting is the important thing here, as Branagh has put together a witty and charming cast of skilled Shakespearean actors who know exactly what they're doing and give rich, detailed performances. Best of all is Richard Briers' perfect Malvolio - the moment when he smiles (perhaps for the first time in his life) is priceless.
me and who and who? also, justice for malvolio, my guy did not deserve all that. other things to appreciate:
-feral goth Anton Lesser
-LOTS of music
-the Christmas tree gag
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, distribution by A&E. 1988
A rather somber, lulling thing,
I verily fell a-slumber.
And in my second go I saw
The stiltedness of lumber.
Don't get me wrong and think that I am coming down too hard,
But know that I expect much more
Of Branagh and the Bard.
The Thames TV production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Thames' Shakespeares are theatrical productions saved for posterity, and this one is a staging by Kenneth Branagh, starring Richard Briars as Malvolio. I can't help but compare it to the Trevor Nunn feature film, and despite there being more name actors and landscapes in the Nunn, I think I like the Branagh better. There's almost the entire text (and a lot more songs, including some not in the play, like 12 Days of Christmas and a Paul McCartney ditty), and a better sense of who the characters are. With Twelfth Night, I'm often annoyed by the "zanies", but here that's quickly dispelled. Better Viola, better Orsino, better Olivia... it's just better despite the lower production values.
