BBC Shakespeare Series Ordering Information Undertaking one of the most ambitious film projects, the BBC here presents all of Shakespeare's plays. With well-chosen period costumes and evocative stage settings, the productions feature such distinguished actors as John Gielgud, Ben Kingsley, Claire Bloom, Anthony Hopkins, Michael York, and Derek Jacobi. Grades 7 and up. Color.

Green Eggs & Hamlet: The Scrambled History of the Prince of Denmark Ordering Information Something's rotten in the state of Denmark, and it's not the eggs! This ingenious send up of Shakespeare's tragedy (which Kenneth Branagh endorsed as "very imaginative and very funny") preserves the basics of the original plot and translates the language of the original into amusing Seussian rhyming couplets. Along with his usual troubles, Hamlet must now also come to terms with his unseemly aversion to green eggs and the pestering of sidekick SamIamlet. The humor and faithfulness of this charmingly rough-edged production make it a painless way of easing students into a study of Shakespeare. The cast of university students is especially appealing to younger people. Grades 7 and up. Color. 77 minutes. Rock's Eye. ©1995.

Hamlet Ordering Information Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Remarkable for its presentation of Shakespeare's unabridged text and opulent 19th-century palace sets, this 1996 production also boasts a distinguished international cast. Among the notable performers are Branagh as the troubled prince, Kate Winslet as an equally troubled Ophelia, Derek Jacobi as Claudius, and Julie Christie as Queen Gertrude. (The 208-page screenplay includes the complete script featuring intriguing descriptions of what the characters are thinking, an introduction, a film diary, and color plates from the film.) Note: brief nudity and sensuality. Castle Rock. Color. 242 minutes.

Much Ado About Nothing Ordering Information "...Converting all your sounds of woe/Into Hey nonny nonny!" Kenneth Branagh's sparkling screen adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy was shot in the hills of Tuscany and stars Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton. Branagh's naturalistic approach to presenting Shakespeare, employed to striking effect in his film version of Henry V, here draws a remarkable lucidity from the performances of the international cast. Note: some brief nudity. Closed captioned. Color. 110 minutes. Renaissance Films. 1993. The handsome companion book, available separately, contains the complete screenplay, an introductory essay on the film, a synopsis of the action, notes on the characters, portraits of the cast, numerous color stills from the film, and a collection of candid photos made during the arduous shoot in the heat of the Tuscan summer. Norton. 131 pages. ©1993.

Romeo and Juliet Ordering Information Upon its release in 1968, Franco Zeffirelli's interpretation of the archetypal love story was much praised by critics for its lavish costumes, period sets (locations include the Borghese Palace), musical score (by Nino Rota), and the youthfulness of its title characters. The latter attribute makes this production especially appealing to young people. Stars Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting, Michael York, and John McEnery; narrated by Laurence Olivier. Note: some brief nudity. Color. 138 minutes. Paramount.

Shakespeare in Love Ordering Information Directed by John Madden. This sparkling literary fantasy presents the imagined "behind the scenes" account of the creation of Romeo and Juliet, originally Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter. Locked in writer’s block, the young Will Shakespeare is visited by the muse in the person of Lady Viola, who disguises herself as a boy to appear in Shakespeare’s latest play. The "star-crossed" passion that ensues becomes the basis for Will’s inspired romantic tragedy. The 1998 Academy Award–winning film stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, and Judi Dench, and is especially valuable to students as a visual experience of everyday life and theatrical life in Shakespeare’s day. The accompanying book is an illustrated screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. Warning: rated R for nudity and sexuality. Color. 123 minutes. Miramax.

Steve Allen's Meeting of Minds: Shakespeare Ordering Information These episodes from the acclaimed PBS series take a unique approach to the life and works of William Shakespeare. Departing from the series' usual format, the program brings characters from the Bard's plays and sonnets face to face with one another and with their creator to discuss and illuminate Shakespeare's thoughts on love, jealousy, vengeance, genius, and creativity. Actors portraying Shakespeare, Hamlet, Romeo, Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Juliet, and the Dark Lady of the Sonnets enliven the action, which features speeches, dialogs, and poetry drawn from Shakespeare's works. Mature students (sexual themes). Color. Total time: 118 minutes. KCET/Meadowlane.

That Fellow Shakespeare: All You Ever Wanted to Know About the Man Who Wrote Those Plays Ordering Information This lively, colorfully illustrated program traces Shakespeare's life from his boyhood in Stratford through his death. The question of how Shakespeare managed to learn so much is considered, and his possible rise from a horse holder outside a theater to a writer and part-owner of the Globe is proposed. The program also depicts the Bard's marriage to Anne Hathaway, family life, and inspirations, including a possible trip through Europe. Includes a chronological list of Shakespeare's plays. Grades 6-9. Color. Meriwether.

Theater in Shakespeare's Time Ordering Information Viewers are transported to a lively marketplace in England in the 1560's as a wandering troupe of actors sets up a stage and lures an audience with masks and acrobatics. Brief scenes from Morality plays and from the history play Henry V are re-created to illustrate the conventions of costumes and staging. The program shows how the Elizabethan nobles became patrons of the theater, portraying a scene from Marlowe's Dr. Faustus as played in a nobleman's dining hall. Following theater development to the year 1600, viewers watch scenes from Macbeth performed in a permanent facility like the Globe Playhouse, as use of the stage, special effects, and involvement of the audience are explained. Grades 7 and up. Color. 14 minutes. BFA.

Understanding Shakespeare: The Tragedy Series Ordering Information Helping to make students comfortable with Shakespeare, these video tutorials offer a unique four-fold approach. Each 90-minute program features: introductory background by an actor portraying Master Shakespeare himself crisp, professionally staged dramatizations of the play's main scenes asides by cast members explaining what has taken place, what is about to happen, and what is motivating the characters brief commentary by scholars discussing the scene just concluded and filling in the story line The programs include a short user's guide with scene-by-scene content and a timing card allowing VCRs to be cued to any program segment. Grades 7 and up. Color. Goldhil. ©1993.

William Shakespeare: A Life in Drama Ordering Information Showing how the man's life shaped the poet's work, this thoughtful exploration of character structures Shakespeare's life like one of his plays, in five acts which reveal "an interior journey, a development of the soul." In his life's "third act," a crucial turning point--the death of Hamnet, his only son, and the writer's response to that death in Hamlet--opens a period in which the plays become at once more deeply personal and more profoundly universal. Interviews with experts are melded with period artwork, footage from Stratford, and scenes from performances to help readers discern two themes at the center of Shakespeare's work: anger at human treachery and rage against life's "ultimate" treachery--death. Also available as an "audio book" on cassette. Grades 7 and up. Color. 50 minutes. A&E Biography. ©1996.

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