Olivier

As You Like It or Henry V or Richard III or Hamlet or Othello or King Lear
or In Print

Lord Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier was knighted in 1947. In 1970 he was made a life peer, Baron Olivier of Brighton, for services to the theater.

As You Like It

by Laurence Olivier
Order VHS Tape,
VHS Video edition (February 1990)

This ancient movie (1936) is still fun. This is one of Shakespeare's comedies and it is a delight. It is self-conscience about being a play made into a film. There is not much camera work. The costumes are great! You have never seen so many different hats as you'll see in this movie. In b&w (of course--1936!).

Henry V

Written, directed and starring Laurence Olivier, was made in 1944. This is Olivier's directorial debut. It is ambitious, colorful and patriotic.

Olivier received a special Academy Award for this picture. The Academy also nominated it for best picture, nominated William Walton for the musical score, and nominated Olivier for best actor.

Read Henry V recommendation.
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Richard III

Olivier was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as Richard III. He also directed. At the left, he is offering his neck to Lady Anne (Claire Bloom). Select Richard's neck to order the VHS.

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York . . .A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!

Read Richard III recommendation.
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Hamlet

Olivier's Hamlet won many honors.
In this country, the Academy Awards made the following nominations
and awarded these Oscars:

	Won Oscar Best Actor (Laurence Olivier).
	Won Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (Carmen Dillon and Roger K. Furse).
	Won Best Costume Design, Black-and-White (Roger K. Furse).
	Won Best Picture (Laurence Olivier ).
	Nominated Oscar Best Director (Laurence Olivier).

The ultimate "brooding" Dane.

Read Hamlet recommendation.
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Othello

Made in 1965, this Othello was directed by Stuart Burge; with Laurence Olivier as Othello, Frank Finlay as Iago, Joyce Redmon, Maggie Smith and a young Derek Jacobi as Cassio ("who was very dear to the Moor"). Olivier, Finlay, Redman and Smith all were nominated for Academy Awards.

Read Othello recommendation.
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King Lear

The "More sinned against than sinning" King is a wonderful play that holds special interesst for viewers through different stages in their own lives. The Olivier version is exquisite. I give this my absolutely highest recommendation.

Read recommendation.
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The Complete Films of Laurence Olivier

by Jerry Vermilye, Paperback - 287 pages (April 1992).

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Filming Shakespeare's Plays : The Adaptions of Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Peter Brook and Akira Kurosawa

by Anthony Davies
Paperback Reprint edition (July 1990)
Cambridge Univ Pr (Pap Txt);

Last updated 28 November, 1998