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Shakespeare, Films and the Marketplace
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| Seminar Introduction |
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 The relationship between Shakespeare's plays and the film business has never been simple. In the early years of film Shakespeare's plays took a leading role in the development of the medium by replicating stage performances. Later, the prestige of Shakespeare meant that Shakespearean films were produced, though they rarely led to financial success. In this seminar Cambridge University Press author Russell Jackson examines the application of Shakespearean film to the entertainment industry.
Taken from The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Film, the seminar examines the history and business of Shakespeare on the screen. The seminar analyses the economic success and promotion of Shakespeare's plays on film. It also poses questions of cultural compromise such as, 'Can film do justice to Shakespeare and is Shakespeare really appropriate material for the mass-market film industry?'
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| Learning Objectives |
- Describe the historical role of Shakespeare's plays in the business of film making.
- Evaluate the translation of Shakespeare's plays to the Hollywood entertainment industry.
- Summarise approaches to the advertising and promotion of Shakespearean films.
- Investigate the shift in context of Shakespeare's plays, from cultural theatre to mass market film.
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| Sessions |
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| Credits |
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This seminar is adapted from the Introduction of Russell Jackson's The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Film, Cambridge University Press. Copyright Cambridge University Press, 2000.
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Film adaptations of Shakespeare{A146}s plays are increasingly popular and now figure prominently in the study of his work and its reception. This lively Companion is a collection of critical and historical essays on the films adapted from, and inspired by, Shakespeare{A146}s plays. An international team of leading scholars discuss Shakespearean films from a variety of perspectives: as works of art in their own right; as products of the international movie industry; in terms of cinematic and theatrical genres; and as the work of particular directors from Laurence Olivier and Orson Welles to Franco Zeffirelli and Kenneth Branagh. They also consider specific issues such as the portrayal of Shakespeare{A146}s women and the supernatural. The emphasis is on feature films for cinema, rather than television, with strong coverage of Hamlet, Richard III, Macbeth, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet. A guide to further reading and a useful filmography are also provided. The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Film
Jackson, Russell
Paperback (2000)
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| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them.
Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must be JavaScript-enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56Kbps with a throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
Plug-ins: If you do not have RealPlayer and Flash Player already installed, please download them from the following sites:
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