To buy a copy of branaghs much ado about nothing from amazon click the button below. After viewing openings starting a film is always difficult, even more so when there is a complicated plot and relationship of characters to establish and, in the case of much ado about nothing, the setting of the play is the italy of shakespeares imagination. So lets dive into ken branaghs much ado about nothing. These names dont seem so out of place in a shakespeare film but this movie is equally noteworthy for who else is it. The movie, however, does stay faithful to the play, and is well cast. This was his last film with thenspouse emma thompson before he cheated on her with helena bonham carter during filming of mary shelleys frankenstein, ugh. It s perhaps the best, breeziest adaptation of all of shakespeare s works warts and all. Mark deming, rovi actor kenneth branagh made his directorial debut with a rousing screen adaptation of william. Kenneth branaghs 1993 film of much ado about nothing is a british and american romantic comedy, based on william shakespeare s renowned production. In 1993 kenneth branagh shot in villa vignamaggio the movie adaptation of the theatrical comedy much ado about nothing movie location in villa vignamaggio book.
The 1993 kenneth branagh version was filmed at a house called villa vignamaggio in greve, chianti, tuscany, italy. The scene in which the two acknowledge their love for one another, capped by his spree in a fountain and her on a swing, is the best in the film. The 1993 film deservedly got considerable acclaim, and boasted an allstar cast that eclipses even whedons. Jan 29, 2016 nearly 20 years earlier, noted shakespearean actordirector kenneth branagh later, himself another marvel director made much ado about nothing his second of five, so far movie adaptations of a shakespeare play. Yes, there are negatives to kenneth branaghs oeuvre. Kenneth branaghs 1993 film of much ado about nothing is a british and american romantic comedy, based on william shakespeares renowned production. Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that kenneth branagh chose vignamaggio as the location for his film. Branaghs much ado about nothing 1993, one of the most successful shakespeare films at the box office, sported a delightful cast, including denzel washington, keanu reeves, michael keaton.
In the opening scene of much ado about nothing, kenneth branagh insists on the tone the movie will take. Unlike his subsequent hamlet, this one is abridged, and rightly so, because some of the text would make little sense to a modern viewer. Kenneth branaghs william shakespeare movie all is true lands at sony classics indeed, anne is initially annoyed by her longabsent husbands return, as are his daughters, quiet. An adaptation is the 1973 new york shakespeare festival production by joseph papp, shot on videotape and released on vhs and dvd, that presents more of the text than kenneth branagh s version. Apr 19, 2011 yes, there are negatives to kenneth branagh s oeuvre. Its perhaps the best, breeziest adaptation of all of shakespeares works warts and all. Emma thompson as beatrice filmed at villa vignamaggio in greveinchianti, italy. Mar, 2015 branaghs fourth film, much ado about nothing, opened in 1993.
Jun 15, 20 joss whedons californiaset much ado, filmed in black and white over 12 days, is a charming and witty triumph philip french sat 15 jun 20 19. His 1993 film of much ado about nothing is an outstanding adaptation of the play that benefits from his judicious cutting and rearrangement of text, as well as from his casting. Much ado about nothing is one of the few movies of recent years that could leave its audiences weeping with joy. Robert sean leonard and kate beckinsale was filmed in villa vignamaggio just outside greve in chianti. Branaghs fourth film, much ado about nothing, opened in 1993. Nov 01, 2018 romantic and sundrenched, kenneth branaghs 1993 adaption of much ado about nothing was filmed entirely at the hillside villa vignamaggio in tuscany, italy. These are healthy, joyful young people whose high spirits will survive anything, even the dark doublecrosses of shakespeare s plot. Jun 05, 2017 wide shot of the wedding set in the garden where kenneth branaghs adaptation of much ado about nothing is being filmed robert sean leonard and kate beckinsale stand in the centre of the screen. Kenneth branagh s version of much ado about nothing is so much fun and extremely accessible. He made his directorial debut with henry v 1989, going on to make five more shakespeare. Mar 22, 2014 1993 american playhouse theatrical films, renaissance films kenneth branagh, director, as benedick. To me, this movie in the wake of henry v, dead again, and peter s friends cemented him as one of my favorite actordirectors. Sunshine and laughter, and merrymakers on a hillside sprinkled with flowers. It was adapted for the screen and directed by kenneth branagh, who also stars in the film.
Much ado about nothing resources movie or tv productions. He has filmed on location in and around an actual sunny italian villa of appropriate age and condition, the villa vignamaggio in tuscany. Kenneth branaghs much ado about nothing essay 1588. The definitive ranking of kenneth branaghs shakespeare films. Filming much ado about nothing, 1990s film 98485 youtube. Much ado about nothing is a 1993 britishamerican romantic comedy film based on william shakespeares play of the same name. Much ado about nothing movie location in villa vignamaggio. Much ado about nothing is a 1993 british american romantic comedy film based on william shakespeare s play of the same name. While shakespeare plays like hamlet, romeo and juliet, and macbeth have received multiple bigscreen adaptations, much ado about nothing has received only two.
Joss whedons much ado about nothing feels easy, tossed off as it was, in a sense, in a 12day shoot in the directors house. Study guide to accompany kenneth branaghs 1998 filmed version of the play. Kenneth branagh in much ado about nothing, 1993 much ado about nothing kenneth branagh, 1993 a classical piece, written by shakespeare and interpreted by kenneth branagh, denzel washington, keanu reeves, emma thompson, michael keaton, robert sean leonard and kate beckinsale was filmed in villa vignamaggio just outside greve in chianti, in petriolo. Jun 21, 20 joss whedon s much ado about nothing feels easy, tossed off as it was, in a sense, in a 12day shoot in the director s house. See more ideas about kenneth branagh, emma thompson and movies. Much ado about nothing is a fairly good play, and this, branagh s version of it, is a very good movie. Kenneth branaghs love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation. If all of that sounds vaguely familiar thats because all of the elements of branaghs 1993 movie were lifted from the 1988 stage production. Films set in tuscany much ado about nothing kenneth. The swan of avon has been converted rather disconcertingly into the bard of tuscany in kenneth branagh s new film of much ado about nothing. Much ado about the two kenneth branaghs popmatters. There have been several screen adaptations of much ado about nothing, and almost all of them have been made for television.
Wide shot of the wedding set in the garden where kenneth branaghs adaptation of much ado about nothing is being filmed robert sean. Metanarrative functions of film genre in kenneth branaghs. Much ado about nothing falls somewhen during kenneth branagh s run of remarkable movies almost two decades ago, at a time when branagh was being touted as cinema s newest fairhaired filmmaker. A beautifully shot, mostly lighthearted production, it features major 90s starpower. After the success of his film versions of henry v and much ado about nothing, in 1996, british actor and director, kenneth branagh, turned his attention to shakespeare s most. It has been released multiple times on dvd, and tends to be wellreceived. Kenneth branaghs own in 1993, and joss whedons, exactly twenty years later. Reeves does not ruin the movie, and the other actors are able to lift his lacking scenes and thankfully don john is not in much of the film. Behind the scenes on the set of much ado about nothing on location in.
Tom hiddleston once cited branaghs much ado about nothing as a perfect gateway to shakespeare. The film swung branaghs directorial focus back to shakespeare, but this time to a comedy. With kenneth branagh, emma thompson, keanu reeves, kate beckinsale. Kenneth branagh walks behind the camera to talk with cameraman. Coming out in 1993, the film starred ken branagh, his then wife emma thompson, richard briers, and brian blessed. The film also stars emma thompson, robert sean leonard, denzel washington, michael keaton, keanu reeves, and kate beckinsale in. Much ado about nothing 1993 this 1993 film version of shakespeares play is a colorful, ebullient romp, with a cast made up of british and american actors, as is often the case with major cinematic shakespeare offerings. Tuscan setting of much ado about nothing, 1990s film. Films set in tuscany much ado about nothing kenneth branagh. Much ado about nothing was filmed entirely at villa vignamaggio, greve in chianti in florence, tuscany, italy. I highly recommend this film to all who enjoy shakespeare, great english. The battle of two much ado about nothing films seven. Tuscan setting of much ado about nothing, 1990s film 98480.
Kenneth branagh, emma thompson, denzel washington, keanu reeves, robert sean leonard, kate beckinsale, richard briers, brian blessed, michael keaton, ben elton running time. His five featurelength shakespeare films, henry v 1989, much ado about nothing 1993, hamlet 1996, loves labours lost 2000 and as you like. His benedick and emma thompson s beatrice are funny and fabulous. Young lovers hero and claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles benedick and beatrice to wed as well. The film swung branaghs directorial focus back to shakespeare, but this time to. Joss whedons californiaset much ado, filmed in black and white over 12 days, is a charming and witty triumph philip french sat 15 jun 20. Wide shot of the wedding set in the garden where kenneth branaghs adaptation of much ado about nothing is being filmed robert sean leonard and kate beckinsale stand in. Much ado over joss whedons much ado about nothing cbs news. Introduction to the 1993 film much ado about nothing cliffsnotes. Kenneth branagh is the most important contemporary figure in the production of filmed shakespeare.
Luckily, much ado about nothing is not one of them. Emma thompson and kenneth branagh in much ado about nothing. Englands kenneth branagh is extensively trained and experienced in the production and performance of shakespeares plays on the british stage. Kenneth branaghs much ado about nothing essay 1588 words. The swan of avon has been converted rather disconcertingly into the bard of tuscany in kenneth branaghs new film of much ado about nothing.
Kenneth branaghs much ado about nothing has been the goto film version since its release in 1993. Much ado about nothing 1993 much ado about nothing 1993. Introduction to the 1993 film much ado about nothing. In sixteenth century messina, sicily set on and around governor leonatos estate, villains are outwitted, lovers wed and dancing concludes an underlining major conflict, ado about nothing. See more ideas about kenneth branagh, keanu reeves and emma thompson. Branagh s much ado about nothing 1993, one of the most successful shakespeare films at the box office, sported a delightful cast, including denzel washington, keanu reeves, michael keaton. One style trait often associated with kenneth branagh is his use of a core group of collaborators. Much ado about nothing when gallant don pedro denzel washington, his nefarious brother don john keanu reeves, and close confidantes claudio robert sean leonard and benedick kenneth branagh ride thunderously into the sicilian village of messina, romance, gaiety, and suspicion abound. Much ado about nothing also features michael keaton in a showy turn as dogberry. Much ado about nothing film by branagh 1993 britannica. One of these was a production of much ado about nothing that was directed by judi dench, set in a sun drenched italia villa in the naoleonic era and presented with a youthful energy. Much ado over joss whedons much ado about nothing cbs.
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