Much ado about nothing is a comedy by william shakespeare thought to have been written in. In the opening scene of much ado about nothing, kenneth. Messina strait messina was an old city, even in the days of shakespeare. Much ado about nothing 2012 directed by joss whedon. Much ado about nothing is a 1993 british american romantic comedy film based on william shakespeare s play of the same name. Watch much ado about nothing streaming online hulu free trial. She is generous and loving, but, like benedick, continually mocks other people with elaborately tooled jokes and puns. Watch much ado about nothing streaming online hulu free. I noticed that much ado is actually two love stories. Much ado about nothing tickets through june 23 at the delacorte theater, manhattan. Branagh plays benedick, emma thompson acts as beatrice, kate beckinsale is hero, and keanu reeves plays don john. Branagh understood that in order to fully make the audience understand shakespeare while being faithful to the script.
These are healthy, joyful young people whose high spirits will survive anything, even the dark doublecrosses of shakespeares plot. Published in 1600, this comedy comments on marriage and relationships, using sly behavior as a means of pushing along the engrossing plot. Much deserved on his part and equally remembered by don pedro. To me, this movie in the wake of henry v, dead again, and peters friends cemented him as one of my favorite actordirectors. Much ado about nothing is a comedy by william shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599, as shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. Shakespeare much ado about nothing stafford collection. For his comedy much ado about nothing, shakespeare chose the warm and exotic seaport of messina, sicily. Shakespeare s classic comedy is given a contemporary spin by director joss whedon. Comparing the play versus the film of william shakespeares much ado about nothing. The public theaters free shakespeare in the park productions can be provocative, irritating, enlightening or maddening, but they are always fun.
After beatrice turns down his proposal, don pedro decides to matchmake her with benedick her former boyfriend, but she being an independentminded, bicycleriding suffragette. By means of noting which, in shakespeare s day, sounded similar to nothing as in the plays title, and which means. In joss whedons modern retelling of the classic shakespeare comedy much ado about nothing, we see that they had a bit of a tryst once upon a time, but clearly loves labor was lost on them. My introduction to high end drama was the movie of henry v with lawrence olivier which my grade. Much ado about nothing quotes by william shakespeare. Shakespeares classic comedy is given a contemporary spin in joss whedons film, much ado about nothing. Play versus film william shakespeare is well known for his dramatic plays, much ado about nothing being no exception. But unknown to all, claudios been tricked by the bastard don john, and unfortunately, its up to dogberry and.
Shakespeare s much ado about nothing is a play that sends a strong message about female power and the power of conversation to its readers through the actions of various characters. Set in the sixteenth century, this drama was first performed in 1612, with a film adaptation released in 1993 and then another in 2012. With sam waterston, kathleen widdoes, barnard hughes, charles bartlett. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. Leonato he hath an uncle here in messina will be very much glad of it. The film also stars emma thompson, robert sean leonard, denzel washington, michael keaton, keanu reeves, and kate beckinsale in her film debut. Much ado about nothing begins in messina, where leonato lives with his daughter, hero, and her cousin and companion, the lady beatrice. Shakespeares classic comedy is given a contemporary spin by director joss whedon. One of shakespeare s most frequently performed comedies, much ado about nothing includes two quite different stories of romantic love.
Conversely, much ado about nothing was one of shakespeares occasional stabs at a romantic comedy. Much ado about nothing is a gem of a movie a real find in 1993s sea of mediocrity. Much ado about nothing gives us moments of frolic and merriment, dark deceit, transcendent romance, and, most enjoyably, those verbal barbs. Shot in just 12 days and using the original text, the story of sparring lovers beatrice. Jun 11, 2019 much ado about nothing tickets through june 23 at the delacorte theater, manhattan. Shakespeare s classic comedy is given a contemporary spin in joss whedons film, much ado about nothing. On paper, a blackandwhite version of shakespeares much ado about nothing filmed in a fraction of time it takes to make a typical movie and featuring exvampire slayers running around a circa2010s. Unassumingly enjoyable and lowkey, much ado works because it lets shakespeares words take center stage, eschewing the usual pomp and circumstance. It was adapted for the screen and directed by kenneth branagh, who also stars in the film. A modern retelling of shakespeare s classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words. With lee montague, tim faulkner, cherie lunghi, katharine levy. These are some of the major themes in much ado about nothing.
The film also stars emma thompson, robert sean leonard, denzel washington, michael keaton, keanu reeves, and kate beckinsale in. Meet again beatrice and benedick, the western worlds original romcom couple. Very accessible, jubilant shakespeare with brief bawdiness. In a play involving so many schemes, language is an important tool for both good and semievil, naturally characters feelings and intentions are hidden as often as they are illuminated by their language in much ado about nothing. Beatrice is one of the most delightful characters in all of shakespeare certainly one of the most talkative and witty. Much ado about nothing would be much better served, and reach a wider audience, without the lewd scene between the villains henchman and the maid. Much ado about nothing movie free online research papers. A modern retelling of shakespeares classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on. Among the party is claudio, who quickly falls in love with hero. Young lovers hero and claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles benedick and beatrice to wed as well.
Unassumingly enjoyable and lowkey, much ado works because it lets shakespeare s words take center stage, eschewing the usual pomp and circumstance. Shakespeares much ado about nothing is a play that sends a strong message about female power and the power of conversation to its readers through the actions of various characters. Introduction to the 1993 film much ado about nothing. Set in the sixteenth century, this drama was first performed in 1612, with a film adaptation released in. Dogberry the constable in charge of the watch, or chief policeman, of messina. Total miscommunicationboth intentional and unintentionalsummons the drama llama, and when. Much ado about nothing is one of shakespeare s most frequently performed comedies. Don pedro and his men teddy roosevelt roughriders have returned from the wars. One of shakespeares most frequently performed comedies, much ado about nothing includes two quite different stories of romantic love. In the first scene in the first act, claudio sets eyes on hero and intends to marry her. Much ado about nothing was released in 20 on friday, june 7, 20 in limited movie theaters. Shot in just 12 days and using the original text, the. Dogberry is very sincere and takes his job seriously, but he has a habit of using exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning. Sadly, such is the case with this version of shakespeare s delightful comedy, much ado about nothing.
Much ado about nothing 311 movie clip benedicks perfect woman 1993. Much ado about nothing is a 1993 britishamerican romantic comedy film based on william shakespeares. Benedick and beatrice fight their merry war of words. Don pedro, prince of arragon, don john, his bastard brother, claudio, a young. A short summary of william shakespeare s much ado about nothing. With kenneth branagh, emma thompson, keanu reeves, kate beckinsale. Whats the difference between much ado about nothing the play and much ado about nothing the movie. You can buy the arden text of this play from the online bookstore.
Much ado about nothing play vs movie add a difference. Much ado about nothing 311 movie clip benedicks perfect woman. Especially with shakespeare s much ado about nothing, where many readers may not fully understand the story. Its principal subject is that of romance that may settle over the land after soldiers come home. Much ado about nothing resources movie or tv productions.
Much ado about nothing is a 1993 britishamerican romantic comedy film based on william shakespeare s play of the same name. Marriage is front and center in much ado about nothing. Shakespeares don pedro pairs benedick and beatrice and woos hero for. Summary of much ado about nothing shakespeare birthplace. The dramatic over exaggeration of certain characters and scenes are not because the director was bored with the play. Sunshine and laughter, and merrymakers on a hillside sprinkled with flowers. In 2015, a modern movie version of this play was created by owen drake entitled messina high, starring faye reagan.
Much ado about nothing is often considered william shakespeare s most lighthearted play. Shot in just 12 days, the story of sparring lovers beatrice and benedick of. Much ado about nothing pg comedy, drama, romance movie 20 joss whedons sexy and contemporary spin on shakespeares classic comedy about the story of sparring lovers beatrice and benedick offers a sensual, tragic and occasionally absurd. Probably written in the latter part of 1598, it was performed soon afterward by the lord chamberlains men, the theatrical company in which william shakespeare had a business interest separate from his duties as actor and playwright. Leonato receives word that his friend, the duke don pedro has returned from war and plans to visit with some of his fellow soldiers. Hero and claudio fall in love almost at first sight, but an outsider, don john, strikes out at their happiness. Nov, 2016 as in all of shakespeare s plays, the women in much ado about nothing are presented as individuals who have different qualities, rather than all than having the same traits just because they are women. Branagh adopts shakespeares playful tone and memorable words and opens up the story for mass consumption. To me, this movie in the wake of henry v, dead again, and peters. The play was included in the first folio, published in 1623. Much ado about nothing trailer directed by kenneth branagh and starring richard briers, jimmy yuill, brian blessed, andy hockley, chris.
Comparing the play versus the film of william shakespeare. Shakespearetold much ado about nothing tv episode 2005. Differences between much ado about nothing play vs movie. With sarah parish, damian lewis, andrew barclay, george couyas. Comparing the play versus the film of william shakespeare s much ado about nothing. Below is a list of all much ado about nothing characters from shakespeare s play.
Amy acker and jillian morgese in much ado about nothing 2012 tom lenk at an event for. She is likely to touch a responsive chord with many readers and playgoers today in light of current social ideas that encourage greater equality and selfassertiveness for women than has been traditional for women of the western world. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of much ado about nothing. The play was included in the first folio, published in 1623 by means of noting which, in shakespeare s day, sounded similar to nothing as in the plays title, and which means gossip, rumour, and overhearing, benedick and. But unknown to all, claudios been tricked by the bastard don john, and. Much ado about nothing is one of shakespeares most frequently performed comedies. These are healthy, joyful young people whose high spirits will survive anything, even the dark doublecrosses of shakespeare s plot.
Dogberry is one of the few middling sort, or middleclass characters, in the play, though his desire to speak formally and elaborately like the noblemen becomes an occasion. Branagh has successfully used a mixed cast of names and unknowns to breathe life into this lavish production, and never has shakespeare been more warmly received. To pass the time, they conspire with don pedro to set a lovers trap for. Much ado about nothing falls somewhen during kenneth branaghs run of remarkable movies almost two decades ago, at a time when branagh was being touted as cinemas newest fairhaired filmmaker. Differences between much ado about nothing play vs movie page 1. Young lovers hero and claudio are to be married in one week. With alexis denisof, amy acker, fran kranz, jillian morgese. Much ado about nothing 1993 this 1993 film version of shakespeare s 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.
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. Beatrice is a pleasantspirited lady with a very sharp tongue. She wages a war of wits against benedick and often wins the battles. Much ado about nothing pg comedy, drama, romance movie 20 joss whedons sexy and contemporary spin on shakespeare s classic comedy about the story of sparring lovers beatrice and benedick offers a sensual, tragic and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love. But when beatrices friend, hero, is humiliatingly jilted by benedicks best friend, claudio, benedick has to choose which side hes on. Tensions mount in the tv studio when a takecharge anchor is reunited with a man she has a history with. Much ado about nothing is a 2012 american independent film directed, produced, and written by joss whedon, based on william shakespeare s play of the same name. With his own special viewpoints and skills, he has brought several of them to film, including much ado about nothing, hamlet, and king henry v. There were 15 other movies released on the same date, including the internship, the purge and violet and daisy.
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