Othello (1964 Australian film)

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"Othello"
Wednesday Theatre episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 5
Directed byPatrick Barton
Teleplay byRaymond Westwell
David Bradley
Original air dates18 November 1964 (Melbourne)[1][2]
3 February 1965 (Sydney)
7 July 1965 (Brisbane)[3]
Running time130 mins[4]
Episode chronology
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Othello is a 1964 Australian television play based on the play by William Shakespeare. It was broadcast on the ABC as part of Wednesday Theatre and filmed in the ABC's Melbourne studios.[5]

It was one of the most ambitious projects made in Melbourne, going for over two hours without a break.[6][7]

Cast[]

Production[]

Raymond Westwell had played generals on Australian TV in The Angry General and Romanoff and Juliet as well as on stage in Ross. "But Othello the Moor is perhaps the stage's greatest general and a part I have been conceited enough to want to have a go at for years", said Westwell.[3]

The actor had appeared in various productions of the play overseas but this was the first time he had played the title character. He had seen Laurence Oliver, Anthony Quayle and Paul Robeson play the part. "There are a thousand ways of doing this play and many arguments for and against Othello being portrayed either as a Negro or an Arab," said Westwell. "Sir Laurence Olivier played him as a negro and won tremendous acclaim last year. However Patrick Barton and I feel that Shakespeare intended him to be an Arab."[3]

Frances McDonald made her TV debut.[3]

Reception[]

The Sydney Morning Herald said "the emotional trivialities of the minor characters were excellently handled" but felt Othello was "rather too much an English country gentleman" and Keith Lee played his part "as a man believing in nothing apart from himself."[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "On TV: 18 November 1964, Melbourne – Television.AU". Televisionau.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 12 November 1964. p. 28.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Husband's jealousy drove him to murder". TV Times. 30 June 1965. p. 16.
  4. ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 1965. p. 12.
  5. ^ "Melbourne's finest production to date". The Canberra Times. 39 (11, 072). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 February 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 15 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Othello at Last for Raymond Westwell". The Age. 12 November 1964. p. 14.
  7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  8. ^ ""Othello" on ABN 2". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 February 1965. p. 9.

External links[]

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