The first thing that caught me off guard was the portrayal of cesario viola. Twelfth night, or what you will introduction shmoop. Or what you will is a 1996 britishamericanirish film adaptation of william shakespeares play, directed by trevor nunn and featuring an allstar cast. And nunn directs it in something of the same spirit. A shipwreck separates viola imogen stubbs from her twin brother, sebastian steven mackintosh. Updated to the victorian late nineteenthcentury and filled with colorful cornwall landscapes, trevor nunn imbues this surprisingly cinematic twelfth night with a sense of adventure as well as a pervasive melancholy.
Believing him to be dead, viola disguises herself as a boy and goes to work for duke orsino toby. Usually, and sensibly, the twins sebastian and viola are played on the stage by the same actress. The dark pleasures of trevor nunns twelfth night by peter holland, directordesignate of the shakespeare institute, stratforduponavon, england why dont filmmakers like shakespeares comedies. Shakespeares comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves. Trevor nunns beautifully photographed and acted, deftly written film is one of the most enjoyable adaptations of a shakespeare play ever made. I have one quibble, however, and it is considerable. Released amidst a flurry of innovative shakespeare films, trevor nunns 1996 film of twelfth night can seem stodgy, retro, or just dull in comparison. Film bends genders but not shakespeare nunns wistful. Through about the first half, i found myself asking why more filmmakers eager to adapt shakespeare dont opt for the comedies, since verbal wit and farcical ploys are often better served by the screen than are long, poetic exegeses of complex moral. Set in the 18th century, this is a very british version of shakespeares romantic comedy. After a surviving a disaster at sea, viola, in a foreign land, disguises herself as her identical brother, and becomes the gobetween for the lovelorn count orsino and disinterested lady olivia.
This handsomely mounted version of shakespeares beloved screwball comedy suggests he should lower himself to. Try doing the same for any of the bestknown comedies, and you will still be. The same may be said of twelfth night, which cuts from various outdoor settings in illyria to orsinos dwelling to olivias house to olivias grounds. Helena bonham carter can do more with an amazed eye slide than many actors can do with the. Watch twelfth night or what you will 1996 movie online. Or, what you will trevor nunns popular 1996 film stars imogen stubbs viola, helena bonham carter olivia, and ben kingsley feste. Countries united kingdom, ireland, united states mpaa rating pg. A noblewoman disguises herself as a young man and falls for her employer, a lovesick count. Twelfth night 1996 stream and watch online moviefone. This adaptation is set in the victorian era and emphasizes the comedy of the plays many plot twists and misunderstandings. Twelfth night is a 1996 britishamericanirish film adaptation of william shakespeares play, directed by trevor nunn and featuring an allstar cast.
Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the trevor nunndirected movie via subscription can be challenging. Twelfth night or what you will 1996 twelfth night or. William shakespeares twelfth night is a masterful meditation on the comic and tragic effects of fluid emotions such as infatuation, ecstasy, and intoxication trevor nunns twelfth night, on the other hand, is a confused mess that so utterly misses the intent and tone of the original work, i struggle to conceive of a worse adaption. Or what you will is a 1996 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play, directed by trevor nunn and featuring an allstar cast. Critics praised the casts deep understanding of the material, especially bonham carters role as the lovestruck lady olivia. Twelfth night one of william shakespeares most wild and raucous. Find out where to watch, buy, and rent twelfth night online on moviefone. Trevor nunn was born on january 14, 1940 in ipswich, suffolk, england as trevor robert nunn. Set in the late 19th century, it was filmed on location in cornwall, including scenes shot at padstow and at lanhydrock house near bodmin, with orsino and his followers wearing uniforms that evoke. It is, as herb coursen writes, one of the more straightforward translations of a shakespeare script to film 199. Look for an interesting version of any of the bestknown tragedies, and you are spoiled for choice.
Twelfth night one of william shakespeares most wild and raucous romantic. Trevor nunns adaptation takes full advantage of these cinemamatic advantages. Twelfth night or what you will 1996 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. On putlocker watch twelfth night or what you will 1996 in hd 1080p with high speed link. Without commercial breaks, the full movie twelfth night has a duration of 4 minutes. Watch twelfth night online free 1996 full hd movie 02. Trevor nunns 1996 film of twelfth night offers a warm embrace for a good while, endearing itself swiftly and gamely, without seeming overzealous. About every decade, accomplished british theater director trevor nunn takes a break from the stage for a foray into filmmaking, and twelfth night is his project for the 1990s. Twelfth night, or what you will tv movie 1988 imdb. Trevor nunns energetic 1996 tilt at this noisy, affectionate tale shows that a lush, full bore screen treatment of twelfth night was long overdue. Trevor nunn s new film version of twelfth night, a lighthearted comedy of romance and gender confusion, creates a romantic triangle out of the same sorts of mistaken sexual identities that inspired some like it hot. Twelfth night sits among the too many movies from shakespeares works. Twelfth night or what you will 1996 full movie, twelfth night or what you will 1996 shakespeares comedy of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a m. Trevor nunn obviously worked really hard to make sure this worked as a film in its own.
Acclaimed british theatre director trevor nunn helms a rare film project, delivering. Expertly cast and consistently wellplayed, the romance is delightful and the low comedy is at least amusing, with the two principals viola and olivia portrayed with. Twelfth night critics consensus director trevor nunn makes some questionable choices, but his stellar cast which includes helena bonhamcarter, ben kingsley, and nigel hawthorne more than. You can watch this full movie free with english subtitles on movie television channels, renting the dvd or with vod services video on demand player, hulu and ppv pay per view, netflix. Nunns vision seems to be a modern take on a timeless celebration of love whereas others like kenneth branaghs 1987 version used elizabethan settings and historical ideas and themes like courtly love and puritanism to show twelfth nights simple reality as a problem play which nunn attempts to whitewash. Twelfth night 1996 trevor nunn cast and crew allmovie. An excellent cast features ben kingsley, helena bonham carter, and nigel hawthorne. The director trevor nunn had the idea of having them interpreted by a man steven mackintosh and a woman imogen stubbs.
Trevor nunns new film version of twelfth night, a lighthearted comedy of romance and gender confusion, creates a romantic triangle out of the same sorts of mistaken sexual identities that inspired some like it hot. While reading i could be as imaginative as possible, thus giving the character of. With frances barber, christopher hollis, julian gartside, tim barker. This is a british star studded cast production of shakespeare s twelfth night directed by trevor nunn and the best you could see. Unfortunately, the counts beloved falls for the disguised noblewoman and a comedy of unrequited love and mistaken identities ensues. I have taught shakespeare to primary school children and we have. Twelfth night 1996 directed by trevor nunn genres comedy, romance subgenres comedy of errors release date oct 25, 1996 usa limited run time 125 min. Want to watch twelfth night on your tv, phone, or tablet.
Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the trevor nunn directed movie via subscription can be challenging. It is beautifully filmed and not only immensely enjoyable for people who know and love shakespeare but a marvellous introduction to him for children. The comic agonies of viola and sebastians separation seem made for the screen. Twelfth night trevor nunn, helena bonhamcarter, imogen.