Shakespeare Film Adaptation Recommendations

I love Shakespeare plays, and I love their movie adaptations. There are some truly excellent adaptations out there, including Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968), Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth Night (1996) and Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff’s Hamlet (1994, also goes by the title “The Lion King”). There’s been some stinkers, as well (Julie Taymor’s Tempest springs to mind). Here’s my recommendations, including retellings and classroom suitability.

Hamlet

Best Adaptation: Hamlet (1996, Kenneth Branagh)

Best retelling: Lion King (1994)

Best for the classroom: Hamlet (2009, Gregory Doran). David  Tennant knocks it out of the park as the prince and it’s not four hours long like the Branagh version.

 

King Lear

Best Adaptation: King Lear (1983, directed by Michael Elliot)

Best retelling: Ran (1985)

Best for the classroom: Either Elliot’s ’83 version, starring Olivier, or Nunn’s 2008 version starring McKellen. They’re both fantastic.

 

Macbeth

Best Adaptation: Macbeth, Roman Polanski (1971)

Best retelling: Throne of Blood (1957)

Best for the classroom: PBS great Performances version (2010) with sir Patrick Stewart as Macbeth. It’s a bit intense in places, so recommended for older audiences. Polanski’s version is better for a younger audience.

 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Best Adaptation: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935)

Best retelling: ShakespeaRe-Told: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005)

Best for the classroom: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999). Magical, whimsical and whole lot of fun.

 

Much ado About Nothing

Best Adaptation: Kenneth Branagh (1993)

Best retelling: Nothing Much to Do (2014-2015 Vlog series)

Best for the classroom: Kenneth Branagh (1993). Whedon’s adaptation is good, but Branagh’s is superior.

 

Othello

Best Adaptation: Kenneth Branagh (1995)

Best retelling: O (2001)

Best for the classroom: Kenneth Branagh (1995) Laurence Fishburne isn’t exactly engaging here, but Branagh’s Iago is engaging and complex. The Globe Shakespeare production is also excellent and available on youtube.

 

Romeo and Juliet

Best Adaptation: Romeo and Juliet, Franco Zeffirelli (1968)

Best retelling: West Side Story  (1961)

Best for the classroom: Romeo + Juliet, Baz Luhrmann (1996) – This film does contain drug use and child abuse, so recommended only for older students. Franco Zefferelli’s version is fine for younger students.

 

Taming of the Shrew

Best Adaptation: Taming of the Shrew (1980)

Best retelling: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Best for the classroom: Taming of the Shrew (1980). John Cleese as Petruchio is worth the slightly dated visuals.

 

The Tempest

Best Adaptation: Ummm… None?

Best retelling: Forbidden Planet (1956)

Best for the classroom: The Tempest (1980, John Gorrie). Not the most engaging adaptation, but it’s serviceable.

 

Twelfth Night

Best Adaptation: Twelfth Night (1996)

Best retelling: She’s the Man (2006)

Best for the classroom: Twelfth Night (1996, Trevor Nunn). A fun, engaging production. Helena Boneham Carter is a standout.