Happy birthday, William Shakespeare

Today is William Shakespeare's birthday (he was born in 1564 and died in 1616). What better way to celebrate than to watch a film adaptation of his work? I compiled a list of DVDs that are available at the Dundee Library (you can find even more by searching ALL LIBRARIES in our online catalog). One of my favorites is Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet from 1996. In addition to being the director, Branagh also plays the role of Hamlet, with Kate Winslet playing Ophelia. The actors in this film perform the full text of the play. Another favorite of mine is William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Directed by Baz Luhrman, the setting is modern-day but the actors still speak Shakespearean English. Also of note are the unique details (sword = a type of gun; a newsanchor plays the role of the Chorus) and the awesome soundtrack.

As You Like It (2006)
DVD COMEDY AS
Bryce Dallas Howard, Kevin Kline, Alfred Molina
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Hamlet

Hamlet (1948)
DVD FICTION HAMLET
Laurence Olivier, Basil Sydney, Eileen Herlie, Norman Wooland, Felix Aylmer, Terence Morgan, Jean Simmons
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Hamlet (1996)
DVD FICTION HAMLET
Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Gerard Depardieu, Charlton Heston, Derek Jacobi, Jack Lemmon, Rufus Sewell, Robin Williams, Kate Winslet
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Henry IV


My Own Private Idaho (1991)
DVD FICTION MY
River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert, Chiara Caselli, Michael Parker, Jessie Thomas, Flea, Grace Zabriskie
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Henry V

Henry V (1944)
DVD FICTION HENRY
Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton, Leslie Banks, Renee Asherson
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King Lear

King Lear (1953)
NEW DVD TELEVISION KING
Orson Welles, Natasha Parry, Arnold Moss, Bramwell Fletcher, Margaret Phillips, David J. Stewart, Alan Badel, Beatrice Straight
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King Lear (1976)
DVD FICTION KING
Patrick Magee, Ronald Radd, Patrick Mower, Beth Harris, Ann Lynn, Wendy Allnut
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Ran (1985)
DVD FOREIGN RAN
Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada, Yoshiko Miyazaki
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Macbeth

Macbeth (1971)
DVD FICTION MACBETH
Jon Finch, Francesca Annis, Martin Shaw, Terence Bayler, John Stride, Nicholas Selby, Stephan Chase, Paul Shelley
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Macbeth (1978)

DVD FICTION MACBETH

Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, John Woodvine, Ian McDiarmid, Bob Peck

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Throne of Blood (1957)
DVD FOREIGN THRONE
Mifune Toshirō, Yamada Isuzu, Kubo Akira
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

DVD COMEDY MIDSUMMER

James Cagney, Olivia De Havilland, Dick Powell, Mickey Rooney

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William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
DVD COMEDY MIDSUMMER
Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, Christian Bale, Sophie Marceau, David Strathairn
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Othello

Othello (1922)
DVD FOREIGN OTHELLO
Emil Jannings, Werner Krauss, Lya De Putti, Ica von Lenkeffy
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Richard III

Richard III (1955)
DVD FICTION RICHARD
Cedric Hardwicke, Nicholas Hannen, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Mary Kerridge, Paul Huson, Claire Bloom
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Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet (1976)

DVD FICTION ROMEO

Christopher Neame, Ann Hasson, Robin Nedwell, David Robb, Patsy Byrne

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William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996)
DVD FICTION ROMEO
Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Jesse Bradford, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Miriam Margolyes, Harold Perrineau, Christina Pickles, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Rudd, Paul Sorvino
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Titus Andronicus


Titus (1999)
DVD FICTION TITUS
Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Alan Cumming, Colm Feore, James Frain, Laura Fraser, Harry Lennix, Angus MacFadyen, Matthew Rhys, Jonathan Rhys Meyers
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Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night, Or, What You Will (1988)
DVD COMEDY TWELFTH
Richard Briers, Caroline Langrishe, Anton Lesser, Abigail McKern, Frances Barber, James Saxon
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She's the Man (2006)
DVD COMEDY SHE'S
Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum
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More Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Soliloquies
DVD 822.33 SHA
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Slings and Arrows
DVD TELEVISION SLINGS set
TV series about a Shakespeare theater troupe.

Season 1 (2003): Starring Paul Gross, Stephen Ouimette, Martha Burns, Don McKellar, Rachel McAdams, Susan Coyne, Mark McKinney, Luke Kirby, Jennifer Irwin
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Season 2 (2005): Starring Paul Gross, Stephen Ouimette, Martha Burns, Susan Coyne, Mark McKinney, Geraint Wyn Davies, Don McKellar
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Season 3 (2006): Starring Paul Gross, Martha Burns, Mark McKinney, Don McKellar
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