Merchant Of Venice. BBC2 Tonight

[teamsaint]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fq2rs

If anybody hasn't seen this then do consider watching it.

IMO Al Pacino is quite brilliant in this, and its all very watchable.
Irons is excellent too.

Love this version.

Never guess the box right though........

Edit, technically its tomorrow morning.......

[amateur51]

It's a cracker, I agree teams

[Nick Armstrong]

It's a cracker, I agree teams

I'll chuck a at that too. Saw it in the cinema...

His Shylock's not quite as good as his Richard III of which one saw tantalising glimpses in the fascinating "Looking for Richard" - seen that, teams and ams? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-For-..._ee_p_t_1_F5ZC

[amateur51]

I'll chuck a at that too. Saw it in the cinema...

His Shylock's not quite as good as his Richard III of which one saw tantalising glimpses in the fascinating "Looking for Richard" - seen that, teams and ams? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-For-..._ee_p_t_1_F5ZC

Yes, another winner I agree Caliban.

But do keep an eye out for this in whatever format you find it ...

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/shop/product/shakespeares-globe-twelfth-night-dvd/1346?session_id=137971301239fd8d4913d2fc7882252ef0b8b6066b

and the thought of Maxine Peake playing Hamlet in Manchester's Royal Exchange next year is keeping the anticipation flowing

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2013/09/maxine-peake-play-hamlet-royal-exchange/

[mangerton]

My machine has been set. M of V was the first Shakespeare I studied at school, aged 12, and we had a class outing to see it at the King's in Edinburgh. That was 50 miles - a long way in those days!

[teamsaint]

No, Not seen either his R3, or the "looking For"....must try to see that though. looks good.

[Serial_Apologist]

Isn't this play considered antisemitic today?

[Nick Armstrong]

No, Not seen either his R3, or the "looking For"....must try to see that though. looks good.

The R3 is 'embedded' in "Looking for..." - it's basically a documentary about Pacino preparing the rôle of Richard, rehearsing, discussing etc... but from time to time, scenes from the play are presented in fully costumed, 'cinematic' fashion, with Pacino giving his all. Don't think there was ever a complete version (maybe on stage on Broadway? don't know).

[teamsaint]

The R3 is 'embedded' in "Looking for..." - it's basically a documentary about Pacino preparing the rôle of Richard, rehearsing, discussing etc... but from time to time, scenes from the play are presented in fully costumed, 'cinematic' fashion, with Pacino giving his all. Don't think there was ever a complete version (maybe on stage on Broadway? don't know).

ah, so BC's of R3.

sounds familiar....


Thanks Cal, that DVD looks worth a sub fiver punt for sure.

[teamsaint]

Isn't this play considered antisemitic today?

if you see my OP, you will note that it is on tomorrow, not today !!

Considered by who, since you ask?

[Nick Armstrong]

ah, so BC's of R3.

sounds familiar....

[Serial_Apologist]

if you see my OP, you will note that it is on tomorrow, not today !!

Considered by who, since you ask?

I was thinking of how the portrayal of the Shylock character is seen in this day and age by, ahem!, many commentators.

[teamsaint]

By whom...

I was thinking of how the portrayal of the Shylock character is seen in this day and age by, ahem!, many commentators.

I knew some wotsit would say " Whom".
"Whom" then . happy?!

Anyway, back to Shylock. Well , is the inner struggle not with his Jewishness,(if you cut us , do we not bleed etc) but with his own nature? Antonio doesn't really fare too well in terms of character. He treats Shylock pretty shoddily at best, before the bond is sealed,and is a victim of his own greed?

as you suggest, the portrayal is critical. Shylock can be seen as an embodiment of anti semitic views of Jews, but the bard is a lot too smart for that. As ever, nobody gets off scot free......well I don't think so !!

[Serial_Apologist]

I knew some wotsit would say " Whom".
"Whom" then . happy?!

Anyway, back to Shylock. Well , is the inner struggle not with his Jewishness,(if you cut us , do we not bleed etc) but with his own nature? Antonio doesn't really fare too well in terms of character. He treats Shylock pretty shoddily at best, before the bond is sealed,and is a victim of his own greed?

as you suggest, the portrayal is critical. Shylock can be seen as an embodiment of anti semitic views of Jews, but the bard is a lot too smart for that. As ever, nobody gets off scot free......well I don't think so !!

I'm sure you're right TS - I did the M of V for my O Level English Lit and can't now remember that much about the play, which I ought to re-read. Sorry about picking you up on "who/whom" btw - I suddenly realised what a smarmy supercilious git I was being and edited the message, but too late.

[teamsaint]

Ah, It wouldn't be the R3 forum without a bit of low level pedantry...!! Got to love it.
I apologise for rising to the bait.!!

S-A , you really SHOULD watch this version. Pacino is spellbinding.
The question of the anti semitism is of course a live one, and the academics can of course argue it any which way. There is no doubt in my mind that the anti semitism of WS's age shows itself, and it does feel like there is something there, deep in Shakespeare's social conditioning. Antonio walks away at the end , and all falls well for him. Is this a crowd pleaser, or has that stain on his character seeped through onto the back of his coat to remind us of of his deeply flawed nature as he walks away?
The title too. who is the eponymous merchant? The Bard twists us one way and another with his customary skill. We despise Shylock for his heartlessness (!!), but we see him portrayed as a man of his times, when Jews were on the edge,socially and economically. And of course the hypocrisy of the christians is an overpowering strand.