Othello (1965)

Worst Ethnic Representations (10 movies items)

"Moorish (?) "

“The main players deliver capital-A ACH-TING! in this adaptation of the Bard’s tale of revenge and racism, but it’s all undercut by a flatlined dir”

Othello

“The main players deliver capital-A ACH-TING! in this adaptation of the Bard’s tale of revenge and racism, but it’s all undercut by a flatlined directorial job. This isn’t a movie. This is a filmed stage play in an almost literal sense as there’s one set with rotating parts and acts walking in and out from the wings. I swear you can nearly see the actors waiting for their cues to walk in and deliver their lines. If this were a PBS Great Performances entry, I wouldn’t feel so conflicted about the proceedings.   And all of this was before talking about the giant elephant in the room, which Laurence Olivier’s blackface. No, it’s not blackface, it’s something far worse. He looks nearly blue his makeup is so extreme. It is so distracting that it takes quite a while for the sig” read more

Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Deservers (83 movies items)

"1965! Winner: Joyce Redman! Nominees: Ruth Gordon - Inside Daisy Clover as The Dealer (Daisy's Mother) Maggie Smith - Othello as Desdemona Shelley Winters - A Patch of Blue as Rose-ann D'Arcey Peggy Wood - The Sound of Music as Mother Abbess"