OMG - while I've never saw Paul Robeson play Othello in the 30s and 40s, I have seen him in a couple of other things. I had the sense the Olivier was playing Robeson playing Othello given the way he carried himself and modulated his voice. UGH. I know 'blackface' (I thought he looked decidedly grey, but I'm color-challenged) was a commonly accepted cheat to allow actors of non-African descent to play the Moor, but it's really hard to get past, especially knowing that Robeson had successfully played Othello in both the UK and US. Okay, he wasn't an option and of course those backing this wanted to bring Olivier's successful rendition to the masses. I've dreaded watching this and it was painful to get through. Finlay was awesome. Some of the costumes were great as were the sets, but Jacobi's (and other) wig has to be one of the ugliest ever! Nope, not my favorite rending of Othello by a long shot.
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Cazwegian
I like how Othello was actually green in the movie and not black.Cazwegian
* [/sarcasm]Cazwegian
* [/sarcasm]xianjiro
OMG - while I've never saw Paul Robeson play Othello in the 30s and 40s, I have seen him in a couple of other things. I had the sense the Olivier was playing Robeson playing Othello given the way he carried himself and modulated his voice. UGH. I know 'blackface' (I thought he looked decidedly grey, but I'm color-challenged) was a commonly accepted cheat to allow actors of non-African descent to play the Moor, but it's really hard to get past, especially knowing that Robeson had successfully played Othello in both the UK and US. Okay, he wasn't an option and of course those backing this wanted to bring Olivier's successful rendition to the masses. I've dreaded watching this and it was painful to get through. Finlay was awesome. Some of the costumes were great as were the sets, but Jacobi's (and other) wig has to be one of the ugliest ever! Nope, not my favorite rending of Othello by a long shot.