VHS : Merchant of Venice: Literary Masterpieces
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starring: Laurence Olivier, Joan Plowright, Jeremy Brett, Michael Jayston, Anthony Nichollsdirected by: John Sichel
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780784001332
Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 0784001332
Label: Live / Artisan
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Live / Artisan
Release Date: May 21, 1996
Running Time: 131 minutes
Sales Rank: 8373
Studio: Live / Artisan
Theatrical Release Date: 1973
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - How Much Anti-Semitism is Too Much?
How the audience is supposed to interpret Shakespeare's intent at presenting Shylock as either the stereotypical Jewish moneygrubber or an heroic and sinned against ethnic depends largely on the interplay of three factors: his original intent in writing THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; the then prevailing popular caricature of the Jew demon that Elizabethan audiences expected and demanded in their entertainment; and Shakespeare's propensity to delineate a complex character by combining a series of competing ... Read More
Rating:  - 15th Century Morals Play.
This tale takes place in Venice in 1596 and is told in the religious aspect of a morally decadent city. We hear early on that their world is "a stage where every man must play his part." The language has the cadence of Shakespeare as they recite the words instead of talking. Al Pacino as moneylender Shylock had an ununsual pronunciation of the word 'pirates.' The language was colorful though a little loquacious at times.
In the 15th century, "a good man has good credit" and could lose ... Read More
Rating:  - better production
I totally agree with Robert Swinney, the version of this play with Warren Mitchell as Shylock is by far the superior production. What a pity that you don't present more than the one version.
Rating:  - Not the best adaptation, but a great play
The reviewers who label this play a "problem" are applying modern day sensitivities to a play written hundreds of years ago when Shylock's part made perfect sense to the English audience. This adaptation does seem to skirt the issues and water down Shakespeare's portrayal of Shylock, as have many theater productions.
But it is important to see this production as a modern work, yielding to modern mores.
Yes, Shakespeare probably was anti semitic, but remember, England had banished ... Read More
Rating: - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
If you are ever having problems with sleeping, i suggest you buy this video. The scenes with Portia, Anthonio, Bassanio and other such characters just left me snoozing in the Lounge chair.
Olivier is superbhe lightens the screen, his performance trul Olivier, original, cretive and inspiring. His performance and that of Jeremy Brett's(playing Bassanio) i thought delightful.
Joan Plowright was awful, her incapability to grasp even the 2 dimesional Portia astounds me, and gives me cause ... Read More
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