1. 1981 BBC Produced Made for TV Movie 3 hours, 15 min
Othello
Speaker 1
We choose the 1981 Anthony Hopkins version of Othello.
We didn’t know then that is 3 hours and 15 minutes long!
It was originally a made for TV movie produced in Great Britain by the BBC.

2. Main Characters Othello Anthony Hopkins Cassio David Yelland
Speaker 1
The main characters are
Sir Anthony Hopkins as Othello
Bob Hoskins as Iago
Penelope Wilton as Desdemona
David Yelland as Cassio,
and Rosemary Leach as Emilia
Iago Bob Hoskins
Emilia Rosemary Leach
Desdemona Penelope Wilton

3. Comparison to Book Version
Almost exactly the same text with minor differences
Some scenes skipped, for example
Act II, Scene II: The Herald’s proclamation (8 lines)
Act III, Scene I: The musician and clown scene
Character’s names remain the same
Character’s fates remain the same
The handkerchief is the same and serves the same purpose.
Speaker 1 Comparison to the Book Version.
Our version of Ohello is almost exactly the same as our text book, with only minor differences.
It would have been even longer if some scenes were not skipped, for example
Act II, Scene II: The Herald’s proclamation which is only 8 lines anyway
Act III, Scene I: The musician and clown scene
The Character’s names remain the same
The Character’s fates remain the same
The handkerchief is the same and serves the same purpose

4. Comparison to 1995 Version
The use of fantasy dream sequences in the 95 film
The 95 film cut a lot of the text. In fact, too much to attempt a list.
Fairly explicit love scenes with Othello and Desdemona.
Speaker 2
Comparison to the 95 version
The use of fantasy dream sequences in the 95 film.
 The use of dream sequencing makes Othello's agony over the Desdemona’s possible affair more perceptible and accessible to the audience in a different, some may think, more accessable way than in Iago’s monologues in the play.
The 95 film cut so much of the text that making a list was a waste of time.
Fairly explicit love scenes with Othello and Desdemona. In the book they hardly get any time together, and their relationship seems almost chaste. In the movie, they have explicit love scenes.

5. Does the downfall of Othello proceed from any flaw in his nature, or is his downfall entirely the work of Iago?
We concluded that it was not entirely the work of Iago that brought about the downfall of Othello.
Speaker 2
Iago’s plan worked because it played into Othello’s own insecurities as an outsider.
If Iago had left Othello and Desdemona alone, they may have been fine, or Othello’s insecurities may have brought about his downfall in a different way.
Here are some clips we based our conclusion on.

6. Iago manipulates everyone
44:14 - Iago manipulates Rodrigo
1:08:09 – Iago talks to himself and reveals his real self
Speaker 2
44:15 In this scene, we see how skillfully Iago manipulates Rodrigo
1:08:09. I this scene, Iago talks to himself and in doing so reveals his real self to the audience

7. Othello’s Insecurities
1:28:51
Iago’s plan is begging to work.
The seeds planted by Iago have taken root.
Speaker 3
Iago’s plan is begging to work. Othello begins to doubt Desdemona’s faithfulness.
In this clip we see Othello for the first time calls attention to his race and his age.
His conclusion that Desdemona is “gone” shows just how deeply Iago’s seeds of doubt have taken root.

8. Original to this version ….
Speaker 3
What is original and fresh in this version is that Othello is played by a white actor without black face.
He wears makeup, but it is subtle and the director did not attempt to make Anthony Hopkins look black.
His hair is a little more wild than most of the other men, but his eyes remain blue, and his skin light.

9. Conclusion
We really enjoyed this version. The BBC put together such a talented ensemble.
Othello is a tragic figure in the majority of the versions we’ve seen or heard about.
The story is racist.
Speaker 3
We really enjoyed this version. The BBC put together such a talented ensemble.
Othello is a tragic figure in the majority of the versions we’ve seen or heard about.
The story is racist. It confirms for some people that black people cannot handle positions of power, and that is mixed-race relationships are doomed to failure.