Shakespeare Studies

"The systematic practice of non-traditional or "colorblind" casting began with Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival in the 1950s. Although colorblind casting has been practiced for half a century now, it still inspires vehement controversy and debate. This collection of fourteen original essays explores both the production history of colorblind casting in cultural terms and the theoretical implications of this practice for reading Shakespeare in a contemporary context."

"Shakespeare's plays provide wonderfully challenging material for the film maker. While acknowledging that dramatic experiences for theatre and cinema audiences are significantly different, this book reveals some of the special qualities of cinema's dramatic language in the film adaptations of Shakespeare's plays by four directors - Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Peter Brook and Akira Kurosawa - each of whom has a distinctly different approach to a film representation."

"In the tradition of performance criticism represented by the late Professor Bernard Beckerman of Columbia University, seventeen distinguished critics consider Shakespeare's plays from the perspectives of stage and study, as they focus on language, text, subtext, stage and stage imagery, actors, and audience."

"Shakespeare on Film: Such Things as Dreams are Made of analyzes Shakespearean cinema in four major contexts: performance, adaptation, film style, and popularization, interpreting his unique ability to penetrate cultures, mindsets, and languages across the world. The volume reveals Shakespeare's continuing currency in contemporary culture and critically examines the dialogues between cultures, mediums, and historical periods."

"This comprehensive guide covers approximately 400 feature-length films, documentaries, spin-offs, educational films, and excerpts of Shakespeare's plays. A full entry is provided for each major film, including cast, credits, and critical commentary. There are also sections on film and videos on Shakespeare's life and times, theater, poetry, plays, actors, and directors. Also included are an extensive bibliography, a list of archive and resource centers, and distributors. Separate indexes list directors and producers, major series, actors, and production personnel."

"A hands-on introductory guide to analyzing and discussing Shakespeare on screen. Part One establishes the differences between Shakespeare on stage and film, with Part Two providing a historical introduction to Shakespeare on film. Part Three explores the key modes and genre conventions used in Shakespeare on film and Part Four contains a series of critical essays, while Part Five discusses Shakespeare on TV."

'World-Wide Shakespeares' brings together an international team of leading scholars in order to explore the appropriation of Shakespeare's plays in film and performance around the world."