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Othello

Screening on Film
Directed by Orson Welles.
With Orson Welles, Suzanne Cloutier, Micheál MacLiammóir.
US, 1952, DCP, black & white, 91 min.

Following his innovative adaptation of Macbeth, Welles' Othello suffered from delays and budget problems from the first day. As with Macbeth, the director’s genius and resourcefulness transformed obstacles into opportunities, such as the celebrated fight scene staged in a steamy Turkish bath after the production’s costumes failed to arrive. While Welles' cosmetic dark skin has contributed to the film's general neglect, he gives one of his finest performances, conjuring a genuinely moving Othello who is deeply tormented by love and jealousy. Despite garnering the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1952, Othello remained virtually impossible to see until a wonderful 1992 restoration made new prints available.

Part of film series

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Orson Welles, Part One

Other film series with this film

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Theater into Film

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Orson Welles the Unknown

Current and upcoming film series

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The Reincarnations of Delphine Seyrig

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Rosine Mbakam, 2025 McMillan-Stewart Fellow