Looking for Richard (1996) directed by and starring Al Pacino

In his directing debut, Al Pacino has given us one of the most accessible Shakespeare spinoffs ever for the screen. Smart, witty and energetic, Looking for Richard is a delight to watch, offering insight into Shakespeare and his iconic Richard III, and giving the viewer a behind-the-scenes look at how a production of the play [...]

King Lear (1971) starring Paul Scofield, directed by Peter Brook

© 2005 John Murphy
Cries and Whispers
Peter Brook’s King Lear is a curious artifact from the early 70’s. Ingmar Bergman’s fingerprints are all over the bleak black & white visuals as well as the sometimes nonsensical editing cues (gotta love those random zooms and fades to black). The landscape is a lunar-like tundra — flat, icy [...]

Welles' Lear, staged by Peter Brook, on DVD

Press Release:
The Archive of American Television in partnership with E1 Entertainment is releasing Orson Welles 1953 dramatic Television debut as King Lear on DVD. The release date is January 26, 2010 with a list price of $29.95.
The DVD will come with over 80 minutes of bonus features, including:
* Interviews and rehearsal footage [...]

Hamlet (2005) starring Adrian Lester, directed by Peter Brook

© 2005 John Murphy

We Shall Sift Him
It is only when we forget Shakespeare that we can begin to find him.
– Peter Brook, 1996.
Who is Hamlet? That is the question. First off, he’s an acid test for actors. Viewing the different versions can be disheartening. It’s like watching one soldier volunteer to scope out the [...]