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DVD Description
The Merchant of Venice originally opened at the Royal National Theatre’s Cottesloe in June 1999 to tremendous acclaim, with the Independent on Sunday declaring it "magnificent". A complete sell-out, it was then forced to move to the much larger Olivier Theatre. Memorably set between the two world wars, The Merchant of Venice featured a superlative performance from Henry Goodman as Shylock. Director Trevor Nunn’s production would go on to win a clutch of major awards, among them an Olivier and Critic’s Circle Theatre Award for Goodman and an Olivier and London Evening Standard Theatre Award for the director.
Immediately after its run at the National, The Merchant of Venice was moved to Pinewood Studios where it was adapted for television, produced and directed by Trevor Nunn with Chris Hunt. The result brilliantly captured the moody power of the original while endowing it with fresh screen intensity. A huge hit in the US, where it became the lead production for the 2001/2 seasons of Masterpiece Theatre, it was described by The New York Times as being "so rich and vibrant that it makes you wish you had seen it on stage."
Special Features
- Running Time: 161 mins approx.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a first class production which outshines even the BBC version. Henry Goodman is an outstanding Shylock:a dignified, rounded human being, insisting on his pound of flesh almost against his will. I liked the small but significant touch of Tubal's silent rejection of Shylock in the trial scene and the fact that Balthasar really did look different from Portia - for once Bassanio can be forgiven for not recognising him/her. But it is a pity the return of the rings did not have a lighter touch: a little comic relief is needed by now. There was a lack of humour in the casket scenes, too but all criticism fades with the memory of Goodman's performance.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Decent production of Shakespeare's tale of greed, money-lending, romance and anti-semitism. The later version starring Al Pacino is more glossy but this version is more faithful to The Bard's original play. Suitable for students studying the play and as an enjoyable piece of drama.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this production not long after watching the Al Pacino one (which is very slick but with abridgement) and felt disappointed. First, the sound quality is poor and very uneven - I had to keep the remote to hand so as I could adjust the volume - Shylock, though he played the part well, was particularly hard to understand at times. I think the main issue was that it was difficult to warm to the characthers. Antonio was foppish (if that is the right word) - incidentally he is the chap who played the irritating vicar in the 1990s excellent BBC production of Pride and Prejudice - indeed, I recognised him almost immediately by his mannerisms which are carried over into Antonio. Nor did I particularly like either Bassanio or Portia. But, the key issue here was lack of warmth - I simply was not moved by the great scenes (I am thinking of the great speech by Portia, as the Doctor of law, on the quality of mercy).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Poor
Apart from Henry Goodman's portrayal of Shylock, which is excellent, this production is so watery that it rarely rises to the level of mediocrity. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Xpress
Disappointing
This must be the worst production of Shakespeare available.... Where is Trevor Nunn in all this? After seing his "Twelfth Night" I was expecting a similar masterpiece!
Published 21 months ago by A. Scott
The Merchant of Venice
This is a remarkable production - quite the best version of this play I've ever seen. It copes with the difficulties by presenting Shylock in as favourable a light as possible and... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by Mr. John R. Butcher
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