Othello: Iago (Ian McKellen) tells of a handkerchief, 1/2

[blazefleur]

Willard White acts McKellen right off the stage here. My heavens!

[warpunk1]

lol you mad bro?

[warpunk1]

Lol you mad bro? 

[TairyGreen89]

Does anyone else think it's sexy to see a woman smoke a pipe?

[upliftzippy]

PUT MONEY IN THY PURSE!

[Goldenface30]

already so gandalfian, smoking pipe-weed and musing.

[IrishEyes1989]

Zoe Wanamaker!!! :) <3

[beastmodesdb74]

Iago's a dick.

[megadork456]

Is this during the civil war or something?

[ShadowSonic2]

This was made in 1989, I think. So McKellen's Iago would be about 50.

[Greekbaritone]

Thank you for posting this clip. I had no idea that White had portrayed Othello. His versatility as a performer is truly admirable given that he has spent the major part of his career as an operatic singer.

[laurabethxo]

Simply the best Iago there could be. McKellan is stunning!

[spencergellsworth]

@laurabethxo I like to show my students clips from both this and the Branagh/Fishburne version. I can't decide which Iago I like better--old, embittered McKellen or young, crushing-on-Othello-in-a-twist­ed-way Branagh.

[JackSafferyRowe]

A nothern Iago? Did not expect that.

[Chaosarmy]

crickets

[Tartuffified]

oh wow never heard sir ian with a northern accent before. so funny. like me granddad.

[MissAmieS]

Does anyone know the actor whom is playing Othello?

Ta,, A.S x

[squigglethepiglol]

@MissAmieS Willard White :)

[MissAmieS]

@squigglethepiglol Ahh cool, thanks very much :) A.S x

[kaoruneko16]

lmao its Theresa. Get ready for your quest.

[TheImpossibleMan]

I've always thought Othello was the single most challenging role in theater, but my goodness this guy does a great job.

[xTorhnx212]

3:16 iago trips balls on sum dope :P

[HustlinFlo]

Ironic that McKellan is gay.

He does a fine Iago, though.

[yiartes]

ian is excelent! :-)

[sumitvalentino]

Ian Mckellen smokes like a Rastafarian.

[tourettegirl]

It shouldve looked fake because Iago hates Emilia

[leoma1985]

they act well together, but the kiss was a little to fake for me....

[Timthethespian89]

Well, he is gay....

[leoma1985]

lol. i know that. i was talking more on her part actually.

[Timthethespian89]

oh i gotcha. lol.

[SuicideOnMyMind]

i just finished reading othello. and this was actually good. much better then the one with laurence olivier. besides i like how she smokes a pipe in the beginning of this scene.

[nerdelicious5]

he looks like Stalin

[TwistingWays]

OMG He kinda does! That's sad, and yet it works.

Iago has to be one of my favourite Shakespearean villains, even though I don't really like Othello as a play.

Claudius is my most favourite, but then again I was able to portray him :P

[leoma1985]

he really looks like Stalin in a Nazi suit in Apt Pupil.

[xxlornaluftno1fanxx]

aw i love zoe wanamaker she's a fabulous actress <3<3 xx

[xxlornaluftfan4evaxx]

zoe wanamaker is amazing <3<3 i love her :):) xx

[DrogbaXLampardXrule]

wow he really is a very good actor a good interpritation of iago

[rockdeworld]

This is actually a pretty good re-enactment, imo. Not exactly how I imagined it, but well-done, nonetheless.

[Taramriel]

My and my English Lit buddy in senior school did a much funnier version of Othello. Way better than the original.

[Tehmoth4]

im sure

[Taramriel]

You can't be, you weren't there. I am sure however.

[acountddd]

During that scene where he's being chased by Othello I fully expected him to say "You shall not pass!"

[NephandiMan]

Funny you should mention that...I was waiting for Othello to say "Come on! Stop trying to hit me, and hit me!"

[SK1991SK1991SK]

lol

[blahblahbleebleeblah]

The Balrog would have looked shitty on stage. I imagine 5 guys under a blanket like a Chinese Dragon.

[acountddd]

omg, it's Gandalf!

[missbabyice]

When was this made? Ian McKellan was too old to play Iago!!

[booski]

Just awful....

[samballs56]

this is crap. Seen way better versions. Looks like its set 300 years too late. Is it meant to be set in the 18/1900s? Or just shit costume?

[maralily]

Modern stagings of Shakespeare's plays are often set in different eras to give them a different look. Sometimes this helps to bring the production closer to the audience's understanding of the language.

[mistersjmcg]

are you an idiot? when do you think Shakespeare was writing his plays in he fucking 20th century?!?! what a moronic comment.

[mithol]

It's irrelevant when Shakespeare was writing his plays, as most of them were set in, what was for him, the distant past. And yet, in his time, they dressed in contemporary costumes on stage. Why not do the same now? It is a common thing to be done with Shakespearian plays.

[arwentheelf02]

That kiss was PAINFUL to watch.

[xxxlovemeforeverxxx]

It was ay! Fuck! *throws up*..

[xlulumerylstreepfanx]

i love zoe she's a fantastic actress and she seems like a lovely person too she's stunningly beautiful too <3<3 xx

[goldengreen73]

Ian McKellen and Zoe Wanamaker..love them!

[kayleighsmithson]

You sir, are an idiot.

[ginobarrau]

It is called art. You can think it's useless, but, in my opinion, it is a lot more necessary for a human being than all yours scientific stuff.

[skye08scott]

I would have to strongly disagree with you on Willard White's performance. He truly seemed to lack the essence of Othello. The rage that he has is born not only out of jealousy, but out of extreme hurt. This portrayal seems to mark Othello as a brute, whereas the text seems to indicate that he is more of a wounded animal. Great characteristics, but personally the performance doesn't truly hit the mark.

[biberkopf]

Where the hell have I been that I've not heard of Willard White before. That was fantastic! Beautiful playing of Othello!

[griggle990]

What movie is this from? It looks like it takes place during the civil war.

[DaniMajor]

What does he says before he kisses her? She says: Poor lady, she shall run mad when she´ll lack it. And then he says something. What?

[evilfroggie]

I love the performance of Willard White. Is he really an opera singer as well?

[DaniMajor]

She is Susan from My Family

[Anon5K]

Desdemona should have used Kleenex.

[The0Kitch]

Emillia is a bit of a thick, she got the handkerchief of her friend, and didn't ask why. the times were very different then

[claudiacloclo1]

oopsy

[Mlfan722]

This morning, in an in-depth exclusive interview, Anthony Hopkins visits with host Lynn Hoffman to give his insight on his multi-faceted career from working with film history's biggest luminaries to winning the Academy Award to what the future of film holds. Also, making special appearances are actors Alec Baldwin, S. Epatha Merkeson ("Law & Order") and Michael Clark Duncan ("The Green Mile").

[Toreadorssong]

For those who think opera singers not good actors, Othello is Willard White whose first career is that of an operatic bass-baritone.

[claudiacloclo1]

am reading it in english love that book

[chevgr]

its a play dear, not a "book"

[stangerz91]

And what name do you give to an object existing of pages?

[chevgr]

an object existing of pages : newspaper, script, novel, book, comic, screenplay, play to name a few. they are all different things cretin

[stangerz91]

Ok you convinced me :P

[henrysvg]

rude.

[henrysvg]

very rude.

[OpalAquarius28]

That's Madam Hooch from Harry Potter! Awesome. I heart her and Ian.

[hitokiridarkempress]

That's Emilia, Desdemona's maid. And Iago's wife, I'd smoke too if I was married to Iago. Ian's preformance as Iago is awesome.

[ki113rknight]

wow! i never know des smoke! haha

[potomusicfan4ever]

Can you post any more clips of this version?