Othello

I like this adaptation of Shakespeare's play, mostly for the performances by two of Weimar Germany's greatest screen actors, Emil Jannings as Othello and Werner Krauss as Iago. There are many alterations to the original text in addition to the expected truncation. Director Dimitri Buchowetzki achieves a good pacing out of it. Lotte Eisner (author of "The Haunted Screen") says the language is naïve, but I don't consider that very important in a silent film. There are plenty of better ways to get that if one wants. For a silent film especially, visually adapting the play is essential.

Visually, the film has survived well over the years. The photography is crisp. The sets look nice, as well. They're studio built, which is a convenience in controlling lighting, but they're not exceptional, nor used very effectively. One of the better-filmed moments is when the sets are blacked out during the dramatic dénouement. Jannings and Krauss, who both came from the stage, compensate for many of the shortcomings, though. In moor makeup, Jannings again demonstrates his versatility, and he gives a strong performance. But, I think Krauss steals the show; he is thoroughly dastardly, with tights and occasional dance-like movements, and his character directs the plot throughout. This film was worthwhile for me because of those two performances.

After the Russian director Dimitri Buchowetzki had made the film 'Danton' in 1921 with Emil Jannings and Werner Krauß in the leading roles, he cast the two greats of the Berlin stage again a year later, this time for his film version of the Shakespeare drama 'Othello'. Jannings plays the 'Moor of Venice', as was customary at the time as a white actor in blackface. In this classic role, he is able to set off all the fireworks of his' acting artistry, from affably jovial to imperiously dominant, but above all he has ample opportunity for his special showpiece: the portrayal of someone who has been overpowered by circumstances and whose control over himself has been torn away by an unbearable fate. Krauß plays Iago, probably the most despicable villain in Shakespeare's canon.

Buchowetzki, who is also responsible for the screenplay, sticks to the original until shortly before the end of the film. Othello, a successful admiral of the Venetian fleet, loves Desdemona (Ica von Lenkeffy), the daughter of a councillor, and she loves him. As Desdemona's father (Friedrich Kühne) refuses the African his daughter's hand in marriage, they marry in secret. Iago, whom Othello trusts completely, envies him his happiness, especially after Othello has promoted Cassio (Theodor Loos) instead of him. Iago now secretly plots to take revenge on Othello. In doing so, he shamelessly exploits the good faith of Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, his own wife Emilia (Lya de Putti) and the rich fool Rodrigo (Ferdinand von Alten). Iago has realised that Othello's greatest weakness is unbridled jealousy. He therefore skilfully sows more and more doubts about Desdemona's fidelity until he has driven Othello and everyone else involved to disaster.

At the end, Buchowetzki deviates from the original. The great French director René Clair praised him for this free interpretation, which follows the spirit rather than the letter of the play. Overall, 'Othello' was well received by contemporary critics. Even the American trade journal 'Variety', which was traditionally rather critical of European films, wrote: 'From an artistic point of view, the film is a triumph. Emil Jannings' Othello is a magnificent acting performance, and the production leaves nothing to be desired', only to immediately question the commercial value of such art films in America.

Today, Werner Krauß in the role of Iago seems more remarkable than Emil Jannings, who can be seen playing a similar role in many films. There is probably no other film in which the busy Krauß plays such a perfidious villain. He does this superbly here, knowing full well that the villain Iago in 'Othello' - as so often - is the real star of the play, because he is much more interesting than the naive hero and also always informs the audience in advance about his diabolical plans. The matter becomes particularly remarkable when one realises that Krauß' portrayal of Iago can certainly be seen as a foreshadowing of the inglorious, inhuman positions and roles that the later bearer of the Iffland Ring took on in the Third Reich. Just think of his 'embodiment of the Jewish people' in Veit Harlan's infamous propaganda film 'Jud Süß'.

The essence of Buchowetzki's film is above all the interplay between two masterful actors, who are provided with grandiose buildings and effective sets. Like 'Danton', 'Othello' often appears stage-like, which is of course appropriate for the subject matter. However this Shakespeare is not academically anaemic, but a juicy adaptation.

I am not a huge fan of Shakespeare, but I have seen a couple dozen different silent versions of his films and I must say that this film is definitely the best. Unlike some of the earliest versions that only lasted a few minutes (way too short to do any justice to the plays), this one was a lengthy film--allowing for a reasonable treatment. Now you STILL can't compare this to a sound version of the film because since it's a silent, the lyrical quality of the play is missing. Some purists might hate this (after all, they don't recite the play verbatim like many sound versions), but I liked how the play was changed to a pantomime piece with an emphasis on action and characterization.

For someone who doesn't get excited about hearing all the original words of Shakespeare yet loves silent films, this is a wonderful film. The sets for 1922 were exceptional and the acting was fortunately not over the top--which is sometimes a problem with OTHELLO. You do NOT see a crazed caricature of a man, as Emil Jannings plays the lead role very well--with humanity and not relying too much on gesticulations or campiness. He was an amazing silent actor--hence his winning the first Oscar for Best Actor just a few years later. Unfortunately, he was also a devoted Nazi and wasted his talent from the mid-1930s onward!

"German expressionism" is not so much in the film as it is as on the faces of Emil Jannings (Othello) and Werner Krauss (Iago), in this silent version of "Othello". The production is nicely staged, with everyone finding their marks. Its costumes and sets are very well designed. The adaptation is faithful enough to Shakespeare's envious storyline. But, watching two overly grand old actors is the film's main calling card, presently. Mugging uproariously in a fat-clinging black outfit, Mr. Krauss renders darkly-skinned Mr. Jannings positively subtle, in comparison. The most sensual scene has Krauss delivering Jannings' handkerchief while arranging the pillows for his head.

***** Othello (2/22) Dimitri Buchowetzki ~ Emil Jannings, Werner Krauss, Ica von Lenkeffy

Othello (1922)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

German version of the classic Shakespeare play has Iago (Werner Krauss) making Othello (Emil Jannings) jealous of his wife so that revenge can be played out. Director Dimitri Buchowetzki does a very good job at the film's pacing and keeps the film moving very well. The 80-minute running time comes and goes very quickly, which is always a benefit when we're talking Shakespeare. The sets look very good as well but the big highlight are the performances by Krauss and Jannings. Both men do superb work here, especially Jannings who gives one of the best performances of Othello that I've seen.