Antony and Cleopatra

About 29 minutes into the second tape, the video play deviated from the written play somewhat. For the video compared to 4:14:119, 4:14:121, and 4:14:133, Antony calls not Diomed but another name--probably Sileucus. Also the actor of Sileucus was used, so it seems that this "error" was more than just mis-speaking by Timothy Dolton. I found this alteration peculiar as well as distracting. The change in the video play shook my confidence in an otherwise impressive performance

...this was absolutely the worst Shakespearean production ever created on the face of the planet. Enobarbus talks like he is drunk and Cleopatra looks cheap and does not fit the part of the beautiful queen of Egypt because she is not! I would rather watch paint dry or perhaps watch grass grow than see this movie. Timothy Dalton's Antony wears 1950's bomber jackets and looks like he's constantly ready to fight a duel on stage. Caesar highly resembles Richard Simmons and does not look a thing like royalty. I was waiting throughout the entire film for him to break out into a rousing round of "Shake Your Booty". The costumes, props, scenery, and camera work was absolutely vomit-inducing, and this comment is coming from a group of high school students, who in their short lives have seen more entertaining Kindergarten graduations. It is no surprise that we are only the second commentators on this movie. We imagine that construction workers can read Shakespeare better than these so-called "actors". The "actors" lack everything from acting abilities, articulation, and passion for the beautiful poetry that should have been expressed in this film.

This movie was supposed to be a complex love between two people, but Antony could not even look Cleopatra in the eye, let alone try and persuade us that they "love" each other. Antony had no rhythm whatsoever. He looked like he was ready to pounce on something. A quadraplegic amputee has more flow in their actions than these "actors".

We doubt anyone wanted to waste their time to critique this movie. However, we were just so angry that Shakespeare has been disgraced by this freak of nature that people actually dare call a "film". Our teacher should be refunded the $80 he spent on this monstrosity. Not that we're bitter.

"Antony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare" (that's the full on screen title, folks) carries a 1983 copyright but at least one source claimed that it was completed in 1981, yet saw no theatrical release so far as I know (shot on videotape rather than film), and a British telecast on Oct. 5, 1984 though obviously PBS would have provided its natural home in the US, now easily available on DVD though still quite obscure. Casting must have proved problematic, small screen actors like Anthony Geary, Nichelle Nichols, and Water Koenig in support of the two leads, Lynn Redgrave as Cleopatra, a bit long in the tooth but okay, and Timothy Dalton as Marc Antony, a fine choice if somewhat ill at ease. Like Charlton Heston's 1972 feature adaptation, this clocks in at about 3 hours and doesn't measure up to other versions, the videotape quality and stage settings no match for genuine film excitement. The most notable surprise among the performers is the presence of John Carradine (apparently reading from cue cards), longtime purveyor of the Bard since his teens yet rarely cast in such roles on screen, mostly the stage. In 1943 he even started his own theatrical group, John Carradine and His Shakespeare Players, traveling the West Coast in triumphant presentations of "Othello," "The Merchant of Venice," and finally "Hamlet," his fervent wish to reach Broadway by the spring of 1944 to celebrate the birthday of his late friend John Barrymore. Alas, financial woes put a premature end to his greatest dream, exhibitors noting the huge box office but deciding that the Carradine name just wasn't enough of a draw to earn their support. Here billed 4th as the Soothsayer, he offers sage advice to Nichelle Nichols' Charmian and Kim Miyori's Iras, their palms read if not their faces, and is later seen opposite Dalton's Antony, favorably comparing his prowess to that of rival Octavius Caesar (Anthony Geary). Two sequences adding up to 4 1/2 minutes out of three bloated hours, but truly the last opportunity to see a lifelong Shakespearean receive a measure of respect near the end of his life (he gave all his sons the same advice about acting: "if you can do Shakespeare, you can do anything!").

Timothy Dalton and Lynn Redgrave offer fine work in this adaptation of Shakespeare's Drama.Although production values for this live on tape adaptation are below par the acting for the most part is fine. Barrie Ingham as Enobarbus offers the finest performance in the play. Always a strong character actor this (along with Pellinore in "Camelot"(1982))is one of his most brilliant portrayals. Walter Koenig also scores as the rebelious Pompey,showing for the first time that he is a much better actor than "Star Trek" allowed. some of the supporting players are dreadful however.In particular Anthony Geary as Octavius Ceasar. Why they cast this man in Shakespeare is beyond me. Overall its a decent adaptation of a play that deserves a more detailed treatment.

Although there are good performances by Lynn Redgrave, Timothy Dalton, Barrie Ingham & Earl Boen, on the other hand you have Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer from "General Hospital") dreadful as Caesar & Walter Koenig (Chekhov from "Star Trek") mangling Pompey the pirate. And the blonde bimbo playing Octavia is bland & unemotional. They don't belong in a Shakespeare play & should keep their day jobs! Nichelle Nichols does OK as Charmian. Costumes are adequate, but camera editing is not very smooth. Also missing is some strong passion or chemistry between the 2 leads. Saw this tonight on public TV. This is a play that Kenneth Branagh should consider directing for the big screen & casting himself as Antony...