MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
UK, 1993, 111 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Richard Briers, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale, Brian Blessed, Phylida Law, Imelda Staunton, Jimmy Yuill, Robert Sean Leonard, Michael Keaton, Ben Elton, Patrick Doyle, Richard Clifford.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Much ado about Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s bright plays. And Kenneth’s treatment emphasises brightness and the like this. It was filmed in the sunshine of Tuscany.
Kenneth Branagh still in his 20s, had directed a version of Henry V in 1989. While he directed contemporary stories like Peter’s Friends and Death Again, he directed himself in Hamlet in a full text version. His other Shakespearean films are Love’s Labours Lost, with a musical score from the popular songs of the 1930s, and As You Like It, set in Japan.
While Branagh has adapted the text, he has kept the spirit of the drama, the repartee, especially between Benedict and Beatrice, and included the musical turns.
He has assembled a very fine cast, with Thompson and himself in the leads, Richard Briers, appears in many Branagh films, is the father with Kate Beckinsale as his daughter. Denzel Washington is a surprise choice as the Prince, with Keanu Reeves as his villainous brother. Robert Sean Leonard is the suitor. And, for popular comedy, there is Michael Keaton as Dogberry with Ben Elton as his assistant.
A very entertaining Shakespearean film.
1. Kenneth Branagh bringing a popular Shakespearean play to the screen? Its tone, light, romantic, betrayal? Subtext of political hostility? An all’s well that ends well story?
2. The use of the text, editing, Kenneth Branagh’s choices? Language, the style of delivery, straight, comic? Conversational? The songs?
3. The editing of the film and its effect?
4. Tuscany, the countryside, light and sunlight, the mansion, the grounds, the mountains in the background? The beautiful photography? Most of the action outside? Overhead shots? The fluidity of the photography, the opening and the ending with long single takes?
5. The plot and characters? Benedick and Beatrice? In themselves? He in the military, she part of the family? The verbal jousting, scoring off each other? Their listening to the talk about themselves, about being in love with each other, the shock, believing it? The continued clashes, but love? And the decision to help Hero?
6. Claudio, his brother, his love the Hero? Ursula and Margaret in the household? The other members? The tragedy, his believing the story against Hero? The truth? His rage? The plan, Hero as dead, the truth to be revealed?
7. Leonardo and his brother, the friar, talking about Benedick and his love?
8. Ursula, Margaret, the women, talking about Beatrice in love?
9. The Prince, his arrival, Claudio and the entourage, everyone happy, Claudio and his love for Hero, the celebration, the plains for the marriage?
10. Don John, the evil brother, dark and sinister, his associates, the plan to trap Hero, his friends, the arrangement with Margaret, the Prince and Claudio witnessing the lovemaking? Don John and Monica?
11. The Prince and Claudio, the elements of their denunciation, the later revelations, the change of heart?
12. The comedy with Dogberry and his assistant, manner of talk, pretending to ride the horse, presenting the case, the evidence, the notary, Dogberry being insulted as an ass? The confessions of the criminals?
13. Margaret, the realisation of what had happened, grief?
14. Don Jon, the return, his arrest?
15. The preparation for the marriage, Claudio’s consent to marry the cousin, the revelation of the truth, happiness?
16. Benedict and Beatrice, accepting the reality, the plan to marry, their future?
17. Shakespeare, style, verse and poetry, romance and comedy, and a sense of humanity?
