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List Price: $14.98Amazon.com's Price: $12.99 You Save: $1.99 (13%)Prices subject to change.
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780792854937
Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0792854934
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 04, 2003
Running Time: 123 minutes
Sales Rank: 41763
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: September 12, 1986
Editorial Review:
Description:
Legendary Italian director Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet) and renowned tenor Placido Domingo unite their mighty talents for this lavish production of composer Giuseppe Verdi's classic opera based on Shakespeare's timeless, tragic masterpiece Othello. Victorious general Otello (Domingo) returns in triumph to his adopted city of Venice after vanquishing its foes at sea. But noteveryone is poised to give him a hero's welcome. Even as his beautiful wife Desdemona (Katia Ricciarelli) lavishes him with affection, Iago (Justino Diaz), a disgruntled ensign, plots his downfall. And when Iago uses Otello's own jealous nature against him, he drives a wedge between husband and wife with devastating consequences!
Amazon.com:
This is not strictly Verdi's Otello; it is a fast-moving, hard-hitting film adaptation of the opera that omits some of the music (most notably the 'Willow Song') to enhance the dramatic pace. With brilliant camera work, the 'you-are-there' impact of film vs. a videotaped stage production, and outstanding performances from all the principals, it is also the Otello that you may find yourself replaying most frequently.
Director Franco Zeffirelli has been criticized for altering Verdi--in effect, for adapting the libretto (the best one Verdi ever had) to a medium that Verdi never imagined. But he is only giving to Verdi the same kind of treatment that Verdi gave to Shakespeare and Shakespeare gave to his Italian sources. It's a daring treatment, but it works brilliantly. Placido Domingo stands out in his generation as an interpreter of Otello, vocally powerful and dramatically convincing. He is well supported by Katia Ricciarelli as Desdemona and Justino Diaz as Iago. --Joe McLellan
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Placido Domingo as Otello?
Okay, i come to this review with a prejudice. I like opera and I LOVE Placido Domingo (what a warm, yummy voice he has!) so I gave this version 4 stars. Zeffirelli did a great job in directing yet another of his opera-to-film and the sets and staging is ingenious. I REALLY liked "the temptation scene" set in a learned man's library with maps, atronomy devices (astroglobe?), and the trappings of empiricism surrounding Othello and Iago as Iago attempts to drop specious comments about Desdemona. ... Read More
Rating:  - The Very Best Otello
Besides being considered the best transcription and translation of Shakespeare into another media by Arrigo Boito, Franco Zeffirelli has created the definitive film of Verdi's Otello. Placido Domingo's singing is brilliant and it is a shame that he was not nominated for an Academy Award for his dramatic acting in this opera. This film is truly a treasure and a masterpiece.
Rating: - Placido Domingo is the definitive Othello of this generation
I could watch Placido Domingo sing Othello a thousand times and not get tired of it. This production is no exception. I have three of his performances on DVD and on each he finds a new aspect of this character to portray. He is a great artist.
Rating: - My first and favorite Otello
First things first, I love Katia Ricciarelli and Placido Domingo. They are my two favorite opera singers ever. That being said, I can't say anything bad about them!!
Zeffirelli did a brilliant job with this movie. Everything was absolutely beautiful!
Diaz was a creepy, evil, and great Iago. He's probably one of the best interpreters, in my opinion. Domingo, what can I say? He's the king of all Otello's! It's like Verdi wrote Otello for Domingo! You can not find anyone better. ... Read More
Rating:  - A good film totally ruined by the Director.
This film is not for Opera funs especially for connoisseurs of Verdi's Otello. Franco Zeffirelli simply presents his own version of the Opera and NOT VERDI'S. The film starts brilliantly with Otello's ship in the high seas in a most spectacular storm. Problems begin as soon as Otello lands in Cyprus. (Cyprus by the way and not Venice! as mentioned at the back of the DVD by some inexcusably ignorant person). Music from a ballet score that Verdi had written for Paris emerges instead of the expected chorus. ... Read More
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