Trevor Nunn's version of William Shakespeare's classic comedy revolves around Viola, a young woman who disguises herself as a man to work as a page in the court of Count Orsino. Orsino is hopelessly in love with a woman named Olivia, and soon Viola finds herself hopelessly in love with Orsino. But Orsino thinks she's a man, and her predicament worsens when she realizes that Olivia has fallen in love with her. Nunn's film sets the play in the 19th Century and brings out both the ebullient and the melancholy aspects of Shakespeare's story.
Released theatrically in the USA October 25, 1996.
Shown at the Telluride Film Festival September 1, 1966 and the 1966 Toronto Film Festival.
Co-produced by Twelfth Night Productions Ltd.
Color by Metrocolor and Technicolor.
Rated BBFC U by the British Board of Film Classification.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Stereo - English
Director of Photography
Clive Tickner:
Production Designer
Sophie Becher:
Source Writer
William Shakespeare: Sixteenth century English playwright/poet
Costume Designer
John Bright: Costume Designer
Review 1:
"...Handsomely shot, full of intriguing ideas..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.59-60 11/01/1996
Review 2:
"...[Bonham Carter is] gorgeous, ethereal, and flying high....An epic, all right, but of the heart..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.49 11/15/1996
Review 3:
"...One of the best of the many splendid recent films based on Shakespeare..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.28 10/15/1996
Review 4:
"...A handsome, agreeably performed rendition..."
Source: Variety
09/16/1996