Othello

Synopsis

Cut-out animated cartoon burlesque of Othello. Bioscope (29 July 1920) described the film thus - ‘The Moor of Venice becomes a seaside nigger minstrel whilst Desdemona (known as Mona for short) is the lovely daughter of the local bathing machine proprietor. After many humorous adventures in which the main parts of the famous tragedy are ingeniously, if irreverently introduced, Othello smothers Desdemona with burnt cork and kisses’.

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film

Technical information

Black-and-white / Silent

Year of release

1920

Notes

The copy held in the BFI National Archive is incomplete (200ft, 2 mins). This print shows Othello blacking up, Mona at work at the seaside, Othello showing her a handkerchief, and the final kisses. The fragment may be viewed at www.screenonline.org.uk (accessed 7/2008)

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); burlesgues

Credits

Director

Anson Dyer

Producer

Cecil Hepworth

Screenplay

Anson Dyer

Animator

Anson Dyer

Production Company

Name

Hepworth Picture Plays

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN