Othello

The tragedy of Othello takes a big hit by the long first act taking place in Venice prior to the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Its too bad that the play itself could not function more like the opera OTELLO based on the BARD in which all of Act I is omitted and begins with the sea storm and safe arrival of Otello and his retinue in Cyprus. What details we need to know of act one are brought out in the rest of the opera. As to the film itself, it is a noble effort with three great leads, but I found it cumbersome having seen drama and opera many, many, times. Half the time I hoped they would break out into arias instead of saying the words. This production was barely acceptable for me. OTHELLO has been filmed far too often let alone all the stage productions to which we are subjected. Even these great actors didn't get me terribly worked up. I hate the term "romantic drama" for the tragedy of Othello.