Shakespeare photographs

September 27, 2003 9:47 AM

Cleveland Press Shakespeare PhotographsEr, no, not photographs of Shakespeare--that would be difficult--but of Shakespeare's plays in performance, 1870-1982. Covers productions in all media; photographs can be browsed by dramatic genre (tragedy, comedy, etc.). On a related note, see also Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated (outstanding and extensive site devoted to nineteenth-century paintings of scenes from Shakespeare's plays).
posted by thomas j wise (6 comments total)

Nice link. I've always loved stills from stage productions. Then there's the added kick of seeing a young Tom Hanks performing in some early stage roles.
posted by trivirgata at 12:20 PM on September 27, 2003

[this is good]
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:48 PM on September 27, 2003

Groovy. I'm glad you posted this.

Ben Kenobi and friend, 1976.
Cleopatra, 1917.
posted by philfromhavelock at 9:28 PM on September 27, 2003

I really hadn't realised how many old men had played Romeo over the years. And I wish someone would get around to making a film of 'Measure For Measure' in the noir-thriller style it deserves.
posted by feelinglistless at 12:43 AM on September 28, 2003

Ack! A pox on "updated" Shakespeare set upon a foolishly inappropriate backdrop. Save me from Falstaff in the bayou with gators nipping at his ass. No more MacBeth with tommyguns and molls. King Lear wasn't a cowboy and Othello never heard of Viet-Nam.
posted by RavinDave at 5:09 AM on September 28, 2003

Oh well yes, but done well, more contemporary settings can really illuminate a play. Branagh's 'Love's Labour's Lost' was a joy and certainly better than raw version of the play which is a bit simplistic anyway. Although as you say, done badly it can be just awful. I once saw Macbeth in a WW1 setting. Nooooo....
posted by feelinglistless at 6:45 AM on September 28, 2003