Laurence Olivier Shakespeare Collection [DVD]

Truly enjoy this grand collection of Shakespeare movies performed by one of the best actors in the world, Sir Laurence Olivier. All discs play really well on my all-region DVD player. My favorite has to be "The Merchant of Venice" in which he played the cunning character, Shylock, alongside his wife, actress Joan Plowright as Portia, and his protégé who happens to be one of my all-time favorite UK actors in the world, Mr. Jeremy Brett! Happy me! :D He was most famous for his portrayal as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's super sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, produced by Granada Studios on ITV UK (1984-1994). Jeremy Brett played Bassanio and he looked kinda cute with mustache. I am biased but I always love seeing British gentlemen wearing black tux and top hats. Bottom line: this DVD box-set is highly recommended.

Olivier's film may be unfashionable now but they represent an astonishing achievement at a time when Shakespeare was rarely filmed. Again although he accused of over acting by some the performances are still magnetic and give us a glimpse of why many people still call Olivier the greatest classical actor of the 20th century.

It is easy now to forget that Laurence Olivier was the first to film some of Shakespeare's greatest plays to compete with lighter entertainment at the box office. His Henry V, filmed with a much smaller cast and budget during the War as a morale-booster to the beleaguered British, is a brilliant production that still holds the interest. His Hamlet on film was controversial at the time for its Freudian interpretation and I hate the excessive cuts. Richard III and Othello (a film of his National Theatre production) set the standard for years afterward. Also included are The Merchant of Venice and King Lear from late in Olivier's career.Olivier was a thrilling actor on the stage and much of his magic is captured these screen performances. I still miss him.

This is probably the cheapest way to get a good selection of Shakespeare roles performed by Laurence Olivier, the definitive Shakespearean actor. The only film I wish was included in this collection was his version of Othello. I have not seen it and it is rather pricey to buy on it's own.Henry VHamletKing LearMerchant of VeniceRichard IIIAs You Like ItAs well as all the plays listed, it comes with an interview disc of Laurence Olivier being interviewed by Michael Parkinson. You love Shakespeare, you love Laurence Olivier? What are you waiting for? Buy it! Only quibble is because of the design of the packaging one of the discs keeps falling out.

This was a present for my dad, but I have watched the plays too, and we both enjoyed them. His favourite was The Merchant of Venice.I liked Henry V best because of the "look" of it: The action shifts from a performance in a theatre into a landscape which looks like a medieval painting with all the same errors in scale and perspective.... and beautiful colours.By contrast, Hamlet was set in a bleak monochrome castle. Laurence Olivier was particularly good in this one.Overall, this is a good introduction to Shakespeare.

This was fantistc Richard the thrid Olivier Brakes the golden rule he talks to the Audince he Looks down the cam and talks to you telling you his Plot to be king and he makes you feel bad cos for a short time even you are Taken in By Richirds Charm!. This is Must have if you want to see Shakespear Acted to Perfection Not just By Olivier But also the other cast of all the Movies BUY BUY BUY!! Is all i can say if you Love the Bard!.

A great set of some of the best known of Shakespeare's plays in film format. It includes his brilliant version of Henry V. Filmed in the dark days of World War 2. A load of famous faces plus extras who were in many cases service men.

What do you think I used it for, for goodness’ sake? To watch genius actor Lawrence Olivier act in genius poet’s plays.