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A truly magnificent adaptation of Shakespeare's tender and intriguing period comedy. A plethora of top actors, sumptuous Tuscany locations and the matchmaking that turns bickering to love between Beatrice and Benedick (Thompson and Branagh). Hey nonny nonny! find out more...

Love him or loathe him, there's no denying Olivier's huge stage presence, and never more so than in his stunning portrayal of Othello. Whether his grandiose performance in John Dexter's National Theatre production translates well to the screen is quite another matter. A film of a theatrical production. find out more...

A triumph of artistic imagination and resourcefulness over limited budget since this was shot, in Morocco and Italy, on a shoestring; when an actor didn't turn up he used a stand-in and changed the camera angle, when the costumes didn't show up, he filmed in a Turkish bath! This is the Bard filmed with love and enthusiasm, but never with reverence. The visual imagery is matched to the words, they hit sensory overload together. Also this is a credit to celluloid restoration, the film was mislaid find out more...

One of the BBC's typically exemplary adaptations of one of the great Bard's lesser known works performed by pretty much the cream of British theatre. find out more...

A fine BBC adaptation of one of the bard's lesser known and earliest comedies observing the inevitable conflict between friendship and love when two friends travel to Milan and, regardless of their filial obligations, become besotted. find out more...

This outstanding BBC production captures all the magical quality and dramatically changing moods of this great tragicomedy, one of the greatest of Shakespeare's works. Like all the Beeb productions this is the best version for study courses. find out more...

"Josephine Decker has created a new style of thriller that employs allegory, incorporates touches of David Lynch as well as Magritte -esque imagery. Decker's setting of a remote farm feels like a metaphor for what turns out to be hell. The raw and emotional (and yes, sometimes funny) dialog tells a story that can seem familiar at points but really is meant to keep you guessing and off balance. I really enjoyed how the undertones of this film came to life through her very deft contrast of the find out more...

One of the BBC's exhaustive and typically exemplary adaptations of some of the great bard's best known plays and also a number of his lesser known works. All filmed between the late 1970s and early 1980s and performed by pretty much the cream of British theatre. Based round incidents in the Trojan War. find out more...