I selected the scene of Othello slaps Desdemona from scene 1 in Act 4. It is because this is one of the most dramatic scene in the story so far. Othello’s rage makes him to slap Desdemona in front of other people like Iago and Lodovico.

I watched the Orson Welles version first. It is a black-and-white film. The slap scene is in around 58:40. Orson Welles version had some changes from the original text of Othello. The slap scene in this version was dramatized by capturing Othello facial expression with close-up shots. There were some lines from the original text were replaced by Othello close-up shots such as from line 233-240.

After I watched Orson Welles version, I watched the clip from Laurence Fishburne/Kenneth Branagh version of Othello. This is a color film and more modern compare to Welles version. This version completely followed the original Othello text. The plot of each character was completely the same with the text.

I personally prefer Laurence Fishburne version of Othello than Orson Welles version. It is not only because Fishburne version is more modern and easier to watch, but the completenss of the entire scene. As I mentioned, director of Orson Welles version of Othello decided to cut off some line from the text and replaced them with extra close-up shots to capture Othello facial expression. This is a good idea but people who did not read the original story may not understand. Both version have similar cinematic composition and arrangement. I personally think Fishburne did a great job in portraiting Othello and he is better than Orson Welles.

From the start, the two scenes appear to be rather different and look like they almost represent alternate scenarios.  At this moment of the play, Othello has finally reached his limit with the treachery from Desdemona although there is actually none at all.  The lies planted in his head by Iago have built up the rage and distrust in his heart to the point where Othello has made his mind to go and kill his wife so that she may never betray him again.  Right before Othello ends Desdemona’s life, Othello gives a speech expressing how he didn’t want it to be like this but now he must do what he has to.  Othello also seems to want a confession out of Desdemona although regardless of her constant denials he still is set on ending her life.

This scene is depicted in both films and although the story remains the story, the attitude and tones of the two seem different.  It all begins with the entrance of Othello in both films (Laurence Fishburne one and Orson Welles one).  In Fishburne’s production, he enters the bedroom weeping and almost regretful for the action he is about to commit.  He tone, when speaking to Desdemona, is anger yet, in more of a disappointed voice, rather pure anger.  This production make Othello and Desdemona seem more like actual lovers compared to the Welles one, where they seem more like killer and victim.  In Welles’ edition of the play, Othello enters with a menacing force (and menacing entrance music).  Othello’s first words are “Put out the light and…put out the light.”  In this Othello, Othello does not seem sorry or regretful for what he has come to do, but rather, he slowly kills the lights and then kills Desdemona as simple as the candle.

Being a huge fan of the Matrix and seeing Laurence Fishburne in another movie other than the Matrix is pretty interesting. Knowing that he was in Othello, made me like the modern version than the old black and white version. The Orson Welles movie itself just felt very dark and old. Everything they wore looks like rags while the modern version had more designs. Even the settling looked more presentable and more with in the time period. I felt that the actor who portrays didn’t have as much as excitement from what I in mind. While Fishburne have a very strong and deep voice and visually looks like what I had in mind.

In both versions of the movie Othello closes the candles in Desdemona room before her death but after that there were some differences in both movies. In Welles version of the scene where Othello kills Desdemona, the camera faces Othello in the dark like the shadows and when he kills Desdemona he puts a blanket over her head and slightly chokes her to death. Welles version shows no feeling towards the murder just hate and revengefulness. While in the modern version there’s more of a struggle in the fight between Othello and Desdemona. Othello puts a pillow on her and Desdemona somewhat try to get out of it but Othello over powers her. While this was taking place Othello has tears in his eyes. Othello has a reason to kill in the modern version and the audience feel more connected towards him.

I watched two Othello films from Orson Welles and Laurence Fishburne / Kenneth Branagh production. Both have similar structures of the Othello story but also have different mood about the characters. From Orson Welles production, when Othello tried to kill Desdemona, his act like cruel and mood was jealousy and angry. So, it seems to readers that Othello didn’t love Desdemona anymore. However, from Laurence Fishburne / Kenneth Branagh production film has different mood like Othello still loves Desdemona. When he tried to kill Desdemona, he was crying for her like he didn’t want to kills Desdemona but no other choice than kills her. Also another difference from two films was when Othello slaps Desdemona’s face. In Orson production, Othello has conversation with Desdemona in front of the crowd and suddenly slaps her face. In the other hand, from Laurence Fishburne / Kenneth Branagh production took this scene as while Othello reading the letter, Desdemona keeps conversation with Casio and Othello got jealous from Desdemona then slaps her face.

If the reader likes to watch romance versions, I do prefer Laurence Fishburne / Kenneth Branagh production film because I think structure of the story is more understandable than the other. This production is showing well about how Othello feels change to Desdemona and how he thinks about her. Also, this production is color versions so it’s easier to watch than black and white versions.

In the end of act IV scene I there is shocking scene that Othello slaps Desdemona in front of everyone and call her devil. After read the play I watched movies made by two different producers and found out some differences in the movies.

The first movie I saw was made by Orson Welles, and the slap scene happened around 57:30-59:00. I tried to watch the scene many times with and without reading the text. Orson’s version made me confused for a while, because it had many changes from the original play. The thing Orson did is that they cut out many conversations and add in a lot of emotions into Othello’s action, thus making everyone clearly see and think that there is something not right about Othello. Also Orson removed Iago’s presence from the scene and leading the illusion that he had no relation with the conflict.

The second movie is made by Lawrence Fishbourne. There are many differences from the previous movie, this one is filmed completely following the original play. Compare Othello’s action between two films, Orson “writes” the anger and sadness into his action and speech, and Fishbourne make him more calm showing Othello with more coldness in his speech.

The background of the scene is also very different between each versions. Orson’s version makes the scene more public and humiliating with lot of witness around, and Fishbourne’s version makes the scene more private but with much more tension around them.

The biggest difference I saw is the tone of Othello. In Orson’s version Othello looks desperate and in Fishbourne’s version shows more hatred.

http://youtu.be/l-SiLuNBb3s

http://youtu.be/l-SiLuNBb3s

Othello, the Orson Welles production and the Laurence Fishburne / Kenneth Branagh production are both recreations of William Shakespeare’s play. Both productions capture the true meaning of the play while adjusting it to each of the producer’s vision. There are many similarities between the two productions but there are also many key differences. The most compelling difference is seen in the scene where Othello kills Desdemona.

Both productions are similar in terms of sticking to the script. They both show Othello blowing out the candles to turn off the lights. They both also stick to the word-by-word account written by Shakespeare. This is important because it enables the audience to easily follow both productions and understand exactly where the scene is.

However, dispite the similarities, both producers added their own interpretation to the acting. What really stood out the most in this scene was the way Desdemona reacted. In the Orson Welles production, Desdemona was completely submissive to Othello. She posed no resistance and accepted her death. In the Laurence Fishburne / Kenneth Branagh production, Desdemona was not as submissive. She was very reluctant and it was easy to see she did not want to die. When it came time for Othello to kill her, she resisted and fought back. Although he over powered her, the fact that she fights back showed she was not as submissive as she was in the Orson Welles production.

In both fishbourne’s and Welles did pretty well in translating Othello into a the big screen. I believe Welles did a better job in portraying the play as a whole and focused more on plot. In the Fishbourne/Branagh version I believe it is focused more on individual characters rather than the play as a whole. The character development has more emphasis than on the Welles version.
In the Welles version of the “slap scene” it is portrayed as more violent and a lot more emphasis on the brutality rather than the emotions like in Fishbourne’s version. For example in Fishbourne and Branagh version, after the slap you can focus on Desdemona’s face and see the emotions and even her eyes starting to tear and in Othellos you can see his emotions pouring out too. In Welles after the slap instead of focusing on Desdemona’s reaction to the slap, they focus more on how Othello is feeling and even that it’s just for a short glimpse.

In my opinion I prefer Fishbourne/Branagh’s version over the Welles because not only it’s a newer modern adaptation but because I was more interested about the character development. I read the text so I wasn’t too concern with the main overall plot of the story and more about the characters themselves so I preferred the Fishbourne/Branagh’s version.

-Matias Hernandez

The Slap scene, although similar in content, varies widely in context between the Welles version and the Fishbourne version of the films. The Welles version is much older than the Fishbourne version, which is evident not only from the quality of the film, but also, more significantly, from the societal norms displayed in the different interpretations of Othello. The place of women and domestic relationships at the time the movies are set has a clear effect on the direction of the films. In both versions, we see Othello angry with Desdemona and slap her out of rage. However, it is the reaction of the other characters that differentiates the scenes and their portrayal. In the Welles version, the Seignior comments on what an obedient wife Othello has and doesn’t question his motives. In contrast, in the Fishbourne version, which was filmed in a more modern period, the Seignior is clearly appalled by Othello’s behavior and confronts Othello for it. These contrasting portrayals cause the audience to interpret Othello’s character in different ways. In the Welles scene, the audience may see his actions as justified and common in relationships, while in Fishbourne’s version he is made out to seem more like the villain in this scenario. For modern day viewers, including myself, it is easier to relate to and appeal to the Fishbourne version because it expresses more contemporary ideologies.