tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post1219190065673780881..comments2024-01-20T05:36:17.500-06:00Comments on Bardfilm: New Poll: Revising the Shakespeare and Film Syllabuskjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14863005904313974654noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-51811951472139838932009-01-07T07:26:00.000-06:002009-01-07T07:26:00.000-06:00P.S. I misspelled Lubitsch in my original post. ...P.S. I misspelled Lubitsch in my original post. He is said to have been the favorite director of Billy Wilder, another 1930s exile from Nazi Germany who landed in Hollywood and went on to become a legend in the American film industry. Maybe another factor to tilt the decision in favor of Merchant? (Sorry, Annie!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-82676906952033109292009-01-07T06:50:00.000-06:002009-01-07T06:50:00.000-06:00Annie seems unaware that kj had a post on the 1942...Annie seems unaware that kj had a post on the 1942 "To be or not to be" which contains the scene to which I alluded. (Truth to tell, I missed it, too!) Here 'tis: http://bardfilm.blogspot.com/2008/07/jack-benny-and-sympathetic-shylock.html<BR/>I see that Merchant and Shrew are now tied for excision. What a dilemma!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-44266863261002394492009-01-07T06:23:00.000-06:002009-01-07T06:23:00.000-06:00If the course loses Merchant of Venice, it loses n...If the course loses <I>Merchant of Venice</I>, it loses not only the Jack Benny <I>To Be or Not To Be</I> but also the Mel Brooks <I>To Be or Not To Be</I>. If it loses <I>Taming</I>, it loses <I>Kiss me, Kate</I>. Ah, what turmoil!<BR/><BR/>Of course, I could form a new section of the course called "Shakespearean Derivatives" and include both. In the past, I've had students watch such films individually and write a final essay on them.<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comments! They may give me just the inspiration I need!<BR/><BR/>kjkjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14863005904313974654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-19711207752661438572009-01-06T16:42:00.000-06:002009-01-06T16:42:00.000-06:00Although I haven't seen you mention Jack Benny in ...Although I haven't seen you mention Jack Benny in "To Be or Not to Be," it has the same cast/play mechanics as Kiss Me, Kate. Still, I have to go with Kate. Sorry, Shylock!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-60959975046291016182009-01-06T09:29:00.000-06:002009-01-06T09:29:00.000-06:00Of those four, Shrew is the one to lose. Richard ...Of those four, Shrew is the one to lose. Richard and Henry are must-sees, as you intimate, but having just watched the PBS special on "Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood," I think the same applies to Merchant. One of the films highlighted in the special is the 1942 "To Be or Not To Be," directed by the exiled Ernst Lebitsch. The Jewish troupe's off-stage insertion of Shylock's words in a confrontation with the suppressing authorities is a dramatic coup. So I'm casting my vote to retain it, along with the other two strongest candidate. (Sorry, Kate!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com