Of the most popular and frequently produced would be that of Romeo and Juliet. Before 1968, there had been many versions of this play done by movies. However, it wasn't until 1968 that the characters of Romeo and Juliet were played by teenagers. Previously, the characters had been played by older adults. the movie starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey became very popular. This movie displayed the never resting pressures of teenagers and won Oscars for design and cinematography. This was the first movie version of Romeo and Juliet that showed them naked on their weeding night. Michael York, who recently played in Austin Powers, played the character of Tybalt.
Of course, many people have seen the 1996 version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Clarie Danes. This was a version also played by teenagers, or at least close to that age, and was done in modern settings and clothing. This was displeasing to some people because Shakespeare's plays were all previously performed in the modern Elizabethan dress, no matter the historical setting.
Much Ado About Nothing hit the screens a few years ago. The actors include Kate Beckinsale as Hero, Kenneth Branagh (who is in almost every recent Shakespeare play it seems) as Benedick, Michael Keaton as Dogberry, Robert Seam Leonard as Claudio, Keanu Reeves as Don John, Emma Thompson as Beatrice, and Denzel Washington as Don Pedro.
Kenneth Branagh shows up again in Hamlet. It is a four hour film with a soundtrack by Patrick Doyle. This version of Hamlet was a great success at the box office. For a copy of an interview with Kenneth Branagh, link to
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6261/rscham.html.
Among the favorites is Twelfth Night. Many versions of this play have been showing up in movies with actors such as Helena Bonham Carter and Director Trevor Nunn. All of these plays showing up in the movies from generation to generation is just another piece of evidence that Shakespeare has left a lasting impression on people as readers, theater patrons, and cinema addicts.
