Bevis & the Bard
Shakespeare is the standard by which writers are judged. Kenneth Branagh has devoted most of his career to interpreting the immortal works. Of the adaptations I’ve seen, Henry V (1989), his first film, was great, Much Ado about Nothing (1998) charming, and Hamlet (1996) overdone. His most recent effort is a bio of the retired Bard’s final years, All Is True (2018), a line from Henry VIII. Branagh stars, unrecognizable beneath the makeup. The great Judi Dench plays his wife, Kathryn Wilder and Lydia Wilson his daughters. All are first rate. The story concentrates on domestic issues, although there are many quotes from the sonnets and plays. According to the scenario, while Shakespeare was courting fame and fortune away from home, his family did not see much of him and felt neglected and embittered. How much is true and how much is speculation is open to debate, but the squabbles are well done. As presented in the film, the Shakepeares are a family similar to any other. This being the work of a modern writer, Ben Elton, certain slants are to be expected. For instance, the protagonist is visited by an admirer, a nobleman, who praises those of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, most now dead, who lived a life of dissipation, including one who was a pedophile. He dismisses it as living. The part is perfectly cast — Ian McKellen. That bit didn’t bother me, but the intimation that Shakespeare had a sexual longing for the rascal did. This is one of my biggest turnoffs regarding modern fare, as is feminism in retrospect, which the narrative also includes. Despite these issues, I found the film touching, especially regarding Shakespeare’s grieving for his son, who died at eleven. Felton has had a long career. To my surprise, given the seriousness of All Is True, he has written mostly Britcoms for the BBC. Then again, Shakespeare also swung between comedy and drama. 2300+ users at IMDb have rated All Is True, forging to a consensus of 6.2 on a scale of ten. Mercifully, it runs only an 1:41. It is another of those current flicks where the cinematography is often dark. I hope I begin a long break from that. The film is strictly for admirers of the Bard. Here’s the star in character. I still don’t recognize him:
RIP actor Orson Bean, 91. Born Dallas Frederick Burrows, he had a fine career on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination as Featured Actor in Subways Are for Sleeping. He appeared regularly on TV from 1952 to the present. There are 92 titles listed under his name at IMDb, but that tells only a fraction of his story. He was in 146 episodes alone of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and 26 of Desperate Housewives, and did multiple guest shots on many popular series. He was the star of the Mr. Bevis episode of The Twilight Zone. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show, a fine raconteur, always a sunny presence. I remember his account, heard decades ago, of his son walking in on his mom and dad while they were having sex, and Bean using the term “lascivious position.” I may remember that till the day I die — or go daft. Well done, sir. Thank you.
My thanks to the woman who prefers serious work, who bought The Story of the Lost Child: Neapolitan Novels, Book Four by Elena Ferrante, the only sale on this beautiful February day.
My Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Fortezza/e/B002M4NLJE
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Vic-Fortezza-Author-118397641564801/?fref=ts
Read Vic’s Stories, free: http://fictionaut.com/users/vic-fortezza
