Index IntroductionAnalysis of the personalized interpretation of the original materialBibliography IntroductionOthello is a 1951 Shakespearean drama produced, directed and adapted by Orson Welles who also plays the protagonist. It is also considered one of the greatest acting performances shown by the author. In this essay I will analyze Orson Welles' personalized interpretation of the source material – William Shakespeare's Othello – for the development of the film noir genre. As an "author, Welles used new cinematic techniques to create an altered visualization of the text to achieve the filmic effect and richness of the aesthetic created to visually adapt an action-packed work. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made film essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Analyzing Your Own Interpretation of the Source Material Of primary interest, here is an excerpt from Scene II of Act V, which roughly translates to the scenes in 1:16. : 16 – 1:20:30 in the film in bed, Othello stands over the sleeping Desdemona as he debates whether to kill her. He bends to kiss her one last time before carrying out the deed when she suddenly awakens and asks her about the mysterious presence he dies. Desdemona, frightened, asks her husband why he intends to kill her, and Othello replies that she has been unfaithful to him with Cassio, corroborated by the "ocular evidence" of her handkerchief. Othello refuses to believe her denial of the accusation, saying that Cassio has confessed but will never speak again (because he is dead). Desdemona begins to cry for Cassio, which only angers Othello further. He struggles with her as she begs to be spared, but Othello manages to choke his wife to death. This excerpt is perhaps the best example of a direct adaptation of the original text. The dialogue completely follows the source material accompanied by heavy editing and interchangeable cuts to action shots. This creates a sense of distance, communicated visually through the short walk from the entryway to the bedroom, which continues throughout the entire monologue. In contrast, there is a heavy omission of the non-noir parts of the play and major dialogue in the rest of the film which places more emphasis on Othello than Iago and creates a character-driven plot. The use of speed is used to create suspense. alongside its primary function of placing the entire monologue in the same setting. The real triumph is the feeling of fear, distrust, desolation, loss of innocence, desperation and paranoia, communicated through the liberal use of highly contrasted chiaroscuro. The dark background brings into focus the characters who recite their lines with chilling gravity and darkness. According to a press release from Carlotta Films, the distributors of the latest revision of Welles' original film, “For this second adaptation, Welles appropriates the original text to offer a personal interpretation, opting for a creative staging with a baroque aesthetic . He takes the liberty of starting from the end of the play, then proceeding with a flashback that makes up the rest of the film. The precarious shooting conditions contribute to creating an oppressive atmosphere, close to madness: Welles' Othello is a whimsical foreigner slowly pushed into a hellish downward spiral by the vile Iago. Allowing himself to make some cuts compared to the original work, his Othello turns out to be pure entertainment. cinema, with an excesstruly Wellesian.” As has been widely reported, the film went through a number of financial hurdles during its production, which perhaps contributed to the use of cut-and-paste editing, resulting in a clunky visionary masterpiece mired in financial problems. Because production has been hampered by distribution disruptions, the film's intended audience cannot be pinpointed, and the shift from a traditional Shakespearean adaptation indicates a broadening target demographic. Upon Othello's arrival in the bedroom, the arrangement of the characters in the frame is indicative of who holds power in this particular scene. The absence of the background, which at this point is a black mass, places the characters in a void where the audience is given no visual cues due to the extreme foreground angle. The shot is perhaps indicative of Welles' continued experimentation with the film noir genre as the element of surprise in the scene is not fully specified in the source material and therefore can be seen as a non-diegetic device used to further Welles' attempt to be an author. Combined with the chiaroscuro elements, this scene cements the noir element of the film. The characters speak in hushed voices, indicating a private and intimate atmosphere for the conversation. The intonation practiced by Orson Welles' work places severity in his interpretation of the monologue which, in contrast with Desdemona's high and surprised female voice, creates a dark and mysterious plot. The characters are very close and contribute to the dark intimacy of the scene. In particular, Orson Welles' Othello has an exceptional staging acumen present throughout the entire production. Each scene is crafted with meticulous detail, a sort of puzzle of different scenes that come together to form a visually rich result. This, combined with the strange placement of the source material – the film begins with the end of the play – creates an inherent confusion for the viewer who from the beginning can expect the plot not to follow the source material closely. The use of jump cuts provides both points of view and gives the audience a sense of the range of different emotions experienced by the characters on screen. Welles' placement of characters is also crucial. For the most part, Othello remains in the top left frame while Desdemona remains in the bottom right, which successfully keeps the power dynamics in balance and gives the audience plenty of close-up insights. Desdemona's expressions of bewilderment help add to the suspense of the scene. Combined with the image of her clutching her dress in a stereotypically weakened lying position. These visual cues reinforce the themes of pessimism and fatalism, which are the far-reaching themes presented in the Wellesian adaptation of an already dark Shakespearean tragedy. Building suspense by slowly turning off the lights as you walk through the dramatic arches of the fort creates a dark atmosphere and menacing atmosphere in the scene where audiences unaware of Shakespeare's text can still predict that something dark is about to happen. The setup is long and slow, with moving shots that flit between the hall and the bedroom, anticipating Othello's arrival in the bedroom. There are elements of a horror film with Desdemona questioning the mysterious presence and Othello suddenly emerging from the shadows to admit his presence, which conflict with the film's overall film noir theme. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Perhaps, this could be an accidental foray into multi-genre film by Welles. The.], 2014)