1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
75 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Othello
"Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy"
1951 1h 33m EN
👍
7.4
SOLID
★7.4TMDB · 221
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, the Moorish general Othello is driven to believe that his new wife Desdemona is unfaithful, setting in motion a chain of deception, jealousy, and violence that leads to tragedy.
“Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Orson Welles
Othello
Micheál Mac Liammóir
Iago
Robert Coote
Roderigo
Suzanne Cloutier
Desdemona
Hilton Edwards
Brabantio
Nicholas Bruce
Lodovico
Michael Laurence
Michael Cassio
Fay Compton
Emilia
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Orson Welles
- Writers
- Jean Sacha, Orson Welles
- Languages
- English, Latin
- Countries
- Italy, United States of America, France
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Latin.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 3 countries: Italy, United States of America, France.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Orson Welles, shot by G.R. Aldo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Alberto Barberis. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Renzo Lucidi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Orson Welles and Micheál Mac Liammóir and Robert Coote carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Orson Welles directs. G.R. Aldo behind the camera. Alberto Barberis scores. Renzo Lucidi cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy, United States of America, France. Dialogue in English, Latin.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 175 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Latin.
- 3International production across 3 countries: Italy, United States of America, France.
- 4Directed by Orson Welles, shot by G.R. Aldo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Alberto Barberis. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Renzo Lucidi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Orson Welles and Micheál Mac Liammóir and Robert Coote carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0045251 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 12 themes, including "husband wife relationship", "victim", "based on play or musical", "love".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- G.R. Aldo
- Original score
- Alberto Barberis
- Editing
- Renzo Lucidi
- Production design
- Alexandre Trauner
- Costume design
- Maria De Matteis
- Makeup / hair
- Maurice Seiderman
- Runtime
- 93 min · 1h 33m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- IMDB
- Othello (1951)
Awards
- Palme d'Or
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Orson Welles
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- LE
Les Films Marceau
FR
- ME
Mercury Productions
US
- SC
Scalera Film
IT
Key crew
- ProducerOrson Welles
- Associate ProducerJulien Derode
- Additional PhotographyAlberto Fusi
- EditorRenzo Lucidi
- Additional EditingJean Sacha
- Production DesignAlexandre Trauner
- Production DesignLuigi Scaccianoce
- Costume DesignMaria De Matteis
- Makeup ArtistMaurice Seiderman
- Dialect CoachHarriet Medin
- ProducerGiorgio Papi
- Theatre PlayWilliam Shakespeare
- Additional PhotographyOberdan Troiani
- EditorJenö Csepreghy
- EditorWilliam Morton
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- husband wife relationship
- victim
- based on play or musical
- love
- murder
- interracial marriage
- tragic love
- handkerchief
- resentment
- jealous husband
- father daughter conflict
- mistrust of wife
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1955-09-12
- Theatrical2014-04-25· Re-release
Also known as
International titles
- OtelloIT
- The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of VeniceGB
- Orson Welles' OthelloDE
- 오델로KR
- ΟθέλλοςGR
- OthelloBR
