For that Hamlet fan on your Gift List, here’s the wonderful 25th Anniversary Edition of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Two minor characters in Shakespeare’s marvelous play provide both context and humor to the proceedings. Tom Stoppard’s play morphed into this movie version starring Richard Dreyfuss, Tim Roth, and Gary Oldman in a wacky blend of illusion and reality in Shakespearean drama.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead includes the Bonus Features of Interviews with Tom Stoppard, Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, and Richard Dreyfuss. GRADE: A
Loved the play, but somehow the film didn’t do much for me.
Dan, I’ve never seen the play. I’m hoping the SHAW FESTIVAL does it.
In college, I had the same professor for three different drama courses. While studying HAMLET, she introduced us to ROSENCRANTZ, and made it sound so fascinating that when a revival was playing in London one summer,I rushed to get tickets. I liked it, though it didn’t quite live up to her hype.
Jeff, I read ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD in paperback. Then, I saw the movie. I’d like to see the play. But, you’re right. Some people get really amped up over this play!
I’ll have to put this on my Netflix queue when I get back on it (Need to get DVR down – was at36% when I got back from NOLA, now at 31%) TCM does me in. I taped 4 Philo Vance movies, and just watched one, the Dragon Murder Case. It was pretty good. The next one up is one of Rosalind Russell’s first movies all have different actors playing Vance. Wish they’d included the Gracie Allen Murder Case, which the host referenced in his into to TDMC
Maggie, we’re over 30% on our DVR, too. Diane has been DVRing HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES. They’re her visual “comfort food.”
Not my favorite Stoppard play, that would probably be Jumpers, or maybe The Real Inspector Hound. I saw this once, done by a good repertory company and liked it well enough. Not interested in the film, though.
Rick, I’m hoping some local theater company or even a regional company like the SHAW FESTIVAL will do ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD but so far, no dice.