Branagh v McKellen reading Shakespeare's Sonnet 29, from All Is True
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- Опубліковано 31 сер 2020
- A beautiful compare and contrast; as two masters of Shakespeare perform the same sonnet, yet with very different readings.
This is an edited scene from Branagh's movie, All Is True. Branagh plays Shakespeare himself, and McKellen plays the Earl of Southhampton, who Shakespeare wrote this sonnet for.
As becomes clear, for Shakespeare the poem is a painful reminder of his wish that he and the Earl had been lovers. For the Earl, that could never happen, yet he still celebrates the poetry itself as an expression of love and beauty.
Copyright etc: I clearly do not own this, but believe that seeing Branagh and McKellen performing this same sonnet provides a great educational text for students of (and lovers of) Shakespeare. I have used as little footage as possible to provide the readings in their plot context. I encourage all people who enjoy this clip to rent or stream All Is True - it's a great movie. - Комедії
This. This is acting of the highest order.
Both versions suit the scene. The dramatic context invites these two particular interpretations of the sonnet.
Shakespeare seizes the opportunity of this rare social encounter with the Earl to express his love. almost rushing through the words in case the moment is snatched away from him. He reveals his heart-ache and frustration that rank and society determine that his deep passion needs must remain hidden. Yet he yearns to know if his love is acknowledged and reciprocated.
The Earl, mindful of his social standing, cannot give Shakespeare the man the requited love for which Shakespeare craves. Instead he uses his deeply personal rendition of the words of the sonnet to indicate to the poet that he not only admires and understands every nuance of the words that had been written for him, yet he also gives Shakespeare the honour of revealing his gratitude and the depth of his own feelings.
A beautiful scene, with two sublime and appropriate interpretations by two great actors of this inspired and masterly sonnet.
I was much moved by this quiet, intensely poignant scene when I recently saw the film. Many thanks for posting this extract.
Thanks for the comments on the two readings. Just to be clear on my intention - by calling this "Branagh v McKellen" I did not mean to set up a "who read it best?" thing. In my view, both actors are delivering EXACTLY the performance that is required for their characters in this movie. If you haven't seen the full movie then I can see how McKellen's reading seems superior. But in the context of the movie, Branagh's pleading, needy, frustrated rendition is exactly where his character is at. Equally, McKellen's assured, accepting and grateful reading shows where his character is - and yes, it does work better for the text. The beauty of the scene, perhaps, is that by reading the sonnet back to Shakespeare, the Earl is showing Shakespeare the beauty and meaning that he (Shakespeare) has failed to see in his own work. :)
Masterfully said
Good point to stress :)
@@AlessandroFricanoGagliardo you have nailed it
Thank you for your reply to my response ..as an old English teacher I admire your nuanced accuracy.
I don't think McKellen's is better actually. The best I've ever seen is Simon Callow's.
Wonderful scene in a fantastic movie. I am glad I bought the blu-ray. I just wish I had the chance to see it in a theater.
Oh how beautiful!!
Great scene
Sublimely beautiful… nuance of the quietly unspoken love.
It’s contagious ❤
Ian mcKellen steals every scene he is in I think. I love him, and as always he is wonderful here. Beautiful
Masterpiece
Maravilhoso.
How did I miss this?!
I cried at the cinema, no lie
The guy recites and it is a monotonous clutter of words. Weight distributed across words evenly. Then Sir Ian Mckellen grabs hold of the words and the entire scene is grounded and a portal opens to the next dimension. Incredible.
When Sir Ian says it, it's not like he's reciting Shakespeare, but rather that the words were his own and he was having a conversation of deep meaning. The words were alive as if being spoken for the first time and not recited from the dusty pages of an old tome.
Did you ever consider that might have been the point of the scene? That McKellan's character understands Shakespeare's words better then Shakespeare himself? That maybe the contrast in their delievery reflects how they can convey their love in that moment? You dont think there's something to gleen from that?
Pretty bold to imply Branagh doesnt "get" Shakespeare. He's Mr. Shakespeare in the age of film. He's the only person it feels like giving us Shakespeare fanatics anything to chew on and i am grateful for it. To say he doesnt get the material is pretty laughable.
@@modernape9878,
I don't think you get the OP, @francoisbessing wrote.
The scene wouldn't work without the 'lesser' reading by Shakespeare himself, a thing people seem to be oblivious to.
@@zuur303 I completely agree. It is just a little dramatically awkward to me to have the poet not be able to deliver words that he chose for their weight and rhythm.
Both are brilliant, but McEllan nails it.
McKellan rocks! The text became more important than the rhyme. Branagh never let go of landing on the rhyming couplets. McKellan transcended them.
Hmm, Mr Branagh did it excellently well, but Mr McKellen was most certainly the winner here.
McKellens character must read the Shakespeare with sentiment. As most of us do. Branagh as Shakespeare reads it as it should be said.
Which is actually why I find Branagh's reading rather odd. This is the poet, reciting his own words. It is not ordinary speech at all. It has meter and rhyme and breath and structure. Ian McKellen nails it because his delivery recognizes all those things without appearing to use any particular emphasis. A beautiful scene. Instructive of speaking verse for so many reasons.
Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,
When not to be, receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost, which is so deemed,
Not by our feeling, but by others’ seeing.
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses, reckon up their own,
I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts, my deeds must not be shown
Unless this general evil they maintain,
All men are bad and in their badness reign.
Ooooh that is tasty
Had to look it up...Sonnet 121. Gosh how twisted, how bitter. Like Sonnet 129 "The expense of spirit in a waste of shame," read by Ralph Fiennes. Wonder what was happening in his life to produce such awful thoughts?
Branagh's interpretation, though it may fit the character as he says it, doesn't really represent the sentiment as stated in the sonnet. If the speaker doesn't want to exchange his place with kings, why would he sound so dark about it? But the mismatch serves the story. McKellan's shows the sonnet's true philosophical stance.
Latter one is the better actor
This.
Нет повести печальнее на свете , чем повесть о Ромео и Джульетте .ну , я тебя прощаю , нет милыя , я печаль из губ твоих снимаю , какой наградой будет поцелуй -вот вам рука , я под дверь просуну ключ , и это все?,но это не реально ,- в том -то и дело , ,что закоально , но где возьмём мы средства для любви , бежим, и Господи , прости ,
Apparently I need to watch this...
Please upload the full movie 🙏😭
nice scene.....thought I dont love the reciting. My favorite sonnet though
Agree it’s a little rushed
Except Southampton was actually nice years younger than Shakespeare, not thirty years older.
Yeah Southhampton should look younger
0:38
2:53
I like to be moved… _by a movie._ But this one was a little too sad for me.
With this: McKellen > Branaugh (sorry Kenneth)
sublimely beautiful ..on the nuance of human love..
Sounds good.
What’s they on about actually. It’s a word salad to me.
All soon to be cancelled as too literate, too white, too noble, too uplifting, where even to feign comprehension, or to aspire it’s bracing heights, a crime worthy of the guillotines blade.
what
Please, stop feeling sorry for yourself and whining about about how the world is. You're welcome!
*its
I recommend personality strategy.
See if you can get that ego tucked.
@@jonharrison9222 sorry, not down with the alphabet agenda. If yours got tucked or snipped, what do I care?