Othello

Orson Welles's 1952 film Othello is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy. The play, written around 1603-04, tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in Venice, who is manipulated by his envious subordinate Iago into believing his wife, Desdemona, is unfaithful. This jealousy leads Othello to tragically kill Desdemona and then himself upon discovering her innocence.12

Welles filmed Othello intermittently between 1948 and 1952 in various locations, including Venice, Morocco, and Rome, due to funding challenges. Despite a largely unknown cast, including Welles himself as Othello, the film was awarded the top prize at Cannes in 1952 and is recognized for its exceptional camerawork, with some considering it one of Welles's greatest achievements.3