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Films with theme "Films based on works by William Shakespeare", sorted by rating

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Maqbool
Maqbool (2003)
, 2h12
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj
Origin Inde
Genres Drama, Action, Crime
Themes Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Bollywood, Gangster films, Films about royalty
Actors Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Masumeh Makhija

The film is based on William Shakespeare's Macbeth and with Mumbai underworld as its backdrop. Maqbool (Irrfan Khan) is the right-hand man of Jahangir Khan (alias Abba Ji) (Pankaj Kapoor), a powerful underworld don. Maqbool is grateful and feels a close connection and personal indebtedness to Abba Ji. The movie gains pace with two corrupt police-men (played by Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah) predicting that Maqbool would soon take over the reins of the Mumbai Underworld from Abba Ji. These two thus play a role akin to the three witches in the original play.
The Bad Sleep Well
The Bad Sleep Well (1960)
, 2h31
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Thriller, Noir, Crime
Themes Films about families, Seafaring films, Théâtre, Transport films, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Films about royalty
Actors Toshiro Mifune, Masayuki Mori, Kyōko Kagawa, Takashi Shimura, Tatsuya Mihashi, Chishū Ryū

The film begins with a group of news reporters watching, and gossiping, at an elaborate wedding reception for Yoshiko Iwabuchi (Kyoko Kagawa), the daughter of Vice President Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori, the villain character) of the Unexploited Land Development Corporation, a construction company, and Koichi Nishi, the president's secretary (a bespectacled Toshiro Mifune). The police interrupt the wedding when corporate assistant officer Wada, who is the wedding reception's master of ceremony, is arrested on charges of bribery in a kickback scheme. The reporters comment this incident is similar to an earlier scandal involving Iwabuchi, administrative officer Moriyama, and contract officer Shirai. That earlier case was hushed up after the apparent suicide of Assistant Chief Furuya, by jumping off the corporate office building, creating a dead end in the investigation before any of the company's higher-ups could be implicated.
Bhrantibilas
Bhrantibilas (1963)

Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare
Actors Uttam Kumar, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, Sabitri Chatterjee, Sandhya Roy, Chhaya Devi

Although the original play was set in an unspecified, but distant past, the film relocates the story to modern day India. The film tells the story of a Bengali merchant from Kolkata and his servant who visit a small town for a business appointment, but, whilst there, are mistaken for a pair of locals, leading to much confusion.
Hamlet
Hamlet (1948)
, 2h35
Directed by Laurence Olivier
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Themes Films about families, Théâtre, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Films about royalty
Actors Laurence Olivier, Basil Sydney, Eileen Herlie, Jean Simmons, Peter Cushing, Stanley Holloway

The film follows the overall story of the play, but cuts nearly half the dialogue, leaves out two major characters.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet (1968)
, 2h18
Directed by Franco Zeffirelli
Origin Italie
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Films about sexuality, Films about suicide, Théâtre, Erotic films, Romeo and Juliet, Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare
Actors Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, Milo O'Shea, John McEnery, Robert Stephens, Michael York

In Verona, Italy, the longstanding feud between the Montague and the Capulet clans breaks out in a street brawl, broken up by the Prince of the city. The same night, two teenagers of the two families — Romeo (Montague) and Juliet (Capulet) — meet at a Capulet feast and become deeply infatuated. Later, Romeo stumbles into the secluded garden under Juliet's bedroom balcony and the two exchange impassioned pledges. They are soon secretly married by Romeo's confessor and father figure, Friar Laurence, with the assistance of Juliet's nursemaid. Unfortunately, another street duel breaks out between Juliet's first cousin Tybalt and Romeo's best friend Mercutio when Tybalt insults Romeo. Since Tybalt is Juliet's cousin and Romeo has just been married to Juliet, he sees Tybalt as family and refuses to fight him, leading Mercutio to be a loyal friend and fight for him. This leads to Mercutio's death. Romeo retaliates by fighting Tybalt and killing him, and is punished by the Prince with banishment instead of the death penalty. Romeo, however, sees his banishment as worse than death, as Verona is the only home he has known and does not want to be pulled away from Juliet. Friar Laurence eventually convinces Romeo that he is very lucky and should be thankful for what he has. Romeo and Juliet secretly spend their wedding night together and consummate their marriage.
West Side Story
West Side Story (1961)
, 2h32
Directed by Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical theatre, Musical, Crime, Romance
Themes Dance films, Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Romeo and Juliet, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Gangster films
Actors Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Marni Nixon, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris

In the West Side's Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan, there is tension between an Anglo gang, the Jets, led by Riff, and a Puerto Rican gang of immigrants, the Sharks, led by Bernardo. After a brawl erupts ("Prologue"), Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke arrive and break it up, warning both gangs to cease fighting or pay. Despite the warning, the Jets decide to challenge the Sharks to a rumble for neighborhood control at an upcoming dance.
Chimes at Midnight
Chimes at Midnight (1965)
, 1h55
Directed by Orson Welles
Origin Espagne
Genres Drama, War, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Historical
Themes Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Films about royalty
Actors Orson Welles, Keith Baxter, John Gielgud, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford, Marina Vlady

The film opens with Sir John Falstaff and Justice Shallow walking through the snow, then to a warm fire inside the Boar's Head Tavern as the two reminisce. After a main credit sequence, the narrator explains that King Henry IV of England has succeeded Richard II, whom he had killed. Richard II's true heir, Edmund Mortimer, is a prisoner in Wales, and Mortimer's cousins Northumberland, Worcester and Northumberland's son Hotspur demand that Henry rescue Mortimer. Henry refuses and Northumberland, Worcester and Hotspur begin to plot his overthrow.
The Taming of the Scoundrel
The Taming of the Scoundrel (1980)
, 1h42
Directed by Franco Castellano, Giuseppe Moccia
Origin Italie
Genres Comedy
Themes Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare
Actors Adriano Celentano, Ornella Muti, Pippo Santonastaso, Milly Carlucci, Sandro Ghiani, Edith Peters

Adriano Celentano plays the part of Elia, a well-to-do and witty farmer who is, however, a somewhat grumpy loner who specifically resists his housekeeper Mamie's efforts to marry him off to a nice girl. One stormy night, however, a beautiful young lady named Lisa is forced to stop at his farmstead because her car has broken down while she was on her way to her fiancé. Intrigued by Elia's personality, she decides to stay and make the grumpy farmer come out of his rough shell, an intention which in time develops into genuine affection.