‘Othello’

As Othello, Laurence Olivier gives what is quite possibly the finest performance ever committed to celluloid in this 1965 filmed version of the English National Theatre stage production, co-starring Maggie Smith as Desdemona and Frank Finlay as Iago. Olivier lowered his voice an octave for this role; he also changed just about everything else about him that we recognize. The production isn’t very “cinematic” but it doesn’t have to be. The performance is what counts, and you’ll never see a more stunning one (BRAVO Saturday at 11 a.m.).