William Woodman Movies
Producer William Woodman focused most of his energies on serious dramatic theater and opera, but he also made the occasional foray into television production with classic stage adaptations of such theatrical works as The Diaries of Adam & Eve for American Playhouse and the multiple Cable Ace-winning Long Day's Journey into Night for the A&E Network. Several of Woodman's Shakespearan projects have been filmed on videotape. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In this 1611 Shakespeare play, the magician Prospero (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) conjures a storm that drives a ship off course to his enchanted island, washing everyone ashore. The company includes King Alonso of Naples; his son, Ferdinand; Antonio, duke of Milan; and members of the king's court. Prospero caused the tempest so he could settle a score with one of the ship's passengers, his brother Antonio. Twelve years before, Prospero was Milan's ruler, but Antonio usurped his dukedom with the king's help. Antonio then set Prospero and his infant daughter, Miranda, adrift to die at sea. But with provisions secretly provided by a friend, Prospero and Miranda survived and reached the island. After the king's son, Ferdinand, separates from the others, Prospero's slave, a spirit of the air named Ariel (Duane Black), uses magic to lead Ferdinand to Miranda (J.E. Taylor), now a nubile 15-year-old. They fall in love. Meanwhile, another slave -- a half-beast, half-man known as Caliban (William Hootkins) -- gathers wood for Prospero, but curses his master, wishing him dead. Two of the king's company appear: the court jester, Trinculo, and the butler Stephano, who is drunk from wine from the barrel on which he floated ashore. They then conspire to kill Prospero and take over the island. Elsewhere, Ariel appears to Alonso and Antonio as a winged beast, a harpy, and reprimands them for their past ill treatment of Prospero. An entertainment then ensues for Miranda and Ferdinand to celebrate their betrothal, and Prospero thwarts the skulduggery of Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano. The wrongdoers repent, Prospero frees Ariel, and everyone returns to Italy aboard the ship, which was thought lost but is found to be seaworthy. Only Caliban remains on the island. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
Directed by William Woodman, this retelling of the classic Shakespearean tragedy not only features traditional period costumes and sets, but is known for giving the bard's words a style one can understand without being particularly experienced with Elizabethan texts. This popular adaptation features Alex Hyde-White, Blanche Baker, Esther Rolle, and Dan Hamilton.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
Originally produced for television, this adaptation of William Shakespeare's historical tragedy stars David Birney as Richard II, who gains a fearsome enemy in his cousin Bolingbroke (Paul Shenar) when he seizes his land. Outraged Britons and rebellious Irishmen eventually turn against the king, and in time, Henry is forced to step down from the throne, with his rival Bolingbroke seizing power and taking revenge. The cast also includes Peter McIean as York and Mary Joan Negro as Anne. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
