Nicholas Hytner Movies
British director Nicholas Hytner first won international acclaim for his 1994 adaptation of Alan Bennett's The Madness of King George, which won a number of international honors, including a nomination for the Cannes Festival's Golden Palm.Hytner, who first became involved in the theatre as a member of Cambridge University's famed Footlights revue, began his career working in provincial theatres across England. He went on to become one of his country's more celebrated theatre and opera directors, directing some twenty productions over the course of ten years. Some of his better-known efforts include the original 1989 productions of Miss Saigon, the National Theatre revival of Carousel, and the original National Theatre production of The Madness of King George.
Following the success of George's film adaptation, Hytner continued to work on both the stage and screen. In 1996 he directed a film adaptation of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, which met with mixed reviews. His subsequent screen effort, The Object of My Affection (1998) was a well-received romantic comedy. Scripted by playwright Wendy Wasserstein, it starred Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston as a gay man and a straight woman who become soul mates, and the ensuing complications of their relationship. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
- 2009
This release captures a live performance of Giuseppe Verdi's politically charged epic opera Don Carlo, recorded at the Royal Opera House. The performance features such vocalists as Rolando Villazon, Marina Poplavskaya and Simon Keenlyside in the leading roles. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rolando Villazon, Marina Poplavskaya, (more)
- 2006
Celebrated director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) helmed this 2006 stage production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera Così fan tutte at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. A familiar tale of romance, betrayal and forgiveness, originally adapted by Mozart from the da Ponte play, it stars Luca Pisaroni as Guglielmo, Nicolas Riveno as Don Alfonso and Topi Lehtipuu as Ferrando. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and The Glyndebourne Chorus provide added musical accompaniment, with Iván Fischer conducting. Vicki Mortimer designed the sets. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Topi Lehtipuu, Luca Pisaroni, (more)
In this emotional drama, a team of young dancers are competing for places in a prestigious dance troupe. The dancers have to deal with the ups and downs of trying to find their place in the world, even as their profession also places an enormous physical and psychological challenge before them. They train with the rigor of championship athletes, and like most aspiring athletes, they know that only a tiny number of them will achieve the goal they've set for themselves. Director Nicholas Hytner) cast young dancers and athletes as his aspiring terpsichoreans, including Ilia Kulik, an Olympic gold medalist in figure skating; the cast also includes Peter Gallagher as the leader of the dance troupe, Susan May Pratt, Amanda Schull, Eion Bailey, Debra Monk, and Sascha Radetsky. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Amanda Schull, Zoe Saldana, (more)
Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible) directed this Wendy Wasserstein screenplay, adapted from Stephen McCauley's novel, about the romantic mismatch of a gay man and a young pregnant woman. When literary agent Sidney Miller (Alan Alda) and his wife Constance (Allison Janney) have a dinner party, Constance's social-worker stepsister Nina Borowski (Jennifer Aniston) attends without her lawyer boyfriend Vince McBride (John Pankow). Also present are gay schoolteacher George Hanson (Paul Rudd) and his lover, Dr. Robert Joley (Tim Daly). George learns from Nina that he's being dumped by Robert, a scene ensues, and Nina then invites George to stay in the spare room of her Brooklyn apartment. Nina still has sex with boyfriend Vince, but during late-night talks, she begins to bond with her gay roommate. Nina and George take dance lessons at the local senior citizen's community center, and Gershwin's "You Were Meant for Me" sets the tone for romance as the two become soul mates. Unfortunately, shortly after their love blooms, Nina learns she's pregnant by Vince, who is no longer the object of her affections. Instead of telling the unwanted Vince right away, Nina asks George to join her in raising the child. George stays on, but in the months that follow, he also begins to see men again. Robert takes him along to a Connecticut conference where drama critic Rodney Fraser (Nigel Hawthorne) has Paul James (Amo Gulinello) in tow. George and Paul have an instant attraction, and this prompts everyone involved to reassess their emotional commitments. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, (more)
When Arthur Miller's play The Crucible was first staged in 1953, it was widely acclaimed as a metaphor for the recklessness of Joseph McCarthy and his spurious crusade against communism. In its 1996 screen adaptation (scripted by Miller), the tone has been adjusted somewhat and plays as a warning against the dangers of political and religious extremism of all kinds. After a group of young women is accused of witchcraft in the Puritan community of Salem, Mass. in 1692, Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder) is held in suspicion of practicing magic. Abigail in turn levels charges against John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his wife Elizabeth (Joan Allen). Abigail has a private grudge against the Proctors; while working as their servant, she had an affair with John, and when John ended the relationship and returned to his wife, Abigail was fired. Now the Reverend Parris (Bruce Davison) is hearing accusations and counter-accusations of misdeeds from all sides of the community in the wake of Abigail's charges, so he brings in Judge Danforth (Paul Scofield) to determine who is guilty or innocent. However, given the moral climate of the time, it seems someone has to be found guilty of witchcraft, even though firm evidence of wrongdoing is becoming hard to come by. This was the second screen version of The Crucible, though it was the first one in English; the previous version, filmed in France in 1956, starred Simone Signoret and Yves Montand. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, (more)
- 1995
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Leos Janacek's modern opera about a fox and her friends (which was inspired by a comic strip) is recorded in this video release, with The Chatelet Theater Musical de Paris and producer Nicholas Hytner staging the show in a visually dazzling production in the original Czech. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Thomas Allen
Based on Alan Bennett's acclaimed play The Madness of George III, The Madness of King George takes a dark-humored look at the mental decline of King George III of England. The film's story begins nearly three decades into George's reign, in 1788, as the unstable king (Nigel Hawthorne, reprising his stage role) begins to show signs of increasing dementia, from violent fits of foul language to bouts of forgetfulness. This weakness seems like the perfect chance to overthrow the unpopular George, whom many blamed for the loss of the American colonies, in favor of the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), but the king's prime minister William Pitt (Julian Wadham) and his wife Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) are determined to protect the throne. Doctors are brought in, but the archaic treatments of the time prove of little value. In desperation, they turn to Dr. Willis (Ian Holm), a harsh, unconventional specialist whose unusual methods recall modern psychiatry. Willis struggles to break through to the mad king, treating him with an anger and haughtiness George has never before experienced. Stressing the absurdity of the entire situation, Bennett's witty screenplay emphasizes dry humor over tragedy, even utilizing references to King Lear for comic effect. Hawthorne's fiery yet vulnerable performance received much critical praise, including Best Actor at the British Academy Awards and a nomination for the same at the Oscars. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, (more)
- 1991
The Glyndebourne Festival Opera mounted this 1991 performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera seria La Clemenza di Tito (1791), commemorating the 200th anniversary of the work. With the traditional libretto by Pietro Metastasio and Caterino Mazzolà, and newly composed secco recitatives authored Stephen Oliver and commissioned by Glyndebourne, it stars Philip Langridge as Tito, Ashley Putnam as Vitellia, Diana Montague as Sesto, and Martine Mahé as Annio. The Glyndebourne Chorus, under the leadership of chorus master David Angus, and London Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Stephen Bryant, lend musical accompaniment to the production. David Fielding designed the sets and a pre-Madness of King George Nicholas Hytner directs for the stage. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Philip Langridge, Ashley Putnam, (more)
- 1991
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This musical performance video brings an international cast as they do Mozart's last opera at the Glyndbourne Festival in Great Britain. ~ Rovi
- 1990
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Under the direction of conductor Charles Mackerras, the Orchestra and Chorus of the English National Opera performs this 1988 production of Handel's Xerxes. In the Persian Empire in 475 B.C., Emperor Xerxes I (Ann Murray) and his brother Arsamenes (Christopher Robson) are both in love with Romilda (Valerie Masterson), while she and her sister Atalanta (Lesley Garrett) are both in love with Arsamene. Meanwhile, Xerxes rejects Amastris (Jean Rigby) even though he was betrothed to her, so she goes undercover in disguise and seeks her revenge. Original Italian dialogue is performed in English. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
This documentary of the making of Miss Saigon focuses on the inner workings of the popular musical. Behind-the-scenes footage is shown of the worldwide casting search, the creation of the score, rehearsals, set, costume design, and more. Much of the video centers on the frantic search for the perfect leading lady with the subsequent showdown between Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson. This video is full of intimate details about one of the most-loved musicals of all time. ~ Karla Baker, Rovi
- 1985
The Kent Opera company presents the Legend of Troy in all its splendor in this filmed production of Michael Tippett's words and music. Conducted by Roger Norrington. Rodney Macann, Sarah Walker, Howard Haskin, and Anne Mason star. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
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