The end of 'Much Ado About Nothing'

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I'm always pretty intrigued by how the play decides to leave Don Pedro. Such an interesting character - has some moments where it seems he's in love with Beatrice, but then is happy(?) to step back and let everyone else fall in love and he to remain alone. How did Denzel and the director decide to end his character? What do you make of the Beatrice/Benedick marriage? Don John's exit?

Comparing I.i in Much Ado

This is from the 1993 Film Version of Much Ado About Nothing, which we'll be watching parts of in class. You can fast-forward the video to around the 3-minute mark to get to the start of I.i. Why do you think they started off the film with Beatrice reading poetry? What important choices were made to convey meaning in this scene? In the first clip, we see the messenger speaking to Leonato, up until the arrival of the army.



Here in the second clip, we see the arrival of the army (Denzel Washington plays Don Pedro) through the end of Act I.




Next is I.i from a 1984 TV movie. (It's not very highly-acclaimed: read the comments on the Youtube site, if you want, one of which says, "I'm sorry but this version is an abomination.") Notice, though, that Beatrice still holds her own. How is the tone different in this one? Which do you think captures what is on the page the best? What choices did the actors and directors make here with the lines?



Note: Notice the difference between the line readings of "I knew you would end with a jade's trick. I know you of old." How do the two actresses convey totally different meanings with that line reading?

Note: Don John's one line. How is it presented? How do the directors hint that he will become a villain?

Short animated version of 'Much Ado'

This is pretty funny- what do you think?