James Earl Jones was supposed to be the BBC's Othello, but British Actors' Equity objected to an American in the part.
Anthony Hopkins as an Arab (not African) Othello so underplays and minimizes the role that the result seems to be something other than tragedy.
The sets, which are Jonathan Miller's usual cluttered interiors with references to paintings, are part of the problem.
Penelope Wilton's Desdemona appears unattractive and willful.
Bob Hoskin's Iago is the most interesting part of the production, realistic and vicious, scheming and low-class, funny and angry. If Iago were meant to act the villain at every moment in the play, this would be a nearly definitive performance.
Anthony Hopkins as an Arab (not African) Othello so underplays and minimizes the role that the result seems to be something other than tragedy.
The sets, which are Jonathan Miller's usual cluttered interiors with references to paintings, are part of the problem.
Penelope Wilton's Desdemona appears unattractive and willful.
Bob Hoskin's Iago is the most interesting part of the production, realistic and vicious, scheming and low-class, funny and angry. If Iago were meant to act the villain at every moment in the play, this would be a nearly definitive performance.