Baz Luhrmann's dazzling and unconventional adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic love story is spellbinding. The setting has been moved from its Elizabethan origins to the futuristic backdrop of Verona Beach with these star-crossed lovers.

To finance Bassanio's voyage to Belmont to win the hand of Portia, Antonio borrows money from the Jew Shylock with a pound of his own flesh as collateral. The ships sink and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and wins the case by specifying that Shylock cannot take one drop of Antonio's blood.

An interpretation of Shakespeare's play The Tempest, with elaborate staging and modern touches. It tells the story of Prospero, the magician, who lives with his nubile daughter on an enchanted island and punishes his enemies when they are shipwrecked there. It's a study of sexual and political power in the guise of a fairy tale.

When England's aging King Lear renounces his throne to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, treachery, madness and murder soon follow. After banishing Cordelia, his most loyal daughter, Lear is betrayed and cast out by her elder sisters Regan and Goneril. Meanwhile, evil brews at the Gloucester castle as Edgar falls victim to his brother's deception. As battle lines are drawn and backs are stabbed, Lear rages against a fearsome storm....

With his wedding a week away, Claudio can't wait to marry the beautiful young Hero. To distract him, his best friend Don Pedro devises mischief: a romantic trap for the sharp-tongued Beatrice and the man she loves to hate, Benedick. Their amusement is almost spoiled by the jealous scheming of Don John, but love and laughter prevail when the local constable unwittingly exposes the plot -- and all the trouble proves to be much ado about nothing (111...

Six celebrated hosts to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare's greatest plays, revealing not just the elements in the play, but the history of the play itself. What sparked the creation of each of these works? Where did Shakespeare get his plots, and what cultural, political and religious factors influenced his writing? Why has this body of work endured so thoroughly? What, in the end, makes Shakespeare so great?

"Set in the sixteenth century, Will Shakespeare begins with the lesser known story of Shakespeare's humble beginnings and youthful obscurity in Avon. As he struggles to survive as a playwright, Shakespeare faces mulitple hardships, including the black plague and various personal tragedies, but defeats all obstacles to achieve unprecedented success in London."--Container.

After a shipwreck, twin siblings Viola and Sebastian wash up on the shores of Illyria. Viola, disguised as a man named Cesario, takes up service with the Duke Orsino, who is madly in love with the Lady Olivia. But Olivia is in mourning over her brother's death, so Orsino sends Cesario over as an emissary of love, except that Olivia falls for Viola!

A dramatization of five of Shakespeare's tragic plays, featuring some of Britain's most distinguished actors and directors.