the merchant venice one shakespeares betterknown plays still regularly performed theatre incredibly however film would seem firstever englishlanguage version made cinema rather television number versions made britain america early days cinema silentsbr br the reason neglect play may connected sensitivities plays alleged antisemitism subject even sensitive since rise power nazis  this may explain previous versions made silent era   would easier portray shylock straightforward villain would today yet view film antisemitic all remembered shakespeares lifetime settled jewish community england jews expelled edward late th century permitted return time cromwell forty years shakespeares death far know shakespeare never travelled abroad seems quite possible never knew jews personally experienced effects antisemitism first hand play simply jewish question is among things analysis corrosive effects religious prejudice may fact coded examination mutual antipathy catholics protestants tudor england something shakespeare certainly would firsthand experience appeal greater tolerance thembr br then now traditional antisemitic stereotypes always depicted jews avaricious shylocks principal sin avarice were would certainly accepted bassanios offer pay six thousand ducats twice amount borrowed antonio rather shylocks besetting sin anger root anger way fellowjews treated christians venice jews general regarded secondclass citizens jewish moneylenders shylock particular targets abuse even though services provide necessary venetian economy play shows corrupting effects prejudice views sort corrupt christians hold them also corrupt jews suffer abuse shylocks vindictiveness proportion wrongs suffered spitting calling dog antonio behaves like boorish bigot boorishness bigotry generally regarded crimes deserving death penalty moreover shylock seeks revenge antonio merely undoubted wrongs antonio done towards him also wrongs real imaginary suffered hands christian community daughters marriage lorenzo br br it credit films director michael radford star al pacino understand issues pacinos shylock has initially sort angry dignity gradually gives way vindictive rage finally humiliation trial scene portias reasoning pathos see clearly instrument destruction still sympathise him view none pacinos performances seen ever equalled gave first two godfather films not scent woman oscar certainly godfather iii the merchant venice one comes closest benchmarks acting performance stood lynn collinss luminous portia speaking lines great clarity simplicity bringing intelligence resourcefulness make character simply romantic heroine less impressed jeremy ironss antonio seemed passive antonio complex character part loyal friend part melancholy contemplative part religious bigot part enterprising capitalist although irons captured first two aspects difficult envisage antonio either spitting someone different faith hazarding risky trading ventures br br radfords interpretation play attacked film critic daily telegraph who although admired pacinos performance disliked period setting argued shakespeare needs placed contemporary setting relevance modern audience citing recent stage production set action weimar germany would disagree profoundly approach theatre cinema quite different media and striking modernist approaches shakespeare cinema trevor nunns twelfth night comes mind traditionalist approach often best one i preferred example zeffirellis romeo juliet baz luhrmanns idea appreciate shakespeare modern guise sheer intellectual laziness prepared make effort see greatest writer context elizabethan society produced him rather prefer dressed ersatz twentiethcentury manbr br radfords traditional approach enables us appreciate bigotry vindictiveness ageold universal problems also makes visually striking film play scenes set venice characterised turbulent action set portias country house belmont happier peaceful film venetian exterior scenes shot location backdrop misty wintry grey skies similar look achieved dont look now candlelit interiors faces brightly lit dark background reminiscent chiaroscuro effects caravaggio painting suspect quite deliberate caravaggio contemporary shakespeare contrast dark misty venice belmont scenes shot enchanting palladian villa island lake characterised sunshine peaceful moonlight br br this one best shakespeare adaptations recent years intelligent visually attractive look complex play br br a couple errors see black swan water front portias house birds natives australia introduced europe well  date film set also portrait portia leaden casket painted style florentine botticelli active century date lynn collins may reminiscent botticelli beauty seems unlikely late th century venetian lady would painted manner late th century florence