Nunn’s Nunn’s Twelfth NightTwelfth Night

MasterpieceMasterpieces of the s of the DramaDrama

Mr. KottMr. Kott

Our Study of Nunn’s Our Study of Nunn’s Twelfth Twelfth NightNight……

• I. Advertising of the FilmI. Advertising of the Film

• II. II. Heritage FilmHeritage Film

• III. Nunn’s III. Nunn’s 12th Night12th Night as Heritage as Heritage FilmFilm

I. Advertising…I. Advertising…

• What do you think What do you think the image is the image is portraying?portraying?

• Is there anything Is there anything that the director that the director would be upset with?would be upset with?

Actually yes & no…Actually yes & no…

• OKAY:OKAY:– Love triangle, building used OKAYLove triangle, building used OKAY

• PROBLEM:PROBLEM:– ““Wittier than Wittier than The BirdcageThe Birdcage and more fun and more fun

than than To Wong Foo, Thanks for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie NewmarEverything, Julie Newmar.”.”

– So what’s wrong with that? Well, a few So what’s wrong with that? Well, a few things…things…

The problems…The problems…

• Refers to two movies released in the 90’s, Refers to two movies released in the 90’s, which were part of the genre of which were part of the genre of Cross-Cross-Dressing ComedyDressing Comedy..– Cross-Dressing Comedy involves are campy Cross-Dressing Comedy involves are campy

(effeminate in an exaggerated way), farcical (effeminate in an exaggerated way), farcical (ridiculous situations and actions), and (ridiculous situations and actions), and transgressive (breaking social rules.transgressive (breaking social rules.

• This type of genre usually deals with male This type of genre usually deals with male cross-dressing, and not female.cross-dressing, and not female.

• Nunn’s Nunn’s 1212thth… nothing like them in tone or … nothing like them in tone or subject matter--- fits better into the genre subject matter--- fits better into the genre of…of…

Heritage Film…Heritage Film…

• Realistic film projects nostalgic, conservative vision Realistic film projects nostalgic, conservative vision of British national past as portrayed in the fictional of British national past as portrayed in the fictional works---- 19C & early 20C (Late Victorian & works---- 19C & early 20C (Late Victorian & Edwardian eras)Edwardian eras)

• British empire at its height, ruled 1/3 of the world, British empire at its height, ruled 1/3 of the world, “sun never sets”“sun never sets”

• Typical setting a country home, beautifully Typical setting a country home, beautifully photographed in itself and in relation to landscape.photographed in itself and in relation to landscape.

• ““Heritage” can mean value sand traditions handed Heritage” can mean value sand traditions handed down from previous generations , but also refers to down from previous generations , but also refers to inherited property.inherited property.

• Some examples…Some examples…

III. Nunn’s III. Nunn’s 12N12N as Heritage as Heritage Film…Film…

• A. SettingA. Setting– Time: 19Time: 19thth Century (Costume) Century (Costume)– Handout #1Handout #1– Major Differences between this and Cross-Major Differences between this and Cross-

Dressing ComedyDressing Comedy– The disguise of Viola and her transformationThe disguise of Viola and her transformation– Handout #2Handout #2– Another marker of the time… “Ginger in the Another marker of the time… “Ginger in the

Mouth” & IndiaMouth” & India

III. Nunn’s III. Nunn’s 12N12N as Heritage as Heritage Film…Film…

• 2. Place2. Place– Illyria (Imaginary) becomes Cornwall, Illyria (Imaginary) becomes Cornwall,

southwestern coast of England--- filmed southwestern coast of England--- filmed at six different properties, all owned by at six different properties, all owned by National Trust, which “works to preserve National Trust, which “works to preserve the coastline, countryside, and buildings the coastline, countryside, and buildings of England, Wales, and Northern of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.”Ireland.”

Olivia’s Estate… LanhydrockOlivia’s Estate… Lanhydrock

Orsino’s Castle… St. Michael’s Orsino’s Castle… St. Michael’s MountMount

B. Elite Vision…B. Elite Vision…

• ““Upstairs” & “Downstairs”Upstairs” & “Downstairs”– Nunn seeks to emulate this aspect of Nunn seeks to emulate this aspect of

the heritage filmthe heritage film– National Trust brags of Lanhydrock, National Trust brags of Lanhydrock,

“The ultimate 19“The ultimate 19thth century century ‘Upstairs/Downstairs’ experience.‘Upstairs/Downstairs’ experience.

– Handout #3Handout #3

C. Realistic ModeC. Realistic Mode

• Presents fictional events as actions Presents fictional events as actions really could have happened– means really could have happened– means presenting logical reasons for presenting logical reasons for puzzling actions by characters, or puzzling actions by characters, or making unlikely or coincidental making unlikely or coincidental events seem plausible by inventing events seem plausible by inventing additional circumstances that explain additional circumstances that explain them.them.

Well then some questions…Well then some questions…

• Why can’t anyone tell Why can’t anyone tell the twins apart?the twins apart?– Handout #4Handout #4– Handout #5Handout #5– IntroductionIntroduction– Antonio’s LoveAntonio’s Love

• Why does Viola disguise Why does Viola disguise herself as a man?herself as a man?– The play never makes it The play never makes it

clear why this is clear why this is necessarynecessary

– Film, creates a reason:Film, creates a reason:• Illyria and Messaline Illyria and Messaline

(twins’ home) is at war(twins’ home) is at war

• Okay, so hide Okay, so hide nationality, but why nationality, but why the gender?the gender?

• Nunn creates a reason, Nunn creates a reason, “No woman may “No woman may approach his court.”approach his court.”

• How can Orsino simply How can Orsino simply shift his love from shift his love from Olivia to Viola at the Olivia to Viola at the end of the play?end of the play?– Orsino’s CharacterOrsino’s Character– Handout #6Handout #6– Shows developing of Shows developing of

relationship over timerelationship over time

D. ConservatismD. Conservatism

• Although the film flirts with the possibility Although the film flirts with the possibility of radical statements about gender and of radical statements about gender and sexuality, pulls back at the end…sexuality, pulls back at the end…

• 1. Antonio:1. Antonio:– Happy at his reunification with Sebastian, but Happy at his reunification with Sebastian, but

cannot share in the joycannot share in the joy– Screenplay: “ANTONIO Screenplay: “ANTONIO watches full of feeling, watches full of feeling,

then lowers his eyes, realizing he alone does then lowers his eyes, realizing he alone does not partake of this resolution.”not partake of this resolution.”

– Antonio grouped with other “outcasts” (Sir Antonio grouped with other “outcasts” (Sir Andrew & Malvolio)Andrew & Malvolio)

D. ConservatismD. Conservatism

• 2. Orsino and Viola2. Orsino and Viola– ““Belie thy happy year”Belie thy happy year”

• Male horseplay and boastingMale horseplay and boasting

– Bathtub Scene…Bathtub Scene…• Orsino invites “touch”Orsino invites “touch”

– ““Come Away Death”Come Away Death”• Sung by FesteSung by Feste

• Potential of a kiss, but the end of song startles them…Potential of a kiss, but the end of song startles them…

– Cuts lines of “Cesario, dor so you shall be while Cuts lines of “Cesario, dor so you shall be while you are a man,” in place of dancing conclusion.you are a man,” in place of dancing conclusion.