Shakespeare's World

The late Anthony Quayle narrates this interesting documentary on Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, and its surrounding environs. Presented in three 30-minute segments ("Shakespeare's Country," "Shakespeare's Stratford," and "Shakespeare's Heritage"), the camera sweeps across the gorgeous English countryside, captures the minute details within the house that Shakespeare grew up in, looks at Anne Hathaway's "cottage" (a bit of a misnomer considering its 12 rooms), and visits the gardens surrounding New Place (Shakespeare's residence following his success in London; unfortunately demolished in 1759). Here we see a wide array of interesting antiquities, such as "man-traps" hanging on the wall (these were steel traps used to catch poachers), and in Susannah's (Shakespeare's daughter) house, a group of surgical instruments (her husband was a doctor) that more closely resemble garden tools. Thanks to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (credited throughout), the residences have been restored and maintained, and are open to the massive public that throngs to the Bard's birthplace year round. The only quibble that I have with Shakespeare's Country is the repetition. Either meant for classroom use or aired over a series of weeks, the program has more than its fair share of overlapping information within the three segments (in fact, a bit of editing could have made this a one-hour program). Still, the lovely camerawork and the close-up looks at Shakespeare's wondrous Stratford are worth it. Recommended. (Available from: TeleVideo USA, 2513 Old Kings Highway North, Suite 210, Darien, CT 06820.)