Shakespeare-Inspired Titles in the PCC Library
Many books and films have been inspired by the work of William Shakespeare--we have some of these items in our collection.
- 10 Things I Hate About YouA loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" set in a modern Seattle high school.
- Forbidden Planet"The plot of The Tempest is transported to an isolated planet inhabited only by the eccentric Dr. Morbus, his beautiful daughter, and his frightening creation."
- Gnomeo & JulietCaught up in a feud between neighbors, Gnomeo and Juliet must overcome as many obstacles as their namesakes.
- Kiss Me, Kate"A battling, once-married couple ... are reunited to star in a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew."
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are DeadThe fringe characters from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' take center stage at Elsinore.
- The Dead Poets' Society"A drama about an inspiring teacher at a stuffy boys' school that includes a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream as a major plot element."
- To Be or Not to Be"During the occupation of Poland, stage actors engaged in a production of Hamlet use parts of the play to prevent information about the Resistance from reaching the Nazis."
- West Side StoryA modern version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set in the Puerto Rican section of New York City.
- RanIn 16th century Japan, an aging ruler attempts to divide his kingdom among his three sons. They turn against each other and betray their father, triggering calamitous events. Based on Shakespeare's King Lear.
Other Works Inspired by Shakespeare
A few of the following titles are available from the Pima County Public Library. Also check out local video stores, used bookstores and the Internet..
- China Girl"Romeo and Juliet in New York City, with rival Italian and Chinese gangs as the feuding families."
- Get Over It!"A high school boy gets involved in a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream to win his girlfriend back, until he fall in love with her younger sister."
- Harry and Tonto"After his life-long New York City home is torn down, a retired schoolteacher makes a cross-country journey to visit his estranged children in this adaptation of King Lear."
- King Lear"The great works of art have been lost and William Shaksper Junior the Fifth tries to reconstruct King Lear after being reminded of its plot by the strange inhabitants at a nearby resort."
- Let the Devil Wear Black"Hamlet is updated to modern-day southern California as a moody grad student is compelled to take revenge on his uncle for his father's death."
- Love is All There Is"Romeo and Juliet with two rival restaurant -owning families in New York at constant odds-especially after their children fall in love."
- Macbeth in ManhattanA troupe of actors unfamiliar with the curse on the Scottish Play stage a production of Macbeth: mayhem ensues.
- Men of Respect"After hearing a prophecy, a hitman executes his superiors and rises to the head of a mob family with dire consequences in this film inspired by Macbeth."
- Midsummer"A Midsummer Night's Dream with Egyptian elements."
- O"Othello set in a modern high school, with the basketball coach's white son jealous of the black start of the team and his beautiful girlfriend."
- Renaissance Man"A former advertising man finds work teaching Hamlet and Henry V to army recruits at a base camp."
- Romeo Must Die"A Romeo and Juliet adaptation featuring Chinese and black mob families as the Montagues and Capulets and lots of king fu."
- Scotland, PA"Macbeth plays itself out in a fast food restaurant as Joe McBeth is persuaded to kill his boss and take over Duncan's burger kingdom."
- She's the Man"Twelfth Night is transported to a modern private boys' school when female athlete Viola must disguise herself as a boy after her own school's soccer team is cut."
- Tempest"Adaptation of The Tempest set in the modern-day United States and Greece."
- The Boys from SyracuseA musical by Rodgers and Hart based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors.
- The Distinct Smell of Red"A lonely flower shop employee becomes obsessed with trying to find his Juliet after reading the Cliff Notes for Romeo and Juliet."
- The Tempest" . . . set in the Civil War South."
Your Librarian
Rosanne Couston
Contact:
Office: Northwest Campus, #G235
Phone: 520-206-7086
E-mail: rcouston@pima.edu
Office: Northwest Campus, #G235
Phone: 520-206-7086
E-mail: rcouston@pima.edu
520-206-7086
Website