Othello (1951): cast, story & where to watch
1951 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1951, Othello is a drama and romance film directed by Orson Welles, running about 93 minutes. “Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When a secret marriage is planned between Othello, a Moorish general, and Desdemona, the daughter of Senator Brabantio, her old suitor Roderigo takes it hard. He allies himself with Iago, who has his own grudge against Othello, and the two conspire to bring Othello down. When their first plan, to have him accused of witchcraft, fails, they plant evidence intended to make him believe Desdemona is unfaithful.
Who’s in it. Othello stars Orson Welles as Othello, Micheál Mac Liammóir as Iago, Robert Coote as Roderigo and Suzanne Cloutier as Desdemona, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Othello has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Othello page.
If you liked it. Fans of Othello tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Othello (1951)?
- In US, Othello is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Othello worth watching?
- Othello holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Othello?
- Othello stars Orson Welles, Micheál Mac Liammóir, Robert Coote, Suzanne Cloutier and Hilton Edwards.
- When was Othello released?
- Othello was released in 1951, with a runtime of about 93 minutes.