Othello (Olivier), the Moor of Venice, is happily betrothed to his beautiful young wife, Desdemona (Smith) — a fact that does not sit well with his acquaintance Iago (Finlay), who has a cunning plan to convince Othello, a man of tumultuous moods and intense passion, that she has been unfaithful.

Shakespeare's oft-staged tragedy about jealousy and murder gets the royal treatment from London's National Theatre troupe, but the center of fascination in this riveting adaptation is the inimitable, Oscar-nominated Laurence Olivier, who broods and quakes with rage over Desdemona's ostensible infidelity, and then agonizes in profound despair for succumbing to Iago's treachery. It is an explosive performance, bolstered by the impressive work of Olivier's stage mates, Smith and especially Finlay, who invests his scheming blackguard with an air of malicious delight. A timeless play, acted by one of the greatest thespians of our time.