Ian McKellen reads Shakespeare's Sonnet 29

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

[@MsCarolina518]

Two of the greats of British theatre reading Shakespeare. This film is perfect 🙌🏼

[@robinb6637]

His rendition of the last line, in particular, is sheer perfection.

[@davidlucey1311]

Wonderful!

[@GeorgeSmith1066]

Wow, just wow.

[@riccardo25922]

Thanks for uploading this. Can you upload Branagh’s rendition? The contrast between the readings is stunning.

[@victorkirima1050]

Judi Dench :)

[@MrEmreWawa]

same

[@huracan200173]

Yeap, she did it better. It's all in the pacing. The phrases have to make sense in the speed they're said. You don't rant one after the other like nothing. They all carry weight, it's a person going through his own thoughts and no one things at that speed. The way Judi Dench does it is PERFECTION.

[@dbzfanturkiye6579]

Descartes reads Shakespeare's sonnet 29

[@Enrique-h6g]

A gifted student in one of my classes once asked, "Was Shakespeare gay? I read he was gay." I never lie to students, so regardless of how much it irritated the evangelical, extremist locals I told him that scholars debate Shakespeare's sexuality because although he was married to a much older woman and had children with her, most of the over 150 sonnets he wrote were to a young man (whose identity is still debated -- although he was likely an actor). At that time, sonnets were solely written as declarations of love for an individual. Also, there is debate about whether Shakespeare's marriage was a happy one as there is a line in his will stating he leaves his "Second best bed" to his wife. Some scholars debate this was a putdown to his wife while others state it was meant with affection as, at that time, guest beds were usually the best beds in one's home.

[@jorgefiguerola1239]

Read somewhere that the identity was John Hump...

[@suem6004]

Nope. Not everyone in history was gay. Stop reading propaganda.

[@struggler856]

Why tf do you have to spoil everything? He was a normal man not a wierdo

[@horationelson57]

Shakespeare. Gay? Nay, verily, but he wast mirthful 😂

[@sdcoinshooter]

Here’a a good question: What the Fuck does it matter?

[@shankarbalakrishnan2360]

Sush sash sushaa shii❤❤chants haha

[@nurrizq7521]

from what movies is thisss, I wanna watch it

[@zmani4379]

all is true

[@jeffallcock4561]

where is this from?

[@RubenGorceaJr]

Movie please?

[@doctornerd8669]

Movie is?

[@adipose123gaming5]

All is True is the film. Directed by Kenneth Branagh himself!

[@jeffreynolasco7025]

I thought it was 3 musketeers

[@Charmagh110]

Nah. Not as good as Hitchens version

[@wgvickery]

Everybody is entitled to their opinion, and I like Hitchens in many contexts, but I think this is the coldest take of all time.

[@MacKenziePoet]

Ridiculously ponderous. Ian McKellen is one of the most overrated of all Shakespearean actors.

[@neilmcbeath954]

You could, of course, do better yourself.

[@guepardiez]

Why do you trouble deaf heaven with your bootless cries?

[@TheMisterGriswold]

LOL !

[@guepardiez]

You seem to be in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, but desiring this man's art and that man's scope won't make things better for you.