Yes, this is a version of Othello and yes, that is Tony Curtis from Hollywood's golden age playing Iago. It would have been funnier is he was playing Othello, but you can't have it all I guess.
This is modern Othello, so now he's general Othello, a gun for hire in Africa who is working for the Red Cross when he claps eyes on Desdemona, an aid worker from the US. At first these two hate each other but soon it's romantic love montage time, all watched by the ever jealous, scheming, Iago. I've got to admit I felt like I was watching Tony Curtis, but it looked to me like Tony Curtis was channelling b-movie actor Cameron Mitchell!
Iago's speech is all modern and both he and Desdemona's father are dropping the 'N' word like this was written by Quentin Shakespeare, but if you're among the billions of people forced to read the play at school, you'll know how this one pans out anyway. It's one of Shakespeare's tragedies. For some reason Shakespeare wasn't in to warning his viewers by having a spoiler warning.
Things that drown out the dialogue all over this one include: A helicopter, explosions, the soundtrack (very loud Beethoven all the way through), and Tony Curtis strangely holding his hand over his mouth. That's what you'll end up watching this one for - Tony Curtis trying to be Iago in a b-movie with a seemingly one man crew. The worst part is that it dawns on you about halfway through that the film isn't bad enough to get some laughs and is kind of well made for a cheapy. There's even a bit of action thrown in for good measure.
Fernando Sancho appears as a President. He does not eat any chicken legs.
