This film’s opening scene (from a celebrated stage production) establishes Othello as a commanding personality, readily dominating all challenges, though perhaps a little facile in manner: Olivier was censured for making Othello too servile to Venetians and he himself even said that he modeled his performance on the idea of a “house slave.” The grossness of the “black-face” make-up was also censured. This is not a proud Arab prince.