A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Movie Reviews of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie Review: A naked Judi Dench
Summary: 4 Stars
An independent film Directed by Peter Hall and The Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. This is one of those gems that allow many famous personalities of the time to display a little culture.
There are many fun facets of this film; right off we notice all the actors in a much earlier version. Who would have thought that Judi Dench was once so cute? And Helen Mirren before she was queen. Each version of midsummer Night's Dream displays a different star cast; and also to our advantage displays a different emphasis and dialog of William Shakespeare.
Then there is the negative side. Look closely and it looks like an Italian film with English dubbing; the words and voices are not quite in sync. The cameraman is the one that filmed "The Blare Witch."
Believe it or not it is better the second time through.
This film is a must for the collector.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie Review: Yes, the quality is poor, but......!
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, the quality is poor, but as an English teacher, who has watched almost every available video version in the past three weeks, this was the most faithful representation by far! I can't show it in class, but there is nothing more satisfying than seeing young Dame Judy brazen and lovely enough to pull off a nude Titania and seeing the lovely, elegant woman she is now. This is also the only version I have seen, so far, that portrays Hippolyta as the strong, amazon she is supposed to be! Hurrah for the brits, who don't have any problem keeping the complexity of the relationship between Theseus and Hippolyta! The trappings of the sixties just made it more of a romp! I would really rent this, the quality is absolutely terrible. I am sure I have caught snippets of a much better copy on television at some point, if I had known what a must see it was, I would have recorded it then. Rent it, watch it, love it for its kookiness and know that the Bard would have really appreciated it!Movie Review: See Them At the Outset of Their Careers!
Summary: 4 Stars
Although the scratchy unrestored color makes this DVD it look as if it had been pirated in a movie theatre thirty years ago, it is well worth buying if only to see the delightful performances of young Helen Mirren as Hermia, Diana Rigg (taking a break from Emma Peel) as Helena, Judy Dench as Titania, Ian Richardson (who gives a preview of his "House of Cards" sardonic smile) as Oberon, and even the husband of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) as Snug the Joiner. The production (with its pink-lipped green fairies and hairy-chested Puck) may have been misguided, but the actors shine as future stars of British stage and cinema.
Because of the poor quality and the faded print, I'd actually give it three and 1/2 stars. I still recommend it, however, as a piece of historical interest.
Movie Review: Poor Picture, Great Acting
Summary: 4 Stars
The picture quality is vile - it looks as if it has been fished out of the dustbin. If this bothers you, don't buy. It is also true that the costume department had an off day, and that the filming does not escape from its origins as a stage play. Overcome all this and you get by far the strongest and funniest performance of the Dream that I've seen on film or on stage (and I've seen a few). The mechanical's play in particular is hilarious. These are not stars doing a bit of culture on the side, but the Royal Shakespeare Company's best young actors from an exceptionally talented generation. Diana Rigg, for example, was playing Cordelia at Stratford before she was Emma Peel.
Movie Review: Shakespeare's MidSummer Nights Dream
Summary: 3 Stars
I love Shakespeare's work in most of its incarnations. This version of A Midsummer Night's Dream was purchased to show at a retirement community to celebrate the summer solstice - there were several to pick from and this one with a very young Judi Dench and Helen Mirren seemed the most worthy. I was disappointed on first glimpse at the poor color quality and the dated costuming which was based on the late-60s / early 70s style. Men had Beatles type bowl haircuts, women wore thigh-high black boots and mini skirts. That was my era - it's a dated look now.
The second disappiontment was the too-rapid delivery of the lines combined with very little expressive body gesture. It seemed the performers proffered the canto without wanting to impose their personas on the sacred words. Actually, it is the inhabiting of the character by the actor that brings Shakespeare to life. He did write for common folk, not exclusively for elitists, so overt physical gestures make sense. I wanted to see the actors really become those folks in the play.
Compare with a recent version starring David Straitharn, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart, Michelle Pfeiffer and others. They really flesh out the physicality of their parts, and are believable despite the far-fetched nature of the story. That was the well-received version I showed to my seniors.
I did not finish watching this one - it was just too wooden.
Still, you do get to see a naked Judi Dench - which did not save it; on the contrary, that little touch was completely unnecessary and only distracted. I give it a C.