Silent Shakespeare
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DVD Cover Information
DVD: Region Code 1Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC, Silent
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 89 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-06-06
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Silent Shakespeare
Movie Review: Not too shabby considering
Summary: 4 Stars
Certainly this isn't the ideal place to start if one is just getting into silents, nor is it ideal for those who aren't very familiar with Shakespeare, but for those who are well-acquainted with both, this disc is rather a treat. These 7 short films were made between 1899 and 1911, in England, the United States, and Italy, and were made at a time when the average moviegoer would have been already well familiar with these plays. So much of Shakespeare's beauty and genius come from his language, but in spite of the handicap of not being able to use speech (apart from intertitles), these films actually cover most of the major events of these plays. It does help if one is already familiar with the stories and characters, particularly with so much having to be left out in the interest of time (just about all films from this era were only one or two reels long), but if one looks at them as examples of early film instead of judging them against modern films or the actual plays, they actually don't seem too shabby. It's really a wonder how these early film-makers managed to cover most of the important events in works of literature they were adapting and condensing for the screen. The production values for some of them also seem pretty good; 'King Lear' and 'The Merchant of Venice' are even beautifully hand-colored. It's really pointless to say these are bad films if one is only judging them against more modern films. Of course the acting styles are going to be different, as well as the constraints of time and a camera that was very rigid. Films were still a developing artform at this time, and many of these early films that tell stories instead of just being actualities, such as those done by the Lumi?re Brothers, were indeed more like filmed versions of stage plays than actual moving pictures. The ones I liked best were 'Twelfth Night,' 'Richard III,' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' The other two films are 'The Tempest' and 'King John.' The former can be a bit hard to really follow if one hasn't read the play, though it still has that charm and sweetness that so many films from the Aughts do, and the latter, being from 1899, is only about two minutes long. Naturally it doesn't even cover the entire story, but rather solely depicts the death of King John at the end. It's most notable for starring the legendary English actor Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the title role.
While not the type of thing that a silent novice would most benefit by seeing, it does hold immense historical value to those who are interested in film history and who have seen enough silents to know that these are not representative of the lost artform. Watching films this old is kind of like looking back in time, and these early film adaptations of Shakespeare are no exception. And in spite of missing all of the wonderful poetry of Shakespeare, the actors still manage to convey the stories through subtle nonverbal communication.
Summary of Silent Shakespeare
Such stuff as dreams are made on... In the early days of cinema, pioneer filmmakers created these seven charming, moving and magical films based on the plays of William Shakespeare. Considered a "lowbrow" medium, the fledgling movie industry sought to elevate its status by immortalizing the classics and hiring the greatest actors of the day. As most of these early photoplays were only one or two reels long, adapting the Bard proved to be both challenging and inspiring. Digitally restored by the British Film Institute, this DVD features: King John (Britain, 1899), The Tempest (Britain, 1908), A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA, 1909), King Lear (Italy, 1910), Twelfth Night (USA, 1910), The Merchant of Venice (Italy, 1910), Richard III (Britain, 1911).Full Frame - Tinted & B&W - English - Mono
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