Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1935) (DVD)

The evening of the summer solstice was a time that has inspired mankind for thousands of years. William Shakespeare packaged the longstanding interpretation that the summer solstice was a night for lovers and structured it as a comedy. This is a 15th century version of a screwball comedy. Flash to the 20th century and in the mid 1930's, some of the Hollywood studios decided to release some of the classics to "class up the movie business". It was also a political gesture to appease the "code of decenccy" enforcers. Warner Brothers paraded several of their contrat actors out to produce Shakespeare's comedy, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The dramatic performances range from exceptional to over-the top. Jimmy Cagney is a sight to behold portraying the Weaver known as "Bottom". The 14-year old Mickey Rooney turns in an amazing performance of the impish fairy "Puck". His over-the-top prattle may be a bit nerve wracking, but I got over it. This is the third movie made by the 18-year old Olivia DeHavilland who is wonderful as Hermia. The movie displays exceptional visual effects for a 1935 film. It won 2 Oscars for cinemotography and editing. The film excels at creating the somnambulistic transe that Shakespeare sets for the evening's dreams. It is well served as a black and white film, which adds to atmiosphere. This movie is a MUST SEE for film fans. It may not thrill the Shakespearians. And it certainly did not make much of an impression at the box office. This attempt to expose the movie theatre patrons to a little class was a resounding bust. I would love to see this film get a fresh start with a trip to the "high definition gods". There is an extravogent pre-release, quasi trailer/documentary that is floating around You Tube that would fit nicely with the HD version, while I am dreaming.

This 1935 movie of Shakespeare's classic was a wonderful display of actors! Olivian DeHavilland, Mickey Rooney , Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown are among some of the great actors playing in this incredible movie. Victor Jory as Oberon was so good as the King of Faeries as is Mickey Rooney as Puck! I love this movie.

Yes, a classic, and produced when the pre-Yacko and Wacko Warner Bros. were striving for legitimacy. Dick Powell as an effective verbal fencer in his light-weight period? Victor Jory dialing down the villainy? Cagney and McHugh showing how underutilized they had been? If only Mickey Rooney's Puck had been else-wise! Thank you, Stanley Tucci!

This is a wonderful film. For the age of it I was expecting something wrong with the print or the music. The music was gorgeous. The dance was beautiful. I am not a fantasy fan, but I was swept into it. It is sort of Shakespear. Well more than that and you will not be disappointed. It is a fun romp and pure delight. It is Hollywood at it's finest. I think it wonderful that Hollywood made such a film and this is a very good way to introduce someone to the bard himself. Color would have not done it justice.....the fantasy or dreamlike of it is perfect, as most of us do dream without color. It is more the real.

Great

I confess I haven't located the kitchen sink in the scenery of Max Reinhardt's production, but eventually I know I will. Reinhardt shamelessly cannibalizes other movie-spectaculars, the Ziegfield follies, classical music, musical comedies, high-brow ballet, actors of high billing and high ability, actors of high billing and low ability, and whatever else he can get his hands on. The film is magnificent. The movie opens with what I call the "yoo hoo" scene (it's not in the play). At the big festival, where a huffy looking Hippolyta is led in triumph in chains, Hermia (Olivia de Havilland) and Helena, a goofy looking Lysander and an equally goofy Demetrius pout, flirt, wave hankies, stomp and do a lot of emoting over the heads of the crowd. The scene is a hoot. Reinhardt, whatever else he has done to *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, has had a lot of fun, although the later ballet sequence is in direct opposition to the spirit of the opening scene. In it, day comes, and shadowy dark bat-winged male fairies carry off reluctant white-clad female fairies. Oberon and his henchmen are, frankly, downright scary, reminiscent of the pagan stag-men who supposedly at midsummer ride through the English woods. Other dark elements abound. Although Reinhardt goes to some length to legitimize the relationship between Titania and Bottom (by staging a mock marriage), he has also, by so doing, let us think about the bestial nature of Titania's choice. There, too, are Oberon's obsessive jealousy, Helena's masochism, Hermia's prudery and spit-fire nature (Lysander doesn't have a chance), Titania's interesting relationship with the Indian child (Bottom takes the child's place in her bed), and, overall, the possibility that all may not end well. This version is not only worth viewing, but owning -- and I suggest watching it back to back with Hall's film. Having said all this, I must still give the film only four stars. Mickey Rooney as Puck annoys beyond belief; the rude mechanicals (Jimmy Cagney included) can't live up to the material Shakespeare has given them -- they have the funniest scenes ever written in the English language but mostly stand around and eat onions. Reinhardt just can't resist the Shakespearean-low-character bad breath joke. But the film contains endless material for discussion. And let me know if you find the kitchen sink.

A wild, fun version of Shakespeare's only fantasy play. Features some of the best actors of the period.

Very good movie goid remake

Mickey Rooney steals the show.

While not accentuating Shakespeare's message that we are ,rich or poor,powerful or lowly,small or large,beautiful or ugly,merely comic players on a stage who are soon forgotten,this is a beautifully filmed fantasy of Hollywood's own fame and star driven default. Wonderful to look at and just as lovely to listen to with Korngold's version of the nineteenth century stage music by Mendelssohn, more than a soothing background .

Può servire per avvicinarsi e scoprire Max Reinhardt ,il suo universo, la sua poesia, i dettagli visivi, i magnifici costumi rendono questo film cult un monumento a quello che era la vecchia Hollywood. Incredibile per invenzione lo spartito di korngold !

a wonderful film with excellent music from Mendlesohn....absolute classic...despite Micky Rooney's overacting...

dass der Film wunderschön ist, ist keine Frage. Dass er zügig ankam, werte ich als sehr positiv