Play on! Shakespeare in Silent Film

Synopsis

A feature-length celebration of Shakespeare on silent film drawing on two dozen titles from the BFI National Archive many of which are rarely seen. Of the estimated 300 Shakespeare films produced in the silent era, only a fraction remain and some of the most outstanding examples have been curated in this special release. They include, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s King John (1899); Hamlet addressing Yorick’s skull; King Lear battling a raging storm at Stonehenge; The Merchant of Venice in vibrant stencil colour; the fairy magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and what was probably John Gielgud’s first appearance on film, in the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.
The films are newly digitised and accompanied by music from the composers and musicians of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video

Technical information

Black-and-white / Silent

Year of release

2016

Notes

Dual format edition contains both Blu-ray and DVD. Special features: Presented in both High and Standard Definition.
INTRODUCTION TO SILENT SHAKESPEARE (2016, 10 mins)
PLAY ON! MAKING THE MUSIC (2016, 11 mins)
KING LEAR (1910, 13 mins, silent with commentary by Judith Buchanan)
THE WINTER’S TALE (1913, 43 mins, silent with commentary by Judith Buchanan)
LIVING PAINTINGS (ROMEO AND JULIET) (1924, 1 min, silent with commentary by Judith Buchanan)
SILENT SHAKESPEARE (2004, 88 mins): programme of silent Shakespeare films,
previously released on BFI DVD, with music by Laura Rossi and optional commentaries by Judith Buchanan
Illustrated booklet with new writing by Bryony Dixon (silent film curator, BFI National Archive and Bill Barclay (director of music, Shakespeare’s Globe).

Subjects

Drama; Film studies; Shakespeare

Keywords

silent films; Shakespeare on film

Credits

Producer

Jane Giles

Writer

William Shakespeare

Editor

Becky Jones

Music

Alex Baranowski; Jules Maxwell; Sophie Cotton; Stephen Warbeck

Contributor

Bill Barclay; Bryony Dixon; Judith Buchanan

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL, Blu-Ray DVD

Price

£9.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

90 minutes

Year

2018

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

 

Available from retail outlets

Name

shop.bfi.org.uk

Email

bfishop@bfi.org.uk

Phone

020 7815 1350

Address

BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
South Bank
London
SE1 8XT