British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Shakespeare Mystery, The

Alternative title
Midsummer Night’s Mystery, A
Synopsis
Documentary on the authorship of Shakespeare’s play, concentrating on Edward de Vere as one of the likeliest alternative authors. Charlton Ogburn, Enoch Powell and Charles Vere, Earl of Burford argue against the standard view, with A.L. Rowse offering a weak defence. Excerpts from Hamlet, Macbeth and the sonnets are read by actors in Hedingham Castle, Essex, former seat of the Earls of Oxford.
Series
First Tuesday
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television; Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
4 Jul 1989 at 21:35 (Channel: ITV)
Duration
60 mins
Availability
Out of distribution (2005)

Credits

Director
Kevin Sim
Producer
Kevin Sim
Contributor
A.L. Rowse; Charles Vere; Charlton Ogburn; Enoch Powell; Olivia O’Leary; Sam Schoenbaum

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Authorship

Notes

Notes
Broadcast as A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S MYSTERY. The Library of Congress copy is from a rebroadcast on 23 April 1996.
History
Broadcast in the United States on Public Television’s Frontline series on 18 April 1989. The Library of Congress copy is from a rebroadcast on 23 April 1996
Reviews
On the background of the production, see C. Ogburn, ‘Television Documentary on the Shakespeare Controversy to Be Broadcast,' Shakespeare Oxford Society Newsletter 25, no. 1 (1989), p. 5-6.

Production Company

Name

Yorkshire Television

Notes
YTV material is managed by ITN Source. Their sales department can be contacted on 0207 430 4480.

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division

Web
http://catalog.loc.gov/ External site opens in new window
Phone
(20) 707-8572
Fax
(20) 707-237’1
Address
Motion Picture & Television Reading Room
James Madison Building, LM 336
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C.
20540-4690
United States

Distributor

Name

Granada Learning

Email
info@granada-learning.co.uk
Web
http://www.granada-learning.com External site opens in new window
Phone
0161-827 2927
Fax
0161-827 2966
Address
Customer Services
Granada Television
Quay Street
Manchester M60 9EA

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