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
Duration: 63 mins

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).
General: Black and white, tinted and colour.

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British Universities Film & Video Council