Michael hoffmans 1999 film version of a midsummer nights dream transports the dramas action from ancient athens to an imaginary italian village named monte athena at the turn of the nineteenth century. The difficulty here as in all shakespeare is managing a proper tone. Shakespeares comedy about two couples in love with the wrong partners, and how they are finally brought together rightly, thanks in part to the bungling work of puck. Closedcaptioned english soundtracks are rendered in both dolby digital 5. Lovers lives are complicated by city law, feuding faerie royalty. Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of a midsummer night s dream that can help you study and better understand the play. By far the best thing about director michael hoffmans a midsummer nights dream is the extraordinary allstar cast, which follows the precedent created by kenneth branaghs italianset romantic shakespeare comedy, much ado about nothing 1993, of mixing major hollywood starshere kevin kline and michelle pfeifferwith top british talent, in. Shakespeares classic romantic comedy set in 19th century tuscany. The ensemble cast features kevin kline as bottom, michelle pfeiffer and rupert everett as titania and oberon, stanley tucci as puck, and calista flockhart, anna friel, christian bale, and dominic. Negative although a midsummer nights dream 1999 movie has great costumes, acting, actors, and, of course, the bards well written play and dialogue, it had nudity and sexual scenes from beginning to end.
Hollywood stars, paparazzi, and fairies collide in this streamlined, multimedia enhanced version of shakespeare s midsummer night s dream. Imagine a work by shakespeare reduced to one of those pretty, glossy coffeetable picture books that have only a dollop of text alongside its sumptuous photographs, and you might have michael hoffman s adaptation of a midsummer night s dream. Perhaps ive never seen it done right, or at least, never done right across the board. In this rendition of the play, duke theseus isnt a conquering hero but a tired and seemingly ineffectual bureaucrat. Michael hoffman s 1999 film version of a midsummer night s dream transports the drama s action from ancient athens to an imaginary italian village named monte athena at the turn of the nineteenth century. Going more of the traditional route, but still taking some artistic liberties, is the latest filmed adaption of a midsummer night s dream. See more ideas about midsummer nights dream, shakespeare plays and night. Listen to the play listen to knighted english actor sir john gielgud read from a midsummer nights dream. The best thing about hoffman s take on a midsummer night s dream, however, is his expert interweaving of the conventional and the outlandish. This allstar version of shakespeares comedy is gorgeously shot in tuscany, complete with a magical forest. So says bottom in william shakespeare s a midsummer night s dream, and he could be describing the play he occupies.
Perhaps the only element of the film that is true to shakespeares original play is the language. Dec 30, 2015 if you find our videos helpful you can support us by buying something from amazon. With claude jade, christine delaroche, michel ruhl, dominique serina. While preparations are underway for the marriage of athenian duke theseus derek godfrey and amazon queen hippolyta barbara jefford, fairy king oberon ian richardson and his tricky jester. A midsummer nights dream 1968 letterboxd social film. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. Shakespeare s comedy about two couples in love with the wrong partners, and how they are finally brought together rightly, thanks in part to the bungling work of puck.
A midsummer night s dream is a 1999 romantic comedy film based on the play of the same name by william shakespeare. It all begins when hermia and lysander flee deep into the forest to escape hermias father, egeus, who wishes hermia to marry demetrius. Adaptations of shakespeares plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films andor videos worldwide. Going more of the traditional route, but still taking some artistic liberties, is the latest filmed adaption of a midsummer nights dream. It is completely in the language of the bard, with pfeiffer as.
Part of a series of seven short animated shakespeare films aimed at 6 11 year olds who are learning english as a second language and available on the british councils learnenglish kids. Stanley tuccis sly but goodhearted puck, blondhaired but bald on top, has two horns on the sides of his. Mistaken identity, unrequited love, and the supernatural are combined in shakespeares classic set in the woods of greece on a moonlit night. A midsummer nights dream nude scenes 9 images and 6 videos including appearances from calista flockhart anna friel michelle pfeiffer. Directed by sir peter hall and using the royal shakespeare academys cast of actors including helen mirren, judi dench and ian holm this 1968 version of shakespeares classic comedy is one of the wittiest and wildest of all versions produced. Imagine a work by shakespeare reduced to one of those pretty, glossy coffeetable picture books that have only a dollop of text alongside its sumptuous photographs, and you might have michael hoffmans adaptation of a midsummer nights dream.
Though the film is traditional enough in its approach to use felix mendelssohn s classical compositions, as did director max reinhardt in his 1935 hollywood version, it portrayed fairies as they were. Combining an abridged version of the original text with film and powerpoint slides, this adaptation is a fresh and hilarious take on the beloved comedy about mismatched couples under the spell of a love potion set to the flashing lights. The first dvd i checked out from the library was so scratched you couldnt get to the menu. Combining an abridged version of the original text with film and powerpoint slides, this adaptation is a fresh and hilarious take on the beloved comedy about mismatched couples under the spell of a love potion set to the flashing lights of the world of. The ensemble cast features kevin kline as bottom, michelle pfeiffer and rupert everett as titania and oberon, stanley tucci as puck, and calista flockhart, anna friel, christian bale, and dominic west as the four lovers. A midsummer nights dream, imagination stage midsummer shakespeare company 2007. A midsummer nights dream is a 1968 film of william shakespeares play a midsummer nights dream, directed by peter hall. A midsummer nights dream 1999 film alchetron, the free social.
Start an into film club or log in to rate this film synopsis this playful, faithful version of shakespeares classic comedy begins with hermia and lysander fleeing into the forest in order to escape hermias father, who wishes her to marry demetrius, who is in love with hermia, but unaware that her friend helena is in turn besotted with him. It is an enchanted folly suggesting that romance is a matter of chance, since love is blind. A midsummer nights dream is a 1999 romantic comedy fantasy film based on the play a midsummer. While it provided an beautiful physical setting with an inherent aura of romance and passion, it made for a somewhat clumsy. Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of a midsummer nights dream that can help you study and better understand the play. Watch a midsummer nights dream full movie dailymotion. The language, at that, is overshadowed by the action of the film for the. A midsummer nights dream is a 1968 film of william shakespeares play a midsummer nights dream, directed by peter hall production. The twentieth century fox and mgms 2011 release of peter halls 1968 film adaptation of a midsummer nights dream is a perfectly good print of this splendidly performed and clearly enunciated play. A stellar cast, headed by kevin kline and michelle pfeiffer, bring shakespeares romantic comedy to life. Kevin kline, michelle pfeiffer, rupert everett, calista flockhart, and stanley tucci in a midsummer night s dream 1999.
Six of these films are fun, simplified summaries of shakespeares most popular plays, while the seventh is a. William shakespeare s a midsummer night s dream, sogno di una notte di mezza estate. That makes shakespeare the most filmed playwright of all time. If you find our videos helpful you can support us by buying something from amazon. A midsummer nights dream version 3 william shakespeare 1564 1616 the play features three interlocking plots, connected by a celebration of the wedding of theseus of athens and the amazon queen, hippolyta, which is set simultaneously in the woodland and in the realm of fairyland, under the light of the moon. Hollywood stars, paparazzi, and fairies collide in this streamlined, multimedia enhanced version of shakespeares midsummer nights dream. With kevin kline, michelle pfeiffer, rupert everett, stanley tucci. Enjoy a midsummer nights dream full movie dailymotion. William shakespeares a midsummer nights dream movie. I actually turned it off and put on the 1999 version instead. Le songe dune nuit dete a midsummer night s dream is a french tv film from 1969. A midsummer nights dream is a 1999 romantic comedy fantasy film based on the play a midsummer nights dream by william shakespeare.
While preparations are underway for the marriage of athenian duke theseus derek godfrey and amazon queen hippolyta barbara jefford, fairy king. Le songe dune nuit dete a midsummer nights dream is a french tv film from 1969. It is based on a midsummer nights dream by william shakespeare, and was directed by jeanchristophe averty action. A midsummer nights dream trailer turner classic movies. Michael hoffmans 1999 version of a midsummer nights dream has everything that an audience of the 90s demands. It is based on a midsummer night s dream by william shakespeare, and was directed by jeanchristophe averty action. Michael hoffmans adaptation of shakespeares a midsummer nights dream is a delightful way to spend the summer solstice evening, or any. What will happen to demetrius, hermia, lysander and helena in the fairy forest. The adventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors and their interactions with fairies come to light in a moonlit forest. Hoffman divulges his fairy world vision of a midsummer nights dream as something of a bacchanalian revelry with snippets of some sex and nudity a weird musical party of dancing and feasting to music from flutes and cymbals and drums.
The costuming is not such a problem the mixture of 1960s styles with 19th century attire actually works well, producing an effect that is both disconcerting and comforting, and seems appropriate for what is, after all, a fantasy. Director michael hoffman s decision to set his film adaptation of william shakespeare s a midsummer night s dream in turnofthecentury tuscany paid mixed dividends in his attempts to bring the play to the screen. Film version of shakespeares comedy performed by members of the royal shakespeare company. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. To buy a copy of adrian noble s a midsummer night s dream from amazon click the button below. With derek godfrey, barbara jefford, nicholas selby, hugh sullivan.
Study guide and clips to accompany the feature film and tv programme. Check out christian bale as demetrius in his prebatman days. Adaptations of shakespeare s plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films andor videos worldwide. A midsummer nights dream by michael hoffman kevin kline. So says bottom in william shakespeares a midsummer nights dream, and he could be describing the play he occupies. To buy a copy of adrian nobles a midsummer nights dream from amazon click the button below. Dec 10, 2014 a midsummer night s dream trailer 1999 director.
A midsummer night s dream is an easy play to do well and an extremely tough play to do very well. Six of these films are fun, simplified summaries of shakespeares most popular plays, while the. A ten minute programme featuring adrian noble and producer paul arnott discussing the filmed adaptation of the royal shakespeare company s 1996 version of a midsummer night s dream. One of the finest screen versions of the immortal shakespeare comedy, a midsummer night s dream does suffer slightly from the period in which it was filmed.
Jun 22, 2016 a midsummer night s dream full film plot cast production critical reception similar movies other adaptations references a midsummer nights. A midsummer night s dream is a 1999 romantic comedy fantasy film based on the play a midsummer night s dream by william shakespeare. William shakespeares a midsummer nights dream 1999. A midsummer nights dream too is shot on film, and ill come right out and say it its never been my favorite of shakespeares comedies, even though it was the first play i ever read and have seen it live more than any other. It is completely in the language of the bard, with pfeiffer as the fairy queen and kline as the one turned into her evenings lover with donkey ears.
Demetrius himself bicycles into the woods to follow his. It is based on a midsummer nights dream by william shakespeare, and was directed by jeanchristophe averty. Clips from william shakespeares a midsummer nights dream from 1968, starring judi dench, helen mirren, diana rigg, ian holm, michael jayston, ian richardson, david warner and others. I chose this version of the film to show to my 9th grade english class after studying the. It stars derek godfrey as theseus, barbara jefford. When two pairs of starcrossed lovers, a feuding pair of supernatural sprites, and a love potion gone awry all come together in an enchanted moonlit forest, the result is a delightful mix of merriment and magic.
A midsummer night s dream too is shot on film, and ill come right out and say it it s never been my favorite of shakespeare s comedies, even though it was the first play i ever read and have seen it live more than any other. A midsummer nights trailer here is the trailer for the 1999 film. It all begins when hermia and lysander flee deep into the forest to escape hermia s father, egeus, who wishes hermia to marry demetrius. Michael hoffmans adaptation of a midsummer nights dream comes to dvd with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.
Noble and producer paul arnott discussing the filmed adaptation of the royal shakespeare companys 1996 version of a midsummer nights dream. William shakespeares a midsummer nights dream, sogno di una notte di mezza estate. Mistaken identity, unrequited love, and the supernatural are combined in shakespeare s classic set in the woods of greece on a moonlit night. A stellar cast, headed by kevin kline and michelle pfeiffer, bring shakespeare s romantic comedy to life. A midsummer nights dream 1981 letterboxd social film. The twentieth century fox and mgm s 2011 release of peter hall s 1968 film adaptation of a midsummer night s dream is a perfectly good print of this splendidly performed and clearly enunciated play.
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