Runtime: I saw the full
143 minute version
Directed by: Max
Reinhardt/William Dieterle
Starring: An all-star cast
From: Warner Bros.
James Cagney singing while having the head of an ass: a mindf***.
I
will presume that-at least in the United States-it was common in the
curriculum of high school English classes across the United States to
read William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, along with other
plays from the legendary bard; I certainly did. It has been adapted for
the screen many times-and this won't be the only version that I ever
review-and this version was chosen due to its great cast of faces from
the golden days of Hollywood: Cagney, de Havilland-her first role-Joe E.
Brown, Dick Powell, Hugh Herbert, Mickey Rooney, etc. There's also Ian
Hunter, whose character Egeus is not Once Bitten, Twice Shy about who
his daughter should marry.
This comedy in general follows the plot of the play and not only shows Theseus marrying Hippolyta, but also the six mechanicals (i.e. amateur actors) who are controlled by the faeries throughout as they want to put on a play in honor of the marriage. Another assumption on my part is that people in general know at least something concerning the plot to this story, so I won't dwell on all the machinations. The film does have some lavish sets, a plentiful amount of 30's special effects, and is nicely co-directed by Max Reinhardt & William Dieterle; both are from central Europe and the former was great at theatre while the latter excelled at motion pictures. Both came to America once things started to become hairy in Germany, for obvious reasons. There are nice dance numbers and songs throughout.
It does have to be said, though, that if you watch the version which includes the overture at the beginning, the film is almost 2 ½ hours long and at times it does feel that length. Plus, some performances are definitely theatrical (Cagney is more than just a tough guy actor... he just usually never got that chance), while others were just over the top. Still, this was a fun, whimsical version of the oft-told tale.
This comedy in general follows the plot of the play and not only shows Theseus marrying Hippolyta, but also the six mechanicals (i.e. amateur actors) who are controlled by the faeries throughout as they want to put on a play in honor of the marriage. Another assumption on my part is that people in general know at least something concerning the plot to this story, so I won't dwell on all the machinations. The film does have some lavish sets, a plentiful amount of 30's special effects, and is nicely co-directed by Max Reinhardt & William Dieterle; both are from central Europe and the former was great at theatre while the latter excelled at motion pictures. Both came to America once things started to become hairy in Germany, for obvious reasons. There are nice dance numbers and songs throughout.
It does have to be said, though, that if you watch the version which includes the overture at the beginning, the film is almost 2 ½ hours long and at times it does feel that length. Plus, some performances are definitely theatrical (Cagney is more than just a tough guy actor... he just usually never got that chance), while others were just over the top. Still, this was a fun, whimsical version of the oft-told tale.
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