Compilation/Packaged Set: Silent Shakespeare
Barcode 014381922424
Release Date 1999

Such stuff as dreams are made on... In the early days of cinema, pioneer filmmakers created these seven films based on the plays of William Shakespeare. Considered a "lowbrow" medium, the fledgling movie industry sought to elevate its status by immortalizing the classics and hiring the greatest actors of the day. As most of these early photoplays were only one or two reels long, adapting the Bard proved to be both challenging and inspiring. Digitally restored by the British Film Institute.

Principal entry

This DVD features:

  1. King John (Britain, 1899),
  2. The Tempest (Britain, 1908),
  3. A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA, 1909),
  4. King Lear (Italy, 1910),
  5. Twelfth Night (USA, 1910),
  6. The Merchant of Venice (Italy, 1910),
  7. Richard III (Britain, 1911).
Twelfth Night
 (1910)
Comedy, Short, Silent
In Collection
#1181
7*
Seen It:  Yes
(10/18/2017 Home)
IMDB   5.3
12 mins USA / Silent
DVD  Region 1
Florence Turner Viola
Julia Swayne Gordon Olivia
Charles Kent Malvolio
Edith Storey Sebastian
Tefft Johnson Orsino
Marin Sais Maria
William Humphrey Sir Toby Belch
James Young Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Director/Choreographer
Charles Kent
Eugene Mullin
Producer J. Stuart Blackton
Writer/Composer William Shakespeare
Eugene Mullin


When Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are shipwrecked and separated, Viola dresses in her brother's clothes and becomes a page in the palace of the Duke of Orsino. Thinking Viola is a boy, the Duke sends her with a message to Olivia, whom he loves. A series of complications begins when Olivia falls in love with the page 'boy'
Edition Details
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
References
Streaming, VoD YouTube
IMDb Voters <500

Notes
While of particular interest to the study of film history, I found the mime acting of this film particularly well done (and rarely overdone)· The Twelfth Night's plot is simple enough to be effective in mime· A humorous story which caused me to chuckle several times.