A Midsummer Night's Dream

Starring: James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, Olivia de Havilland, et al.

Product Description

Shakespeare's Puck and forest fairies prompt a triple mortal wedding, with entertainment by Bottom.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 012569591226
• Release Date: May 1993
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Publisher: WarnerBrothers
• Director: William Dieterle
• Starring: James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, Olivia de Havilland, Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown, Jean Muir, Hugh Herbert, Ian Hunter, Frank McHugh, Victor Jory
• Runtime: 2 hours, 13 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: Multiple Formats; Black & White; Closed-captioned; NTSC; Original recording remastered; Subtitled
• Weight: 0.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

More elaborate than most versions

The many different versions down through the ages of this play bring different visions with strengths and weaknesses of interpretation. Of course, as with others, this version incorporated the famous actors of the time. The costume is also a tad more elaborate. Very little of the original writing is missing. Each actor expresses their unique and familiar talent. There are some great ballet scenes. Keep your eye on Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, a Fairy (Mickey Rooney). Now the situation. We have overlapping tales, which in the confusion become even more overlapping and confusing. We have Theseus (Ian Hunter), Duke of Athens, about to marry Hippolyta (Verree Teasdale), Queen of the Amazons. Practicing in the solitude of the Woods is a troop of actors that will appear at the wedding. One of the troops is a married man with a roving eye, Bottom (James Cagney); he soon encounters a group of fairies. Now, this is an interesting situation on its own. However, there is more. Hermia is forced by her father, Egeus, to marry Demetrius. However, Hermia (Olivia de Haviland) loves Lysander (Dick Powell.) Wait, there is more. Hermia's friend Helena (Jean Muir) is in love with Demetrius, who ignores her. Yep, into the wood escape Hermia and Lysander. Hot on their trail is Demetrius (Ross Alexander), doggedly followed by Helena. Back at the ranch, the Fairy queen and king fall slightly. So, the fairy king intends to correct everyone's situation and teach a few lessons. You get the idea. Now sit back and watch the fun. And stay tuned for the play at the end in which Joe E. Brown plays a good Flute, the Bellows-Mender, and sometimes an actor.