A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

Theseus, Duke of Athens, is going to marry Hyppolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Demetrius is engaged with Hermia, but Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius. Oberon and Titania, of the ... See full summary »

Directors:

William Dieterle, Max Reinhardt

Writers:

William Shakespeare (by), Charles Kenyon (arranged for the screen by),

Stars:

Ian Hunter, Verree Teasdale, Dick Powell

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Hunter	...	Theseus - Duke of Athens
Verree Teasdale	...	Hippolyta - Queen of the Amazons - Betrothed to Theseus
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Philostrate - Master of Revels to Theseus
Dick Powell	...	Lysander - In Love with Hermia
Ross Alexander	...	Demetrius - In Love with Hermia
Olivia de Havilland	...	Hermia - In Love with Lysander (as Olivia de Haviland)
Jean Muir	...	Helena - In Love with Demetrius
Grant Mitchell	...	Egeus - Father to Hermia
Frank McHugh	...	Quince - the Carpenter
Dewey Robinson	...	Snug - the Joiner
James Cagney	...	Bottom - the Weaver
Joe E. Brown	...	Flute - the Bellows-Mender
Hugh Herbert	...	Snout - the Tinker
Otis Harlan	...	Starveling - the Tailor
Arthur Treacher	...	Epilogue

Storyline

Theseus, Duke of Athens, is going to marry Hyppolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Demetrius is engaged with Hermia, but Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius. Oberon and Titania, of the kingdom of fairies have a slight quarrel about whether or not the boy Titania is raising will join Titania's band or Oberon's, so Oberon tries to get him from her by using some magic. But they're not alone in that forest.Lysander and Hermina have there a rendezvous, Helena and Demetrius are there, too as well as some actors, who are practicing a play for the ongoing wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Due to some misunderstandings by Puck, the whole thing becomes a little bit confused...

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Plot Keywords:

love | actor | queen | fairy | play | 

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Taglines:

"Our true intent is all for your delight"

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein Sommernachtstraum

Filming Locations:

Stage 11, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min 117 min (edited) 142 min (with overture and exit music)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Olivia de Havilland was cast in the film after successfully playing Hermia in the Hollywood Bowl production.

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Quotes

Lysander: Helena, I love you, by my life I do!
Demetrius, in Love with Hermia: I say I love you more than he can do!
Lysander: If you say so, withdraw, and prove it too.
Demetrius, in Love with Hermia: Come!
Lysander: Come!
Demetrius, in Love with Hermia: Quick!
Lysander: Quick!
Demetrius, in Love with Hermia: Come quick!
Lysander: Quick, come!
[They draw swords]

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits appear as if they were "trickling down" from the top of the screen.

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Connections

Referenced in Sunny Side Up (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Over Hill, Over Dale, Through Bush, Through Brier"
(uncredited)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Words by William Shakespeare
Adapted and arranged by Erich Wolfgang Korngold from Mendelssohn's "Neue Liebe"
Performed by Nina Theilade
Conducted by Leo F. Forbstein

User Reviews

Astounding Shakespeare adaptation

Since "Shakespeare in Love" made that particular playwright happening and new, check out this, Warner Bros.' wild, expensive, free-wheeling adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

For me, James Cagney makes the movie. He's Nick Bottom, the leader (or so he believes) of a traveling troupe of actors. He gives an invigorating performance--the screen is his. At one point, he gets to wear a donkey's head (if you know the play, you know what I'm talking about), but it doesn't faze him in the least. Cagney, the most energetic screen actor, doesn't let his over-the-top approach mar his skill or care with The Bard's great words. It's the test of anyone wishing to act out a part in a Shakespeare play, which Cagney passes, to "speak" the dialogue, and by doing so, make what might be confusing on the page understandable to audiences on the screen or stage.

Warner really spared no expense with this production, which I think might have been the costliest of that year. The whole affair is like a dream in every way--it seems to sway in the wind, fragile to the touch. It features Mendolssohn music, soft-white photography (the great Hal Mohr), and some of the most incredible sets and costumes you're likely to see in a 1930s film.

Nominated for three Academy Awards: Picture, Cinematography and Editing. Bested by "Mutiny on the Bounty" for the first, it won the other two.