Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Date: 1935
Type: Fantasy / Comedy / Drama / Roamnce
Rating:

3/5
Colour: Black and White
Director: Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle
Producer:

Comment
This is a visually impressive adaptation of the Shakespeare play of couples in love being trick by the forrest faires and the exploits of a troup of actors. The sets gives a great fantasy feel although the film does end up overlong mainly due to some long dance sequences. James Cagney is not an actor that immediately comes to mind for Shakespeare, but his performance as Bottom is the highlight of the film both for his comic scenes and his discovery he has the head of an ass. A teenage Mickey Rooney dominates the scenes he is in as Puck, but his performance becomes increasing annoying as the film progresses. This was Olivia de Haviland's first film having been spotted in the same role as Hermia on the stage. The wall scene with James Cagney and Joe E Brown in the play at the end of the film is very funny.
Actors

Olivia de Haviland
Jean Muir

Helen Westcott
Oscars
None