Thursday, March 22, 2012

A Midsummer Night's Dream - 1909


Country: United States
Language: English
Directors: Charles Kent, J. Stuart Blackton
Writers: William Shakespeare (play), Eugene Mullin (scenario)
Stars: Walter Ackerman, Charles Chapman and Dolores Costello
Release Date: 25 December 1909 (USA)
Production Co: Vitagraph Company of América
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Love | Fairy | Play | Mischief | Wedding  | Magic | Queen | Weaver | Duke | Herb | Sleeping | Jackass | Boy | Rehearsal | Love Quadrangle | Unrequited Love | Athens Greece | Fickleness | Magic Wand | Love Potion | William Shakespeare | Transformation | Flying Boy | Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream | Young Love | Falling In Love | Fickle Man | Vanishing | Forbidden Love | Pursuit | Elopement | Forest | Impossible Love | Tradesman | Based On Play
Genres: Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Short
The Duke of Athens, on the eve of his wedding to Hippolyta, decrees that Hermia shall marry Demetrius, as per her father's wishes. Demetrius and Hermia's father are the only ones happy about this arrangement. Hermia is in love with Lysander. And a fourth lover, Helena, is in love with Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander elope into the woods; Demetrius follows them. And Helena follows Demetrius. Meanwhile, Titania, the queen of the fairies, quarrels with Penelope, who gets her revenge by enlisting Puck to find a magic herb that, when placed upon the eyes of a sleeper, will cause him to fall in love with the first person he sees upon waking. Puck's mischief soon involves the four young lovers as well as a group of tradesmen rehearsing for a play. The weaver among them finds himself with the head of an ass. Stranger still, Titania falls in love with him.
Quotes
[first title card]
Title Card: The Duke of Athens, soon to be married to Hippolyta, decrees that his subject, Hermia, shall give up her lover, Lysander, and marry Demetrius whom her father has chosen. The lovers decide to elope. They are followed by Demetrius and Helena in love with Demetrius.
Title Card: [last title card]
[SPOILER]
Title Card: Penelope discovers the mischief that has been done. She restores the weaver to his normal shape and happily unites the lovers.

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