Warner's Shakespeare Collection in August
09-05-2007 23:26 | 5735 views | Dave Foster | Show Backlinks
Warner Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of their Shakespeare Collection on 14th August 2007. This four title collection of William Shakespeare’s most famous screen adaptations is headlined by the long-awaited R1 DVD debut of Kenneth’s Branagh’s Hamlet 2- Disc Special Edition, the unforgettable and highly acclaimed full text version of Shakespeare’s powerful tragedy, featuring a magnificent all-star cast. The collection also includes three other famous Shakespeare screen translations, all making their highly-demanded premieres on R1 DVD -- Max Reinhardt’s legendary production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which featured virtually the entire Warner Bros. stable of stars circa 1935, Sir Laurence Olivier’s Othello, and the lavish M-G-M version of Romeo and Juliet starring Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer. Among the galaxy of famous stars in these films are Maggie Smith, James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, Mickey Rooney, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal.
The Shakespeare Collection, with all films carefully remastered to showcase their lush production values, includes new commentaries, vintage featurettes and more. The Collection will be available both as a five-disc set for $59.92 SRP, and as individual titles. The Hamlet 2-Disc Special Edition DVD will sell for $26.99 SRP. The individual titles are available for $19.97 SRP each.
Hamlet 2-Disc Special Edition (1996)
In this first-ever full-text film of Shakespeare’s greatest work, nominated for 4 Academy Awards, the power surges through every scene. The timeless tale of murder, corruption and revenge is reset in an opulent 19th-century world, using sprawling Blenheim Palace as Elsinore with much of the action staged in shimmering mirrored and gold-filled interiors. The luminous cast includes actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal and Charlton Heston.
The excitement of the Bard’s words and Branagh’s adventurous filmmaking style lift the story from its often shadowy ambience to fully-lit pageantry and rage. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said, “In the 80 years that works of world literature have been adapted for the screen, few filmmakers have attempted so much and with such success.”
DVD Special Features:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935)
Famed European stage director Max Reinhardt brought his unique and charming screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s bewitching comedy to Los Angeles for a presentation at the famed Hollywood Bowl in the mid-1930s. Jack L. Warner was so impressed by the event that he brought Reinhardt to the studio to re-create the stage spectacular on the screen, with many of the most famous stars of the Warner Bros. stock company playing the key roles. The film is a visual triumph, featuring superb performances from James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland (in her screen debut), Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown, Mickey Rooney and others playing the mortals and immortals. The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and won two (Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing). The legendary Reinhardt and Warner studio collaborators turn his unforgettable stage extravaganza into an exquisite movie, with Erich Wolfgang Korngold adapting the glorious Felix Mendelssohn score. The film has been fully-restored back to its original “roadshow” length version (including overture and exit music), having been digitally remastered from the film’s original nitrate camera negative.
DVD Special Features:
Othello (1965)
Four decades after Laurence Olivier brought Shakespeare’s Moorish general to the screen in 1965, his bravura performance retains its power and is “regarded by many critics and actors as the greatest performance of the 20th century,” wrote the Los Angeles Times’ Peter Rainer.
The original cast and soul-shattering impact of the play’s staging by the National Theatre of Great Britain are captured on film. Olivier was nominated for his seventh Academy Award in the title role, and the movie’s Desdemona (Maggie Smith), Emilia (Joyce Redman) and Iago (Frank Finlay) also captured OscarÒ nominations. Othello is the only Shakespeare film in which all four leading actors were Oscar nominated.
DVD Special Features:
Romeo and Juliet (1936)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s legendary production chief Irving Thalberg’s respect for the Bard infuses this “best of the pre-Olivier Shakespeare films” (David Shipman, The Story of Cinema), chosen as one of 1936’s 10-Best Films by The New York Times and the National Board of Review. George Cukor directs this timeless tale of doomed lovers divided by feuding families. Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard play title roles. Adding to the allure of this four-time Academy Award nominee, including Best Picture, are remarkable sets, opulent costumes (Botticelli paintings inspired Shearer’s wardrobe) and superb photography that reflect the film’s lavish budget.
DVD Special Features:
The Shakespeare Collection, with all films carefully remastered to showcase their lush production values, includes new commentaries, vintage featurettes and more. The Collection will be available both as a five-disc set for $59.92 SRP, and as individual titles. The Hamlet 2-Disc Special Edition DVD will sell for $26.99 SRP. The individual titles are available for $19.97 SRP each.
Hamlet 2-Disc Special Edition (1996)
In this first-ever full-text film of Shakespeare’s greatest work, nominated for 4 Academy Awards, the power surges through every scene. The timeless tale of murder, corruption and revenge is reset in an opulent 19th-century world, using sprawling Blenheim Palace as Elsinore with much of the action staged in shimmering mirrored and gold-filled interiors. The luminous cast includes actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal and Charlton Heston.
The excitement of the Bard’s words and Branagh’s adventurous filmmaking style lift the story from its often shadowy ambience to fully-lit pageantry and rage. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said, “In the 80 years that works of world literature have been adapted for the screen, few filmmakers have attempted so much and with such success.”
DVD Special Features:
- Introduction by director/star Kenneth Branagh
- Commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Shakespeare scholar Russell Jackson
- New digital transfer from original 70mm elements
- Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
- Featurette To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet
- 1996 Cannes Film Festival promo
- Shakespeare movies trailer gallery
- Hamlet ’96
- Julius Caesar ‘53
- Othello ‘65
- Othello ‘95
- Romeo and Juliet ‘37
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream ‘35
- Hamlet ’90
- Subtitles: English, French and Spanish subtitles. (feature film only)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935)
Famed European stage director Max Reinhardt brought his unique and charming screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s bewitching comedy to Los Angeles for a presentation at the famed Hollywood Bowl in the mid-1930s. Jack L. Warner was so impressed by the event that he brought Reinhardt to the studio to re-create the stage spectacular on the screen, with many of the most famous stars of the Warner Bros. stock company playing the key roles. The film is a visual triumph, featuring superb performances from James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland (in her screen debut), Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown, Mickey Rooney and others playing the mortals and immortals. The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and won two (Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing). The legendary Reinhardt and Warner studio collaborators turn his unforgettable stage extravaganza into an exquisite movie, with Erich Wolfgang Korngold adapting the glorious Felix Mendelssohn score. The film has been fully-restored back to its original “roadshow” length version (including overture and exit music), having been digitally remastered from the film’s original nitrate camera negative.
DVD Special Features:
- Commentary by film historian Scott MacQueen
- Olivia de Havilland screen test
- Vintage featurette A Dream Comes True
- Presenting… Gallery of 6 teaser trailers showcasing cast members
- Warner Bros. Studio Café teaser trailer
- Musical short Shake Mr. Shakespeare
- Theatrical trailer
- Subtitles: English, French and Portuguese (feature film only)
Othello (1965)
Four decades after Laurence Olivier brought Shakespeare’s Moorish general to the screen in 1965, his bravura performance retains its power and is “regarded by many critics and actors as the greatest performance of the 20th century,” wrote the Los Angeles Times’ Peter Rainer.
The original cast and soul-shattering impact of the play’s staging by the National Theatre of Great Britain are captured on film. Olivier was nominated for his seventh Academy Award in the title role, and the movie’s Desdemona (Maggie Smith), Emilia (Joyce Redman) and Iago (Frank Finlay) also captured OscarÒ nominations. Othello is the only Shakespeare film in which all four leading actors were Oscar nominated.
DVD Special Features:
- Vintage featurette Olivier Talks About Othello
- Theatrical trailer
- Subtitles: English (feature film only)
Romeo and Juliet (1936)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s legendary production chief Irving Thalberg’s respect for the Bard infuses this “best of the pre-Olivier Shakespeare films” (David Shipman, The Story of Cinema), chosen as one of 1936’s 10-Best Films by The New York Times and the National Board of Review. George Cukor directs this timeless tale of doomed lovers divided by feuding families. Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard play title roles. Adding to the allure of this four-time Academy Award nominee, including Best Picture, are remarkable sets, opulent costumes (Botticelli paintings inspired Shearer’s wardrobe) and superb photography that reflect the film’s lavish budget.
DVD Special Features:
- Vintage short Master Will Shakespeare
- Classic M-G-M cartoon Little Cheeser
- Theatrical trailer
- Subtitles: English (feature film only)
Comments
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I don't like the Kenneth Branagh Hamlet because I didn't like his performance, and I didn't like him running the whole thing off as a 19th century costume drama.
He's far too generous, as there's nothing else of merit in this inept adaptation. Nevertheless, it's a good thing this is finally getting released, for the sake of those that enjoy it.
Geek Trainee
Posts: 176
He's far too generous, as there's nothing else of merit in this inept adaptation.
I think "inept" is a being a bit too harsh: certainly it's flawed, but then it was an exceedingly ambitious project which in the end didn't quite pull it off. I would certainly argue that it's well worth seeing though: as the only complete cinematic adaptation of the play, it immediately qualifies as a must-see; the acting is pretty much excellent all-round (despite the big Hollywood names sometimes not quite fitting in); and it looks fabulous. I'm still not sure about moving it to the 19th century either - works in some ways, but does seem to lose some of the play's 'grittiness' in the process - but Branagh did an amazing job in getting it made at all, so I for one can't wait to catch up with it on dvd.
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He's far too generous, as there's nothing else of merit in this inept adaptation.
I think there's plenty of merit. Granted, it does rather prove why no-one else has attempted filming an uncut text (even the 1980 BBC Television Shakespeare adaptation made a few trims), the star casting runs the gamut from bizarrely distracting (Jack Lemmon, Gerard Depardieu) to surprisingly effective (Billy Crystal, Charlton Heston), and the impact of being shot on 65mm will obviously be lost on DVD, but it's still one of the stronger filmed Hamlets - definitely ahead of Zeffirelli (1991) and an honourable par with Olivier (1948), if not quite the all-round classic that is Kozintsev (1964).
I really don't understand the "19th century costume drama" criticism at all - Shakespeare's original is hardly a model of rigorously-researched fidelity to mediaeval Denmark, and I would hazard a guess that performances during his lifetime effectively amounted to 17th century costume dramas. In any case, surely one of the many great things about Shakespeare, and certainly a key factor in his universal appeal, is the sheer range of ways in which his work can be adapted?
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In any case, surely one of the many great things about Shakespeare, and certainly a key factor in his universal appeal, is the sheer range of ways in which his work can be adapted?
Actually that's what Bloom is venting his spleen on, all of those inept 'modern' adaptations of Shakespeare (both at the theater and on film) that clumsily try to change the background of the plays and just succeed in alienating the audience and destroying any relevant context.
It's true that in Shakespeare's day the plays were performed in modern dress but this was a convention of the time and akin to 'watching' a radio play, the audience knew the time frame and the setting of the play and just used its imagination, it wasn't an affectation of the director. Today's use of modern dress, or whatever bizarre setting the director uses, just comes from a desire to shock the audience and tickle the bored theatrical critics.
Branagh's film is an out and out masterpiece. It restores the plays' background and context (the sense of impending invasion etc...) and 3-dimensionality to its cast of characters Polonius in particular. Granted a 'medieval' version might actually have come accross even darker and more dramatic but this film just works accross all levels. How it didn't get any major awards is beyond belief and typical of the blockbuster mentality of a silly industry.
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The 'Olivia De Havilland' Screentest is actually for a film that was never made - DANTON - which was supposed to be Max Reinhardt's follow up to DREAM. The test was shot, under his direction, in 1936. It's a pity Warners don't label their DVDs better. I'd also love to know more about the restoration but there is no detail provided.
The 'DREAM COMES TRUE' short subject is also a great rarity, and contains the only known footage of Erich Wolfgang Korngold playing the piano.
What a pity they didn't ask Ms De Havilland to record her memories and how sad they didn't bother to include a gallery of production photos. There are dozens (mostly unseen) in the WB archive.
Still, it's great to have this unique movie at last in a restored print that finally does justice to Hal Mohr's incredible photography and Korngold's miraculous musical adaptation.