A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Warner Bros., 1935, B/W, 150 minutes, ****
Released October, 1935


In 1935, Max Reinhardt, the great German impresario stunned Hollywood with the premiere of this Shakespeare classic. Weekly Variety called it "Unquestionably the loveliest, fantastic imagery the screen has yet produced." Featuring the greatest dramatic stars of the time - James Cagney, Dick Powell and Olivia De Havilland, renowned comic Joe E. Brown and child star Mickey Rooney - the film was one of the most lavish and expensive made in its time.

The story follows the trail of a pair of young lovers, Hermia and Lysander, who take refuge in the forest to escape the wrath of the Duke of Athens. There, their lives are intertwined with a group of actors and a wonderful collection of supernatural creatures of the night, whose own romantic problems make for great mischief.

Compelling, funny and honest to the playwright's original, the production also includes ballets by Nijinska, a score by Mendelssohn and unforgettable costumes, sets and pure magic.
"Proclamation: From Theseus, our noble and valiant Duke, homeward bound from his defeat of the Amazonian Army, come greetings to his loyal subjects. And the joyous news that, before this moon is old, he will wed Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, with pomp, with triumph, and with reveling.

Let masques and plays be readied against the nuptial day. To the actors chosen to play at the wedding of the Duke, a pension will be granted from the Ducal treasury to the amount of sixpence for each actor every day of his life.

Let every citizen of Athens give fitting welcome to our Noble Lord."

Producer: Max Reinhardt
Directed by: Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle
by William Shakespeare
Arranged for the screen by: Charles Kenyon and Mary C. McCall, Jr.
Music by: Felix Mendelssohn
Arranged by: Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Ballets by: Bronislawa Nijinska
Dialogue Director: Stanley Logan
Musical Director: Leo F. Forbstein
Art Director: Anton Grot
Special Effects: Byron Haskin, H.F. Koenekamp and Fred Jackman
Choreography: Bronislawa Njinska and Nini Theilade
Art Director: Anton Grot
Set Decoration: Ben Bone
Costumes by: Max Ree
Cosmetician: Perc Westmore
Photographed by: Hal Mohr
Special Photographic Effects by: Fred Jackman, Byron Haskin, Hans Koenekamp
Edited by: Ralph Dawson

Awards: Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Hal Mohr) and Best Film Editing (Ralph Dawson); Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Assistant Director (Sherry Shourds)

Cast: 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], Jean Muir [Helena, in love wtih 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], Victor Jory [Oberon, King of the Fairies], Anita Louise [Titania, Queen of the Fairies], Nina Theilade [Fairie attending Titania], Mickey Rooney [Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, a Fairy], Katherine Frey [Pease-Blossom], Helen Westcott [Cobweb], Fred Sale [Moth], Billy Barty [Mustard-Seed], [Fairies], Additional Cast: Sara Haden [Bottom's Wife], Carol Ellis [singing voice of Anita Louise], St. Luke's Episcopal Church Choristers [Background Vocals]

Musical Program: Overture, Scherzo, Nocturne and "The Wedding March" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Op. 61) and selections from "Songs Without Words," "The Italian Symphony" (Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, "Italian") and "The Scotch Symphony" (Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, "Scottish"), all by Felix Mendelssohn.
[0:01] Overture (played by Orchestra); [0:12] Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, "Scott" ("Scotch Symphony") (played by Orchestra, segment sung by Olivia de Havilland, Dick Powell, Ross Alexander, Jean Muir, James Cagney, Joe E. Brown and Chorus); [0:27] Through This House Give Glimm'ring Light (Fairies awaken: Ballet danced by Fairies, sung by Chorus); [0:30] Over Hill, Over Dale, Through Bush, Through Brier (sung by Nina Theilade); [0:32] Spinning Song (Op. 67 No. 4) (Fairy Ballet: played onscreen by the Gnome Orchestra, danced by the Fairies); [0:40] ? (sung by Dick Powell); [0:43] ? (sung by the Mechanicals acting troupe); [0:46] ? Lullaby (sung and danced by the Fairies); [0:49] Through the forest? stirring love? (sung by Mickey Rooney); [0:59] ? (whistled by the Mechanicals acting troupe); [1:07] Kinderstucke (Pieces for Children) (sung by James Cagney); [1:08] Kinderstucke (Pieces for Children) (continued by James Cagney); [1:11] Kinderstucke (Pieces for Children) (continued by James Cagney and Carol Ellis dubbing for Anita Louise); [1:39] Lullaby (sung by Carol Ellis dubbing for Anita Louise with a little help from James Cagney); [1:14] Spinning Song (sung by the Fairies); [1:16] Wedding march (played by Orchestra, marched and danced by the Fairies); [1:39] Lullaby ("Sleep Thou") (sung by Anita Louise with a little help from James Cagney); [1:41] Fairy Ballet (danced by the Fairies); [1:57] Wedding March (played by Orchestra, sung by Chorus); [2:04] "Pyramus and Thisbe" play (performed by the Mechanicals acting troupe: James Cagney as Pyramus, Joe E. Brown as Thisbe, Hugh Herbert as the Wall, Otis Harlan as Moonshine, Dewey Robinson as the Lion); [2:18] Hand in Hand with Fairy Grace (sung by Carol Ellis dubbing for Anita Louise, sung by the Fairies); [2:20] Puck's Soliloquy (spoken in verse by Mickey Rooney); [2:21] Exit Music: Wedding March (played by Orchestra); other very short songs sung by various cast members