| A Midsummer Night's Dream | |
| Director: | Charles Kent J. Stuart Blackton (co-director) |
| Producer: | J. Stuart Blackton |
| Starring: | Walter Ackerman Charles Chapman Dolores Costello Helene Costello |
| Distributor: | Vitagraph Studios |
| Runtime: | 1 reel |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | Silent film |
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 1909 American film directed by Charles Kent and J. Stuart Blackton, and starring Walter Ackerman and Charles Chapman. It was the first film adaptation of the eponymous play by William Shakespeare. The movie was made during summer 1909, but not released until December 25.
The Duke of Athens decrees that Hermia (Rose Tapley) shall forsake Lysander (Maurice Costello) in favour of her father's choice, Demetrius (Walter Ackerman). The lovers elope into the woods, quickly followed by Demetrius and his love, Helena (Julia Swayne Gordon). The town tradesmen, meanwhile, rehearse a play in honour of the duke's betrothal to Hippolyta. Back in the forest, Titania, Queen of Fairies (Florence Turner), quarrels with Penelope (Clara Kimball Young), who avenges herself by sending Puck (Gladys Hulette) away with a magic herb, which, dabbed on the eyes of a sleeping person, shall make the "victim" fall in love with the first person to appear after awakening. Soon, Lysander and Demetrius are smitten with the wrong girls and Titania has fallen in love with Bottom, the egotistical leader of the tradesmen, whom Puck has turned into an ass (donkey). When Penelope discovers all this mischief, she lifts the spell and the wedding of the duke and Hippolyta can proceed.
Notes
Bibliography
. Shakespeare on Silent Film: A Strange Eventful History . Robert Hamilton Ball . . Routledge Library Editions: Film and Literature . 2013 . first published 1968 . 9781134980987 . .
Further reading