A Midsummer Night's Dream (1909 film)
Encyclopedia
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 1909 film directed by Charles Kent
and starring Walter Ackerman
and Charles Chapman
. This is the first film version of the classic play by William Shakespeare
.
(Rose Tapley
) shall forsake Lysander
(Maurice Costello
) in favour of her father's choice, Demetrius (William 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, 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. When Penelope discovers all this mischief, she lifts the spell and the wedding of the duke and Hippolyta can proceed.
Charles Kent (actor)
Charles Kent was a British-born American silent film actor and director. He appeared in 141 films between 1908 and 1923...
and starring Walter Ackerman
Walter Ackerman
Walter Ackerman was an American actor. He appeared in 7 films between 1909 and 1933.He was born in New York City, New York and died in Bishop, California, aged 57.-External links:* at Find-A-Grave...
and Charles Chapman
Charles Chapman
Charles Clarke Chapman was the first mayor of Fullerton, California and a relative of John Chapman, the legendary "Johnny Appleseed." He was a native of Illinois who had been a Chicago publisher before settling in Southern California....
. This is the first film version of the classic play by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
.
Plot synopsis
The Duke of Athens decrees that HermiaHermia
Hermia is a science park near Tampere University of Technology . Hermia is located in Hervanta, a suburb of Tampere, Finland. Hermia is also acting as a technology centre for its region....
(Rose Tapley
Rose Tapley
Rose Elizabeth Tapley was an American actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films.-Early life:...
) shall forsake Lysander
Lysander (Shakespeare)
Lysander is one of the iconic lovers in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream. A handsome young man of Athens, Lysander is in love with Hermia and plans to run away from her father with her to escape Athenian law and wed. But his plans are disrupted when Oberon decides to have some...
(Maurice Costello
Maurice Costello
Maurice Costello was a prominent vaudeville actor of the late 1890s and early 1900s, who later played a principal role in early American films, as both a leading man, supporting player and a director....
) in favour of her father's choice, Demetrius (William Ackerman
William Ackerman
William Ackerman is a Grammy winning guitarist and composer of acoustic-based instrumental music. He founded and ran for many years the influential New Age record label Windham Hill Records.- Career :...
). The lovers elope into the woods, quickly followed by Demetrius and his love, Helena
Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Helena is one of the iconic four young lovers in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and is a very desperate woman. She is generally interpreted as being tall, slim and blonde - her best friend Hermia calls her a "painted maypole" during an argument. Although she does not see herself...
(Julia Swayne Gordon
Julia Swayne Gordon
Julia Swayne Gordon , was an American actress. She appeared in 228 films between 1908 to 1933.Born in Columbus, Ohio, she starred in the first film version of the Lady Godiva legend in 1911...
). The town tradesmen, meanwhile, rehearse a play in honour of the duke's betrothal to Hippolyta
Hippolyta
In Greek mythology, Hippolyta or Hippolyte is the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle she was given by her father Ares, the god of war. The girdle was a waist belt that signified her authority as queen of the Amazons....
. Back in the forest, Titania, Queen of Fairies (Florence Turner
Florence Turner
Florence Turner was an American actress, who became known as the "Vitagraph Girl" in early silent films.Born in New York City, she was pushed into appearing on the stage at age three by her ambitious mother...
), quarrels with Penelope, who avenges herself by sending Puck
Puck (Shakespeare)
Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a character in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream that was based on the ancient figure in English mythology, also called Puck. Puck is a clever and mischievous elf and personifies the trickster or the wise knave...
(Gladys Hulette
Gladys Hulette
Gladys Hulette was a silent film actress from Arcade, New York. Her career began in the early years of silent movies and continued until the mid-1930s. She first performed on stage at the age of three and on screen when she was seven years old. Hulette was also a talented artist...
) 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
Nick Bottom
Nick Bottom is a character in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream who provides comic relief throughout the play, and is famously known for getting his head transformed into that of an ass by the elusive Puck within the play.- Overview :...
, the egotistical leader of the tradesmen, whom Puck has turned into an ass. When Penelope discovers all this mischief, she lifts the spell and the wedding of the duke and Hippolyta can proceed.
Cast
- Walter AckermanWalter AckermanWalter Ackerman was an American actor. He appeared in 7 films between 1909 and 1933.He was born in New York City, New York and died in Bishop, California, aged 57.-External links:* at Find-A-Grave...
as Demetrius - Charles ChapmanCharles ChapmanCharles Clarke Chapman was the first mayor of Fullerton, California and a relative of John Chapman, the legendary "Johnny Appleseed." He was a native of Illinois who had been a Chicago publisher before settling in Southern California....
- Dolores CostelloDolores CostelloDolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
- Helene CostelloHelene CostelloHelene Costello was an American motion picture actress, most notably of the silent film era.Lou Costello took his professional name from the actress.- Biography :...
- Maurice CostelloMaurice CostelloMaurice Costello was a prominent vaudeville actor of the late 1890s and early 1900s, who later played a principal role in early American films, as both a leading man, supporting player and a director....
as LysanderLysander (Shakespeare)Lysander is one of the iconic lovers in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream. A handsome young man of Athens, Lysander is in love with Hermia and plans to run away from her father with her to escape Athenian law and wed. But his plans are disrupted when Oberon decides to have some... - Rose TapleyRose TapleyRose Elizabeth Tapley was an American actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films.-Early life:...
as HermiaHermiaHermia is a science park near Tampere University of Technology . Hermia is located in Hervanta, a suburb of Tampere, Finland. Hermia is also acting as a technology centre for its region.... - Julia Swayne GordonJulia Swayne GordonJulia Swayne Gordon , was an American actress. She appeared in 228 films between 1908 to 1933.Born in Columbus, Ohio, she starred in the first film version of the Lady Godiva legend in 1911...
as HelenaHelena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)Helena is one of the iconic four young lovers in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and is a very desperate woman. She is generally interpreted as being tall, slim and blonde - her best friend Hermia calls her a "painted maypole" during an argument. Although she does not see herself... - Florence TurnerFlorence TurnerFlorence Turner was an American actress, who became known as the "Vitagraph Girl" in early silent films.Born in New York City, she was pushed into appearing on the stage at age three by her ambitious mother...
as Queen of Fairies - Gladys HuletteGladys HuletteGladys Hulette was a silent film actress from Arcade, New York. Her career began in the early years of silent movies and continued until the mid-1930s. She first performed on stage at the age of three and on screen when she was seven years old. Hulette was also a talented artist...
as PuckPuck (Shakespeare)Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a character in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream that was based on the ancient figure in English mythology, also called Puck. Puck is a clever and mischievous elf and personifies the trickster or the wise knave...