The Washington times., 1935-10-22
= " HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP
England Likes
Dream"


ton of Shakespeare's "A Midsum-
mer Nights Dream" which had
its simultaneous world premiere at
the Adelphi Theater, London, and
at the Hollywood Theater, New
York. has already won enthusias-
tic praise from English scholars
and authorities on drama and
ballet who have seen the picture.
The picture comes to the National
Theater, opening Sunday night.
1T Is one Of the most exquisite
things ever conceived by man." is
the verdict of committee of Off.
cials of the National Operatic and
Dramatic Association, one Of the
leading cultural bodies in Great
Britain, whose membership en-
braces the most important local
dramatic and musical societies
throughout the country. 1T is
most certainly something that
every Shakespeare lover should
make a point of seeing"
Done With Dignity
One of the chief English Shake
spearean authorities, Professor J.
Isaacs Of Kings College, Univer-
sity Of London, declares:
1T has long been obvious that
the time would come when the
cinema. having found its voice,
would challenge the theater on its
own ground, and accept as
weapons the most searching pos
sible, the production Of Shake
Speare's plays. To tackle Shake
speare required, not a revolution
ary, but one used to tradition, and
a reSpecter of Shakespeare'S
theme, his atmosphere, and above
all, his words. Although this is
Reinhardt's first film, it is by no
means his first experience of "A
Midsummer Nights Dream. On
the contrary, he has lived with 1t
for 80 years, since his first
phenomenal success with 1t in
Berlin in 1905. His whole life has
been bound up with it. enriching
it with all his theatrical expert.
ence and marking his theatrical
evolution in terms Of new produc'
tions. OF all ShakeSpeare's plays
"A Midsummer Nights Dream is
the one giving richest scope to the
scenic imagination.
There is no essential antagon.
ism between Shakespeare and the
cinema" continues Professor
Isaacs. ION the contrary, there
are the closest links. Shakespeare
was a master Of every devide Of
the producer, aided by under.
standing Of his actors and Of his
stage machinery. The cinema
alone can give back to Shakes
peare's plays the magic-carpet et-
feet of instantaneous changes IN
the minds eye.
Impressive Cast
an Reinhardt's film of "A Mid
summer Nights Dream the
fairies often induce what Cole
ridge called that willing suspense
of disbelief for the moment, which
constitutes poetic faith There is
a moment when the fairies dance
on s spiral path of light about a
huge forest monarch that is un-
believably successful. There are
moments Of fair dignity and royal
grace that not all the hypersen-
sitivenesS Of modern analysis can
challenge.
zone of the most daring things
in the film is the casting Of James
Cagney as Bottom (not daring
for Reinhardt, since his profes-
sional history is a history Of
talent discovered and adapted),
and this is justified as one Of
Reinhardt's finest pieces of char
acter Interpretation. in Bottoms
sonloquy after he RECEIVERS his hui
man shape, a serious moment in
buffoon's career. justifiable
vindication of Shakespeare'S shot
silk texture.
"Not only is the play visible and
audible, not only is the poetry
spoken with beauty and with un-
usual understanding Of the mean
ing, but the atmospheric rein
forcement is remarkable.