The following paragraphs will focus on the early period with the start of the silent movies. A period, in which, plays went from stage to screen for the very first time. The analysis will be carried out in the light of three Shakespearean plays: "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Macbeth".
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) is considered to be the greatest writer and dramatist in English language. Most of his work was produced during 1589 and 1613 but in 1594, Shakespeare's talent was recognized by the public. His early plays were mostly histories and comedies like for example "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It was later on that he started writing tragedies, such as "Hamlet", "Macbeth" and "Henry VI". In his last working phase, that is to say from 1608 to 1613, Shakespeare produced romances and tragicomedies like "The Winter's Tale". After the plague in 1599, his own playing company built the Globe theatre where his plays were also performed. However, the theatre closed its doors in 1642, but was reconstructed and reopened in a modern form in 1997. Ever since it is referred to as Shakespeare's Globe.
The ambition is there in the range and scope of the work, the determination to master all the dramatic kinds, the restless experimentation, the exploitation of the conventions of poetic drama in manner hat never quite loses sight of the need to entertain while constantly stretching the imaginative and intellectual responses of its audiences. The emotional turbulence is there in the frequent depiction of extreme states of mind, both comic and tragic.
Shakespeare lived and wrote during the period of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The queen had a great fondness for theatre, which means that plays were used a tool to please and capture the royal attention. She saw almost every Shakespearean play. The Elizabethan Era was a very peaceful period in which theatre, literature and music were in the foreground and consequently, the Shakespearean plays had and still have an enormous influence in art.
Keeping his success in mind, it is not surprising that Shakespearean plays were performed all over the world and were also produced as films. In the nineteenth century with the start of the silent movie productions, his plays went from stage to screen. One of the first movies was the French version of "Hamlet" in 1907 by Georges Méliès. The film "Shakespeare in love" (1998) was directed by John Madden and is about the early life of William Shakespeare.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Film and Literature
1.2 An Introduction to silent movies
2. Shakespeare in silent movies
3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
3.1 Silent Dream (1909 Vitagraph Studios)
4. Romeo and Juliet
41. Silent Romance (1916 Fox/Metro)
5. Macbeth
5.1 Silent tragedy (1916 Triangle-Reliance)
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Objectives and Themes
This scholarly work examines the historical intersection of William Shakespeare’s dramatic works and the emerging silent film industry during the early twentieth century. It investigates how theatrical conventions were adapted for the screen and analyzes specific silent cinematic interpretations of three major plays to understand the challenges and stylistic innovations of the era.
- The transition of Shakespearean drama from stage to screen in the early silent film era.
- Technical and stylistic differences between live theatrical performance and silent cinema.
- The influence of nineteenth-century "magic lantern" visual culture on early film narratives.
- Critical analysis of specific silent adaptations: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth.
- The role of music, mime, and visual mise-en-scène in conveying narrative without spoken dialogue.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) is considered to be the greatest writer and dramatist in English language. Most of his work was produced during 1589 and 1613 but in 1594, Shakespeare’s talent was recognized by the public. His early plays were mostly histories and comedies like for example A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was later on that he started writing tragedies, such as Hamlet, Macbeth and Henry VI. In his last working phase, that is to say from 1608 to 1613, Shakespeare produced romances and tragicomedies like The Winter’s Tale. After the plague in 1599, his own playing company built the Globe theatre where his plays were also performed. However, the theatre closed its doors in 1642, but was reconstructed and reopened in a modern form in 1997. Ever since it is referred to as Shakespeare’s Globe.
Shakespeare started writing in a conventional and traditional style which he later on replaced with his more personal style while focusing on a variation of the traditional. He introduced many new words to the English language which are still in use today such as ‘bedroom’, ‘flawed’, ‘mimic’ and ‘lonely’.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides biographical context for William Shakespeare and explores the foundational transition of his plays from theatrical stage to the medium of film.
1.1 Film and Literature: Examines the theoretical differences between dramatic narration in stage plays and cinematic production, specifically focusing on perspective and acting techniques.
1.2 An Introduction to silent movies: Outlines the origins of silent cinema, tracing its development from magic lanterns to the emergence of international film studios.
2. Shakespeare in silent movies: Discusses the production of approximately three hundred silent Shakespeare films between 1899 and 1927 and the influence of cultural Victorian elements.
3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Analyzes the festive comedy structure of the play and its thematic focus on magic and social escape.
3.1 Silent Dream (1909 Vitagraph Studios): Detailed review of the 1909 Vitagraph adaptation, evaluating its use of cinematic illusions and its success in using festive timing.
4. Romeo and Juliet: Explores the narrative structure, stylistic diversity, and the tragic themes of Shakespeare’s most famous love story.
41. Silent Romance (1916 Fox/Metro): Compares two competing 1916 film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, analyzing their production differences and marketing rivalries.
5. Macbeth: Summarizes the political and psychological themes of the play, focusing on the influence of Lady Macbeth and the overarching motif of crime.
5.1 Silent tragedy (1916 Triangle-Reliance): Investigates the 1916 Triangle-Reliance adaptation and the challenges in recreating Shakespearean text within a silent film framework.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes findings on the integration of early cinema, the impact of historical technologies, and the artistic legacy of silent Shakespearean films.
7. Bibliography: Lists the primary Shakespearean texts and secondary resources used for this archival research.
Keywords
Shakespeare, silent film, cinema history, theatrical adaptation, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Vitagraph Studios, silent era, film theory, mise-en-scène, acting styles, magic lantern, film narrative, cinematograph.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This paper explores the early reception and adaptation of William Shakespeare’s plays by the emerging silent film industry, looking at how the medium of film struggled and succeeded in translating theatrical text into silent visual narratives.
What are the central thematic areas?
The work focuses on the evolution of film techniques, the historical importance of the silent era, the comparison between stage drama and screen acting, and the specific impact of cultural trends on early Shakespearean films.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to analyze how silent filmmakers bridged the gap between Shakespearean prose and the non-verbal nature of early cinema through the lens of three pivotal play adaptations.
What scientific methods are utilized?
The research relies on historical analysis, literature review, and comparative film criticism, utilizing historical records, contemporary reviews, and scholarly film theory.
What does the main body cover?
It provides an overview of the silent film era, case studies of specific films like the 1909 Vitagraph Midsummer Night’s Dream and the 1916 Romeo and Juliet productions, and a discussion on the technical development of film production.
Which keywords best describe the research?
The core keywords include Shakespeare, silent film, cinema history, theatrical adaptation, and film theory.
How did the Vitagraph version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream utilize technology?
The production famously used trick photography, such as the appearance/disappearance of Puck and the transformation of characters, to enhance the magical elements of the play on screen.
Why was the 1916 Romeo and Juliet rivalry considered significant?
The release of two competing films (Fox and Metro) in the same year sparked industry rivalry, yet it also acted as a catalyst for public interest, prompting audiences to compare the artistic differences in their executions.
- Quote paper
- Magalie Desorbay (Author), 2018, Shakespeare in Silent Film. "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Macbeth", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1430219
