This film is part of Rentals
Play On! Shakespeare in Silent Film
This celebration of silent Shakespeare interweaves a delightful selection of thrilling, iconic and humorous scenes from 24 newly digitised films.
Director: Bryony Dixon and Jane Giles
Overview
By the end of the silent era around 300 films of Shakespeare’s work had been produced. This celebration from the BFI National Archive draws together a delightful selection of thrilling, iconic and humorous scenes from 24 titles (many unseen for decades), newly digitised and brought to life with a score from the composers and musicians of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
See King Lear battle a raging storm at Stonehenge, The Merchant of Venice in stencil colour, the fairy magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and what was probably John Gielgud’s first appearance on film, in Romeo and Juliet.
very mild violenceRelated
Boys on Film 24: Happy Endings Boys on Film 24: Happy Endings
Anthology 2024 174 mins Director: Jason Bradbury, Jesse Ung and 8 more
A compilation of new gay short films showcasing unashamedly positive stories of love, sex and romance to move, inspire and uplift.
Boys on Film 23: Dangerous To Know Boys on Film 23: Dangerous To Know
Anthology 2023 159 mins Director: VARIOUS, Renato Turnes, Máté Konkol, Sven Spur, Sam Max, Uriel Torten, Irasj Asanti, Elene Naveriani, Mark Pluck and Tom Young
The dangerous allure of risky attraction yields emotional results in Peccadillo’s 23rd edition of their Boys on Film compilation series.
Boys on Film 22: Love to Love You Boys on Film 22: Love to Love You
Anthology 2022 144 mins Director: Akira Kamiki and VARIOUS
The latest in Peccadillo’s critically acclaimed series features a fresh and exciting selection of the very best contemporary gay short films.
Boys On Film 21: Beautiful Secret Boys On Film 21: Beautiful Secret
Anthology 2021 134 mins Director: Jason Bradbury, Zachary Ayotte, George Dogaru, Pierce Hadjincola, Loïc Hobi, Sam Peter Jackson, Theo James Krekis, Joe Morris, Abel Rubinstein and Sinclair Suhood
The Boys on Film series turns 21. This compilation travels to Sydney then New York, via Romania, Canada and Switzerland for the best in new gay cinema.
Boys on Film 20: Heaven Can Wait Boys on Film 20: Heaven Can Wait
Anthology 2020 152 mins Director: Bassem Ben Brahim, Jimi Vall Peterson and Mickey Jones
On the cusp of adulthood, Peccadillo Pictures' long-running gay film series celebrates its 20th year with another selection of shorts from around the world.
The Uncertain Kingdom Volume One The Uncertain Kingdom Volume One
Anthology 2020 122 mins Director: Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Hope Dickson Leach, Ellen Evans, Alison Hargreaves, Sophie King, Rebecca Lloyd-Evans, Malaolu Lanre, Lab Ky Mo, Ray Panthaki and Dominika Ożyńska
The first part of a new and urgent anthology of short films offering a unique snapshot of the UK in 2020.
Food of Love Food of Love
Drama 1997 109 mins Director: Stephen Poliakoff
Richard E. Grant leads a dramatic reunion as friends and lovers gather to perform Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in Stephen Poliakoff’s romantic comedy.
Macbeth Macbeth
Drama 2015 113 mins Director: Justin Kurzel
Fassbender is ferocious as the Scottish king in Justin Kurzel’s red-blooded and viscerally atmospheric Shakespeare adaptation.
Richard III Richard III
Drama 1996 104 mins Director: Richard Loncraine
Ian McKellen and Richard Loncraine’s bold restaging transplants Shakespeare’s play to an imagined 1930s fascist Britain.
Peg of Old Drury Peg of Old Drury
Biopic 1936 71 mins Director: Herbert Wilcox
Anna Neagle is on luminous form in this exuberant account of celebrated actress Peg Woffington's rise to fame in Georgian London's Theatreland.
Mercutio's Dreaming Mercutio's Dreaming
Comedy 2011 16 mins Director: Jennifer Lim and Daniel York
The travails of a British-Chinese, would-be Shakespearean actor, in an industry that sees him only as an 'Oriental'.
Shakespeare Wallah Shakespeare Wallah
Romance 1965 122 mins Director: James Ivory
When a young British actress from a touring troupe falls in love with an Indian playboy, the star-crossed lovers must overcome cultural differences and the scheming of a fierce rival.
No Other Land No Other Land
Documentary 2024 92 mins Director: Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham
This powerful documentary from a Palestinian-Israeli collective might be one of the most important films of this year.
Small Things Like These Small Things Like These
Drama 2024 99 mins
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as a coal merchant who discovers horrific secrets about his local convent.
Only the River Flows Only the River Flows
Crime 2023 102 mins Director: Shujun Wei
Shujun Wei's slow-burn noir draws us inexorably into its mysterious psychological journey.
The Critic The Critic
Period drama 2023 101 mins Director: Anand Tucker
Ian McKellen is in delicious form as London's most vicious critic, who strikes a Faustian pact with a struggling actor (Gemma Arterton).
Special People Special People
Comedy 2008 74 mins Director: Justin Edgar
Justin Edgar's pioneering feature comedy about a neurotic filmmaker enlisted to make a film with a class of wheelchair-users.
Timestalker Timestalker
Comedy 2024 89 mins Director: Alice Lowe
What if unrequited love spanned the centuries? Alice Lowe's time-jumping fantasy rom-com is a colourful, darkly funny treat.