Midsummer Night's Dream on DVD

[joggerjayne]

There are several versions on DVD.

Have any of you seen them, and could recommend one?

I want one that's ...

... amusing (obviously)

... true to the play (ie. lots of faeries and donkeys)

... not "updated" (ie. not in a "contemporary" setting)

Any help would be appreciated.

nb. I'm only looking for the play ... not the Britten opera.

[jno]

well, the old MGM one's not bad, though Mickey Rooney's voice sets my teeth on edge. But there are some magical moments in it.

Trouble is, the play's not really all that amusing, imo.

http://www.imdb.com/f...idsummer+nights+dream

[joggerjayne]

Well, it has some excellent comic moments.

It is (to paraphrase one recent thread) a Curate's Egg of a play.

I must say, I was a bit put off by the idea of Mickey Rooney.

[bibblebub]

The 1999 version http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140379/ is very ordinary.

[joggerjayne]

Okaay ... so we're getting there by a process of elimination ?

[sandyRoe]

Rupert Everett, as Oberon, seems an inspired piece of casting.

[jno]

always wished I'd seen the Peter Brook staging (a bit before my time) but as far as I know it was never filmed.

[joggerjayne]

But Rupert Everett is the 1999 version.

Hmmm.

Was that an RSC, jno ?

[jno]

yes, 1970, before my time (here)

[joggerjayne]

I would have been 4 (or 3, if it was early in the year) ...

... so I guess I missed it too.

[Buenchico]

This would be my choice (BBC, 1981).

Reviews here:
http://www.imdb.com/t...t0082746/usercomments

Buy through Amazon, here:
http://tinyurl.com/5tam2za

Chris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gleDhAQcYJ0

[joggerjayne]

A big thank you for your input, guys.

Love ya ... J x

[maxi29]

The Peter Hall version with Ian Richardson, Judi Dench and Helen Mirren is superb, I remember seeing it in the cinema and was captivated by it. There was also a really good RSC version from the mid-90s with Alex Jennings and Lindsay Duncan and a very funny Bottom from Desmond Barritt but the Hall version is the best.

[LeMarchand]

Not really much of help to add, but I agree that the 1999 version is a bit "meh". No contemporary version rules out its use in "Lexx" - "Well why do you think they call him king of the fairies?" - though I'd hesitate to recommend it anyway.

What I would very much recommend is that you get to a decent bookshop and check out "Sandman Volume 3: Dream Country" which feature a stunning tale about MSND. It's the first, and so far only, comic to win the World Fantasy Award. The other stories are excellent, too - particularly the first 2.

If you can't be bothered (shame on you!) full details and plot details at http://en.wikipedia.o...andman:_Dream_Country , though it's really much better to read the book.