Shakespeare in Silent Film

This highly engaging visual resource explores Shakespearean films from the silent era sourced from the British Film Institute (BFI). Consisting of films from Britain, the USA, France, Germany, Australia, and Italy, the notable material provides interdisciplinary teaching and research appeal across departments including cinema studies, Shakespeare studies, English, theatre and media studies, and beyond.

The range of cinematic interpretations of Shakespeare’s familiar works not only reflect the pervasive cultural influence of the source material, but gave the evolving silent film industry during this period an air of cultural respectability. Although many films typically condensed the plays, or focused exclusively on noteworthy scenes that would offer familiarity to audiences, the adaptations drawn within this resource not only celebrate Shakespeare and provide new research opportunities based on interpretations, but also allow users to trace the evolution of the medium of narrative cinema.

By bridging the gap between theatre and film, these films showcase the power and potential of visual storytelling in the early days of film alongside the enduring appeal of Shakespeare’s works.

Highlights

An adaption of King John from 1899, representing the earliest known example of a film based on a play
Pioneering American productions from Vitagraph, including some of the earliest adaptations which contributed significantly to the popularisation of Shakespeare
Satirical works by pioneering British animator Anson Dyer
Films featuring well-known Shakespearean performers, such as Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Matheson Lang. These films are a great visual record of iconic Shakespeare performances and see these actors adapting to a new medium
Multiple interpretations of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, including Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, King Lear and Othello
Amateur performances of Shakespeare recorded during live events, such as Twelfth Night performed outside by patients of the Bournbrook Military Hospital
A single original sound film, The Merchant of Venice, from 1927, produced by De Forrest Phonofilm but never distributed. Using nascent sound-on-disc technology it would have been the first “talking” Shakespeare if released but remains the earliest surviving example of Shakespeare’s dialogue recorded on film