Chichester Cinema at New Park
SILENT SHAKESPEARE
Seven exquisite silent films created from the only known surviving materials - nitrate prints preserved by the BFI's National Archive.
The cinema's love affair with Shakespeare dates from the earliest days of film. These films have survived for almost a century, and include beautiful examples of hand stencilling and tinted prints.
The collection includes:
A magical version of ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ (USA 1909).
A charming five-minute film of ‘Tempest’ (UK 1908);
The very first Shakespeare film ever made, ‘King John’ (UK 1899).
‘King Lear’ (Italy 1910); Twelfth Night (USA 1910); ‘The Merchant of Venice’ (Italy 1910); ‘Richard III’ (UK 1911). The collection is accompanied by a specially commissioned score for piano, guitar and string quartet, by award-winning composer, Laura Rossi.
UK · 
Italy · 
USA · 1899-1911 · Various Directors · 88min
