As You Like It

United Kingdom

1936

96 Min

Black and White

1.37:1

English

Currently 3.0/5 Stars.
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PROD Paul Czinner, Joseph M. Schenck

SCR William Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie, Robert Cullen, Carl Mayer

CAST Elisabeth Bergner, Laurence Olivier, Felix Aylmer, Henry Ainley

A duke usurps his brother’s land and power, banishing him and his retinue into the forest of Arden. The banished duke’s daughter, Rosalind, remains with her cousin Celia. She has fallen in love with Orlando, but he has his own tyrannical brother to contend with, so he joins those in the forest. Rosalind, now banished, disguises herself as a young man, with Celia as her servant, and follows Orlando into the forest. There, nature stirs love’s fires in various rustics as well as in those from the court. Phebe, a shepherdess loved by Silvius, is herself smitten with the disguised Rosalind. Can true love find a way, and can brothers be reconciled and harmony restored? –IMDb

Director

Paul Czinner

Paul Czinner (May 30, 1890 – June 22, 1972) was a writer, film director, and producer.

Czinner was born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary. After studying literature and philosophy at the University of Vienna, he worked as a journalist. From 1919 onward, he dedicated himself to work for the filming industry as writer, director and producer. In 1924, he offered the leading role in his film Nju to Elisabeth Bergner. They became partners, and after the persecution of the Jewish people by Adolf Hitler they fled to Vienna and then London, where they were married. Despite Czinner’s homosexuality, the union proved a happy and personally and professionally enriching union for both partners. 1934 saw the realisation of his film Katharina die Grosse, with his wife playing the main role, although the film was not shown in Germany. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1940, working on Broadway.

After the end of World War II, they returned to England, where Czinner made numerous successful opera… read more

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DT

15Jan12

Lost me at times but overall this is a sound adaptation of a sound play. And it’s elevated just that little bit more by a charismatic turn from Olivier and some good editing from David Lean. Likeable.