A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935) in Color — Starring Ian Hunter & Verree Teasdale

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935) in color — William Dieterle and Max Reinhardt’s spectacular and visually groundbreaking adaptation of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, now professionally colorized and restored in stunning HD quality. This enchanting fantasy stars Ian Hunter as Theseus, Verree Teasdale as Hippolyta, Dick Powell as Lysander, Ross Alexander as Demetrius, Olivia de Havilland as Hermia, Jean Muir as Helena, Hobart Cavanaugh as Philostrate, Grant Mitchell as Egeus, Frank McHugh as Quince, and Dewey Robinson as Snug. One of the most ambitious and lavish Shakespeare adaptations in Hollywood history, this timeless classic is now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for immediate enjoyment.

Plot Summary

In ancient Athens, Duke Theseus (Ian Hunter) prepares for his wedding to the Amazon queen Hippolyta (Verree Teasdale), while the nobleman Egeus (Grant Mitchell) demands that his daughter Hermia (Olivia de Havilland) marry the young courtier Demetrius (Ross Alexander) instead of her true love, Lysander (Dick Powell). Faced with the harsh Athenian law that gives a father absolute power over his daughter’s marriage, Hermia and Lysander flee into the enchanted forest outside the city, planning to elope beyond the reach of Athenian jurisdiction. This classic movie continues to captivate new generations of viewers.

Demetrius pursues them into the woods, followed desperately by Helena (Jean Muir), who loves him without hope of return. Meanwhile, a troupe of working-class Athenian craftsmen led by the earnest Peter Quince (Frank McHugh) and including the loyal Snug (Dewey Robinson) gathers in the same forest to rehearse a comically inept play they hope to perform at the Duke’s wedding celebration. The master of ceremonies, Philostrate (Hobart Cavanaugh), awaits their performance at court with detached amusement.

Deep in the forest, the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck plot to resolve the tangled romantic affairs of the mortals using a magical flower whose juice, when applied to sleeping eyelids, causes the victim to fall madly in love with the first creature they see upon waking. Puck’s well-intentioned but chaotic interference throws the lovers into utter confusion, with both Lysander and Demetrius suddenly pursuing Helena while the bewildered Hermia finds herself abandoned. Meanwhile, Oberon’s quarrel with his queen Titania leads Puck to enchant her as well, causing the fairy queen to fall absurdly in love with one of the bumbling mechanicals who has been magically transformed with a donkey’s head.

The night becomes a whirl of romantic chaos, mistaken identities, and magical mischief as Puck scrambles to untangle the increasingly absurd complications his enchantments have created. Only when dawn breaks and the proper antidotes are applied do the lovers find themselves restored to their rightful pairings, the fairy monarchs reconciled, and the mechanicals freed from their enchantment. The film culminates with the Duke’s wedding celebration, the hilariously awful play-within-a-play performed by the craftsmen, and Puck’s famous closing soliloquy inviting the audience to consider whether all they have witnessed was merely a midsummer night’s dream.

Cast & Crew

• Directors: William Dieterle, Max Reinhardt, Russell Saunders, Sherry Shourds
• Starring: Ian Hunter as Theseus, Verree Teasdale as Hippolyta, Hobart Cavanaugh as Philostrate, Dick Powell as Lysander, Ross Alexander as Demetrius, Olivia de Havilland as Hermia, Jean Muir as Helena, Grant Mitchell as Egeus, Frank McHugh as Quince, Dewey Robinson as Snug
• Runtime: 143 minutes
• Year: 1935
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized and restored version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream transforms the visual spectacle of one of Hollywood’s most ambitious fantasy productions. The frame-by-frame HD colorization reveals the breathtaking beauty of the enchanted forest sets, with lush emerald greens illuminated by shimmering moonlight, delicate fairy wings glistening with iridescent hues, and the opulent Athenian court resplendent in rich golds and royal purples.

The colorization enhances the film’s groundbreaking special effects and elaborate production design, which were inspired by Max Reinhardt’s legendary stage productions. The fairy realm’s otherworldly glow takes on a mesmerizing quality in color, while the romantic scenes between the young lovers gain new warmth and emotional depth. Olivia de Havilland’s luminous screen debut as Hermia radiates with youthful beauty, and the bumbling mechanicals’ forest rehearsal scenes pop with earthy, comedic charm. The restoration preserves the original artistry of Hal Mohr’s Academy Award-winning cinematography while adding rich visual layers that make Shakespeare’s fantastical world feel more vivid and immersive than ever before. Also available in colour for international viewers.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1935, A Midsummer Night’s Dream stands as one of the most ambitious and expensive Shakespeare adaptations ever undertaken by a major Hollywood studio. Warner Bros. spared no expense in bringing the production to the screen, combining the theatrical genius of legendary Austrian-American director Max Reinhardt — who had staged the play spectacularly at the Hollywood Bowl — with the studio craftsmanship of William Dieterle to create a film that blends European artistic sensibility with Hollywood spectacle on a grand scale.

The film earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and won the Oscar for Best Cinematography for Hal Mohr, who was famously the only person ever to win the award as a write-in candidate. The enchanting musical score adapted from Felix Mendelssohn’s incidental music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold became a landmark of Hollywood film scoring. The production introduced Olivia de Havilland to screen audiences in her memorable film debut as Hermia, launching one of the most celebrated careers in cinema history. With its elaborate sets built across multiple Warner Bros. soundstages, innovative lighting techniques, and pioneering visual effects for the fairy sequences, the film remains a testament to the golden age of Hollywood’s willingness to invest lavishly in bringing great literature to life on the silver screen.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1935)
• Colorized: Professional frame-by-frame HD colorization and restoration
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 143 minutes
• Language: English
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What makes this 1935 adaptation of Shakespeare’s play so significant?
This film represents the remarkable collaboration between theatrical visionary Max Reinhardt and Hollywood director William Dieterle, combining Reinhardt’s legendary stage expertise with Warner Bros.’ massive production resources. The result is a lavish, visually stunning adaptation that earned multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Best Cinematography through Hal Mohr’s masterful work.

Q: How does the film balance Shakespeare’s multiple storylines?
The film masterfully interweaves the aristocratic Athenian lovers’ romantic entanglements, the fairy court’s rivalry between Oberon and Titania, and the working-class mechanicals’ comically inept theatrical rehearsal. The enchanted forest serves as a magical crossroads where all three storylines converge, united by Puck’s mischievous interventions and the overarching themes of love, illusion, and transformation.

Q: Why is this film important for Olivia de Havilland’s career?
A Midsummer Night’s Dream marks Olivia de Havilland’s screen debut as Hermia, launching one of Hollywood’s most distinguished careers. Her radiant, spirited performance caught the attention of audiences and critics alike, leading directly to her iconic roles in films such as The Adventures of Robin Hood and Gone with the Wind, and ultimately to her two Academy Award victories for Best Actress.

Digital Download Questions

Q: Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the original 1935 black and white film professionally colorized frame-by-frame for authentic, vibrant visuals while preserving the original audio and performances.

Q: What devices can I watch this on?
Any device that supports MP4 playback, including Smart TVs, Windows and macOS computers, tablets, and iOS or Android mobile devices.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
Yes, your digital download is completely DRM-free for personal use. No special software or accounts are required to enjoy the film.

Q: How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive a secure download link on the confirmation page immediately after purchase. A copy of the link will also be sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Romeo and Juliet (1936)
• A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
• Guns of Darkness (1962)
• David Copperfield (1935)
• The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)