As You Like It (1936) in Color — Starring Laurence Olivier & Felix Aylmer

As You Like It (1936) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy As You Like It (1936) in color — the enchanting film adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, featuring a young Laurence Olivier as Orlando and the luminous Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind. This professionally restored and colorized classic film transforms the lush black and white cinematography of this pre-war British production into a richly atmospheric visual experience, bringing the verdant Forest of Arden fully to life in color. Available now as an instant DRM-free digital download for €15.00 — own this rare and beautifully restored Shakespearean classic.

Plot Summary

As You Like It (1936) is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy of the same name, set against the pastoral escapism of the Forest of Arden. The story opens at the court of the usurping Duke Frederick (Felix Aylmer), where Rosalind (Elisabeth Bergner), niece to the Duke and daughter of the exiled Duke Senior (Henry Ainley), falls in love at first sight with Orlando (Laurence Olivier), a young nobleman. When both Rosalind and Orlando are separately banished or forced to flee, they independently seek refuge in the enchanted Forest of Arden.

To protect herself during the journey, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede, accompanied by her loyal cousin Celia (Sophie Stewart) and the court jester Touchstone. In the forest, without revealing her true identity, she encounters Orlando again and agrees to help him practice his love declarations by pretending she is Rosalind. Meanwhile, Orlando’s hostile elder brother Oliver (John Laurie) follows them into the forest, setting the stage for a series of comic confusions, romantic misunderstandings, and ultimately joyful resolutions.

Directed by Paul Czinner and produced at Pinewood Studios in England, this classic film captures the romantic and philosophical spirit of Shakespeare’s play with genuine warmth and visual poetry. The Forest of Arden sequences were filmed with extraordinary care, with naturalistic outdoor settings that give the film a sense of genuine pastoral beauty. At 96 minutes, the film is a complete and satisfying rendering of the original play, capturing both its comic brilliance and its meditation on love, nature, and the liberating possibilities of disguise and reinvention.

Cast & Crew

Director: Paul Czinner

Cast:

• Laurence Olivier as Orlando
• Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind
• Felix Aylmer as Duke Frederick
• Henry Ainley as the Exiled Duke
• John Laurie as Oliver
• Sophie Stewart as Celia
• Lionel Braham as Charles, the wrestler
• Austin Trevor as Le Beau

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Watching As You Like It (1936) in this professionally restored and colorized version is a transformative experience. The Forest of Arden — already one of the most visually beautiful settings in any Shakespeare adaptation — comes alive in color with an extraordinary lushness. The deep greens of the forest foliage, the warmth of the outdoor light, the contrast between the courtly interiors and the natural freedom of the woodland all gain immeasurable depth from the colorization.

This is also a historic document: a young Laurence Olivier, not yet the towering theatrical legend he would become, plays Orlando with romantic energy and physical grace. In color, his performance takes on new immediacy — the vital expressiveness of his face, the athleticism of the wrestling scenes, the tenderness of the love scenes with Bergner all become more vivid and engaging. The film marks a critical early stage in one of the greatest careers in the history of acting.

The colorization was carried out using professional frame-by-frame digital restoration methods, with careful attention to the natural color palette appropriate to a mid-1930s British outdoor production. Period-accurate costuming colors, the specific quality of English and Continental lighting, and the tonal character of the black and white original have all been taken into account to produce a restored color edition that honors the original production design. Every scene has been carefully restored to ensure consistency and visual beauty throughout.

For Shakespeare enthusiasts, early cinema collectors, fans of Laurence Olivier, and lovers of classic British film, this colorized edition of As You Like It is an essential purchase. Download instantly, watch on any device, and own a beautifully restored piece of British cinematic history. This classic film is also available in colour for international audiences.

Technical Details

| Detail | Information |
|——–|————-|
| Title | As You Like It (1936) Colorized |
| Director | Paul Czinner |
| Year | 1936 |
| Runtime | 96 minutes |
| Original Format | Black and White |
| Colorized Format | HD Color |
| IMDb Rating | 5.8/10 |
| MPAA Rating | Not Rated |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Price | €15.00 |
| Delivery | Instant digital download, DRM-free |
| Format | MP4 (HD) |

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is delivery really instant?
Yes. Download access is granted immediately upon payment confirmation. There is no processing delay or shipping wait — start watching within minutes of purchase.

Who plays Rosalind in this film?
Rosalind is played by Elisabeth Bergner, an Austrian stage and screen actress who was one of the most acclaimed performers in European theatre before emigrating to Britain and the United States. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in this film.

Who is Laurence Olivier in this film?
Laurence Olivier appears as Orlando at an early stage in his extraordinary career. He would go on to direct and star in landmark Shakespeare adaptations including Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948), and Richard III (1955). His performance in As You Like It is full of energy and romantic charisma.

Is this film suitable for viewers who are not familiar with Shakespeare?
Yes. The story — about love, disguise, exile, and redemption in an idyllic forest — is entirely accessible even to viewers unfamiliar with the play. The comedy is warm and universal, the romance is genuinely moving, and the film stands fully on its own merits as an entertaining classic movie.

Is the full original film preserved?
Yes. The complete 96-minute runtime of the original 1936 film is preserved in its entirety. No scenes have been cut, shortened, or modified. This is the complete As You Like It with frame-by-frame professional color restoration applied throughout.

Is this a DRM-free download?
Yes. Your purchase of As You Like It (1936) colorized provides immediate access to a DRM-free MP4 file. Download once, keep forever, and play on any device without subscriptions or streaming limitations.

What devices can I play this on?
The standard MP4 download is compatible with all major platforms and devices including Windows, Mac, Linux computers, smart TVs, Android and iOS devices, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and all standard media player software.

Related Colorized Classics

• Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965)
• Romeo and Juliet (1936)
• The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
• The Entertainer (1960)
• The 39 Steps (1935)