A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935)
Released during the golden-age of Hollywood, this adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedic fantasy did not have a traditional production. Casting actors such as James Cagney and Mickey Rooney was considered to be rather controversial. At the time, neither actor had performed Shakespeare and would never do so again. This gamble paid off and both men deliver stellar performances. If anything, the circumstances of their casting adds to the fantastical feel of the film. The slapstick and mockery humor helps the film resonate today eighty years later.
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