Watch A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 1968 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic comedy of the same name, directed by celebrated theatre and film director Peter Hall. The movie features an all-star cast including Derek Godfrey, Barbara Jefford, Nicholas Selby, Diana Rigg, Helen Mirren, David Warner, and Ian Holm, among others. The film opens with the Duke of Athens (Nicholas Selby) and the Amazonian queen Hippolyta (Diana Rigg) preparing for their nuptials, which are to take place during the upcoming summer solstice. Meanwhile, the mischievous fairy king Oberon (Derek Godfrey) and his estranged queen Titania (Barbara Jefford) are engaged in a bitter dispute over a young orphan boy. To settle the matter, Oberon enlists the help of his loyal but impish servant Puck (Ian Holm), and concocts a plan to use a magical flower to make Titania fall in love with Nick Bottom (David Warner), a hapless weaver who has been transformed into a donkey.

At the same time, four young lovers - Hermia (Lynn Redgrave), Lysander (Michael Jayston), Helena (Dame Helen Mirren), and Demetrius (David Waller) - find themselves caught up in a tangled web of romantic intrigue. As they wander through the enchanted forest outside Athens, they are subjected to the whims of the mischievous fairy Puck, who mistakenly applies the love-inducing potion to the wrong people, causing chaos and confusion.

The film follows the disparate storylines of the various characters as they intersect and overlap throughout the course of one magical night. The play is known for its witty wordplay, fantastical imagery, and commentary on the nature of love, as well as its exploration of themes such as the supernatural and the juxtaposition of the human and the divine.

One of the standout aspects of this adaptation is its stunning visual style, which was heavily influenced by the aesthetics of the psychedelic era. The film features a kaleidoscopic blend of bright colors, intricate costumes, and surreal, dreamlike images that perfectly capture the whimsical, otherworldly nature of the story. Moreover, the film was shot on location in real forests, lending the outdoor scenes a naturalistic authenticity that is rarely seen in productions of the play.

Overall, A Midsummer Night's Dream remains a beloved and enduring classic that has captivated audiences for centuries. This particular adaptation is notable for its striking visual style, top-tier performances from its talented cast, and its faithfulness to the original text. Whether you are a lifelong Shakespeare fan or a newcomer to the Bard's work, this film is sure to delight and enchant you with its timeless tale of love, magic, and misunderstanding.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 1968 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.