King Lear

Format:

Video

Contributor:

Blackton, James Stuart, 1875-1941, producer.

Mullin, Eugene, 1894-1967, screenwriter.

Ranous, William V., 1857-1915, director.

AM (Publisher), digitiser.

British Film Institute, owner.

Language:

German

Subjects (All):

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear.

Shakespeare, William.

Genre:

Fiction films

Silent films

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 video file (14 min., 38 sec.)) silent with intertitles, black and white

Production:

[United States] Vitagraph Company of America 1909

Contained In:

Shakespeare in silent film

Other Title:

Koenig Lear Shakespeares Tragödie

Language Note:

Silent film with German intertitles

Summary:

This adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear opens with Lear and his Fool seated on a throne, followed by brief posed shots of Lear's daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, as well as Albany and Cornwall. In a court scene, Lear divides his kingdom between Goneril and Regan in response to their flattery, but disowns Cordelia for her honesty. Kent defends her and is banished. Lear removes his crown, and Cordelia departs with her suitor. Kent returns in disguise to serve Lear. Outside Goneril's castle, Oswald insults Lear, prompting conflict. Goneril confronts Lear, who departs in anger. At Regan's castle, Kent is placed in the stocks after threatening Oswald. Gloucester shows him pity. Meanwhile, Edmond deceives Gloucester with a forged letter implicating Edgar, who flees and adopts the disguise of a madman. Lear, now accompanied by the Fool and Kent, is caught in a storm. They find shelter near Edgar's hiding place. Edgar, now feigning madness, joins them. Gloucester arrives and is later captured by Regan and Cornwall; Cornwall blinds him, but is mortally wounded. Edgar finds his blind father and guides him. Lear, descending into madness, wanders the cliffs and is eventually rescued by Kent and reunited with Cordelia. She tends to him with compassion. As war looms, alliances fracture. Regan and Goneril vie for Edmond, and Albany challenges Edmond's betrayal. Edgar defeats Edmond in single combat. The final scene shows Lear carrying the dead Cordelia, overcome by grief. He dies beside her, as Kent, Edgar, and Albany look on. Includes German intertitles

Participant:

Julia Arthur, Florence Auer, Maurice Costello, Mary Fuller, Julia Swayne Gordon, William Humphrey, Thomas H Ince, William V Ranous, Edith Storey, Florence Turner

Credits:

Director, William V. Ranous ; author of original work, William Shakespeare ; producer, James Stuart Blackton ; screenplay, Eugene Mullin

Notes:

Original film format: 35mm

Vendor supplied data

Related Work:

Based on : Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear http://viaf.org/viaf/710152502833710800006

OCLC:

1582416591