Merchant of Venice, The

Synopsis
Early sound short showing the trial scene from The Merchant of Venice (IV i). Lewis Casson is Shylock and Joyce Lyons plays Portia.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Film
Technical information
Black-and-white / Sound
Year of release
1927
Duration
10 mins; 934 feet

Credits

Director
Widgey R. Newman
Cast
Lewis CassonShylock
Joyce LyonsPortia
Christine MurrayNerissa

Additional Details

Production type
Fiction Films
Plays
Merchant of Venice, The
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General
"Lee De Forest pioneered a system of photographing sound on film which is the basis of all sound films today, and his company De Forest Phonofilms made a large number of sound films exploiting this process in Britain and America in the mid to late 20s. This film would appear to be the first talking Shakespeare film, although there is ROMEO I GIULETTA (c1927), and an extract from Gounod’s opera, also produced by De Forest Phonofilms’ [McKernan, Luke and Olwen Terris. Walking Shadows: (op cit)].
Reviews
McKernan, Luke and Olwen Terris. Walking Shadows: Shakespeare in the National Film and Television Archive. London: BFI, 1994, p. 105-6.

Production Company

Name

De Forest Phonofilms

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
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Fax
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Address
21 Stephen Street
London
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How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Merchant of Venice, The". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av68696 (Accessed 26 Nov 2024)