Main Cast: Henry Ainley, Felix Aylmer, Stuart Robertson, Leon Quartermaine, Austin Trevor, Laurence Olivier, Mackenzie Ward, Elisabeth Bergner, Sophie Stewart
Release Year: 1936
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 96 minutes
Plot
This film version of the famed Shakespearean comedy features Laurence Olivier as Orlando and Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind. As the story goes, Rosalind, smitten by Orlando and not able to get his attention, disguises herself as a boy to more easily remain in Orlando's vicinity. Eventually Orlando grows to like his new friend and Rosalind is stuck playing a boy with a boy with whom she'd rather be a girl. Confusing? Maybe only Shakespeare could come up with the idea, but director Paul Czinner does a fine job executing the concept. ~ All Movie Guide
Review
An early sound adaptation of Shakespeare, As You Like It originally was of interest for the chance to catch Elisabeth Bergner's portrayal of Rosalind, which was much acclaimed on the stage. Nowadays, Like is much more likely to be watched due to the presence of a very young Laurence Olivier in the role of Orlando. It's interesting to watch Olivier, acting Shakespeare in a film over which he did not exercise control and in a role which does not offer the actor the chance to stretch his dramatic prowess to a significant degree. Orlando is a perfectly fine role, with some very nice speeches, but it's not the dominating figure that Olivier and other classical actors yearn to play. His performance is quite good, yet not as good as one wishes; one gets the feeling that the actor isn't totally committed to the character. Bergner is another matter. Some partisans praise her performance and give her exceptionally high marks, but most will find her mannered; most will also find her portrayal of a boy to be unconvincing, to say the least. Still, there is a special quality about Bergner that impels one to watch her, even if one is not "buying" what she is doing. The supporting cast is good, the direction is dull, and the adaptation is fine, even if the parts of Jacques and Touchstone have suffered from too much editing. Jack Cardiff and Hal Rosson provide atmospheric cinematography, although working together seems to have hampered their inventiveness a bit. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Ninelle de Valois - Choreography, John Armstrong - Costume Designer, Joe Strassner - Costume Designer, Teddy Baird - First Assistant Director, Dallas Bower - First Assistant Director, Paul Czinner - Director, David Lean - Editor, William Walton - Composer (Music Score), William Walton - Musical Direction/Supervision, Lazare Meerson - Production Designer, Jack Cardiff - Cinematographer, Harold Hal Rosson - Cinematographer, Paul Czinner - Producer, Joseph M. Schenck - Producer, Lazare Meerson - Set Designer, Robert J. Cullen - Screenwriter, J.M. Barrie - Screenwriter, William Shakespeare - Play Author
