As You Like It (1936 film)
As You Like It is a 1936 film, directed by
Paul Czinner and starring
Laurence Olivier as Orlando and
Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind. It is based on
William Shakespeare's
play of the same name. It was Laurence Olivier's first performance of Shakespeare on screen.
It was the final film of stage actors
Leon Quartermaine and
Henry Ainley, and featured an early screen role for Ainley's son
Richard as Sylvius, and for
John Laurie, who played Orlando's brother Oliver. Bergner had previously played the role of Rosalind in her native
Germany and her German accent is apparent in most of her scenes.
Casting and Filming
Cinematography
Music
Duke Frederick (
Felix Aylmer) has usurped and deposed his older brother, Duke Senior (
Henry Ainley). Frederick allows the exiled Duke's daughter, Rosalind (
Elisabeth Bergner), however, to stay, as she is the closest friend of his daughter, Celia (
Sophie Stewart). Orlando (
Laurence Olivier), who has been forced to flee his home due to the oppression from his brother, Oliver (
John Laurie), comes to the Frederick's Duchy, and enters a wrestling tournament. On leaving the Duchy, Orlando encounters Rosalind, and it is love at first sight. Frederick then becomes angry, and banishes Rosalind. Celia decides to accompany her, along with a jester, Touchstone (
Mackenzie Ward).
Rosalind and Celia disguise themselves as "Ganymede", a boy, and "Aliena", respectively, and venture into the Forest of Arden, where they eventually encounter the exiled Duke. Orlando, who discovers that Rosalind is now living with the Duke, posts love poems on the trees for her. Orlando manages to come across Ganymede, who proceeds to teach Orlando how to cure love. At the same time, Phebe (
Joan White), a sheperdess, falls in love with Ganymede, though he (she) continually rejects her. Sylvius (
Richard Ainley), a shepard, is in love with Phebe, which complicates the matter. Meanwhile, Touchstone attempts to marry the simple farmgirl, Audrey (
Dorice Fordred), before he can be stopped by Jaques (
Leon Quartermaine), a Lord who lives with the exiled Duke.
Eventually, Ganymede, Orlando, Pheobe, and Silvius are brought together to sort out whom marries whom. Ganymede proposes that Orlando promise to marry Rosalind, and Phoebe promise to marry Silvius if she cannot marry Ganymede. The next day, Rosalind reveals herself, and Pheobe is married to Silvius. Orlando then rescues Oliver from a lioness in the forest, causing Oliver to repent and re-embrace his brother. Orlando and Rosalind, Oliver and Celia, Silvius and Phebe, and Touchstone and Audrey are all then married, and they learn that Frederick has also repented and decided to re-instate his brother as the Duke.
Starring
*
Elisabeth Bergner as
Rosalind. Rosalind is the daughter of the senior Duke. Bernger was an Austrian actress who had played Rosalind back in Germany before moving to the US.
Co-Starring
*
Laurence Olivier as
Orlando. Orlando is the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. Olivier is widely considered to be the greatest actor of the 20th Century. This was his first performance of Shakespeare on screen, and it holds the distinction of being the only Olivier Shakespeare performance on screen to not be nominated for an Oscar.
Also Starring
*
Sophie Stewart as
Celia. Celia is the daughter of Duke Frederick.
*
Henry Ainley as the
Exiled Duke. The Duke senior has been banished. Ainley was a prolific British stage actor.
*
Leon Quatermaine as
Jacques, Lord Attending Exiled Duke. Jacques is an inquisitive and melancholy Lord.
Awards
Influence
