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A Midsummer Night's Dream (1909 Film)
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a 1909 American film directed by Charles Kent and J. Stuart Blackton, and starring Walter Ackerman and Charles Chapman. It was the first film adaptation of the eponymous play by William Shakespeare. The movie was made during summer 1909, but not released until 25 December. Plot The Duke of Athens decrees that Hermia (Rose Tapley) shall forsake Lysander (Maurice Costello) in favour of her father's choice, Demetrius (Walter Ackerman). The lovers elope into the woods, quickly followed by Demetrius and his love, Helena (Julia Swayne Gordon). The town tradesmen, meanwhile, rehearse a play in honour of the duke's betrothal to Hippolyta. Back in the forest, Titania, Queen of Fairies (Florence Turner), quarrels with Penelope, who avenges herself by sending Puck (Gladys Hulette) away with a magic herb, which, dabbed on the eyes of a sleeping person, shall make the "victim" fall in love with the first person to appear after awakening. Soon, Lysander and ...
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Charles Kent (actor)
Charles Kent (18 June 1853 – 21 May 1923) was a British-American stage actor and silent film actor and director. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1908 and 1923. He also directed 36 films between 1908 and 1913. Personal life Kent was born on 18 June 1953 in London to Frederick Kent, an Englishman, and Martha Kent, a French woman, in 1853. He came to the United States in 1875 at the age of 23, and died on May 21st, 1923 after a long-lasting illness, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; ''New York City Death Certificates''; Borough: ''Brooklyn''; Year: ''1923'' Career Kent was "a veteran stage actor" before he began working in films having been on stage for 50 years. He began working with Vitagraph Studios in 1908. Death Kent died on May 21, 1923, in a hospital in Brooklyn, aged 69. Partial filmography * ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (1908) * ''Macbeth'' (1908) * ''The Life of M ...
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Hippolyta
In Classical Greek mythology, Hippolyta, or Hippolyte (; grc-gre, Ἱππολύτη ''Hippolytē'') was a daughter of Ares and Otrera, queen of the Amazons, and a sister of Antiope and Melanippe. She wore her father Ares' ''zoster'', the Greek word found in the Iliad and elsewhere meaning "war belt." Some traditional English translations have preferred the more feminine-sounding " girdle." Hippolyta figures prominently in the myths of both Heracles and Theseus. The myths about her are varied enough that they may therefore be about several different women. The name ''Hippolyta'' comes from Greek roots meaning "horse" and "let loose." Legends Ninth Labor of Heracles In the myth of Heracles, Hippolyta's belt (ζωστὴρ Ἱππολύτης) was the object of his ninth labour. He was sent to retrieve it for Admete, the daughter of King Eurystheus.Hyginus, ''Fabulae'', 30 Most versions of the myth indicate that Hippolyta was so impressed with Heracles that she gave him ...
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Theseus
Theseus (, ; grc-gre, Θησεύς ) was the mythical king and founder-hero of Athens. The myths surrounding Theseus his journeys, exploits, and friends have provided material for fiction throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes described as the son of Aegeus, King of Athens, and sometimes as the son of the god Poseidon. He was raised by his mother, Aethra, and, upon discovering his connection to Aegeus, travels overland to Athens, having many adventures on the way. When he reaches Athens, he finds that Aegeus is married to Medea (formerly wife of Jason), who plots against him. The most famous legend about Theseus is his slaying of the Minotaur, half man and half bull. He then goes on to unite Attica under Athenian rule: the ''synoikismos'' ('dwelling together'). As the unifying king, he is credited with building a palace on the fortress of the Acropolis. Pausanias reports that after ''synoikismos'', Theseus established a cult of Aphrodite ('Aphrodite of all the People' ...
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Peter Quince
Peter Quince is a character in William Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. He is one of the six mechanicals of Athens who perform the play which Quince himself authored, "The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe" for the Duke Theseus and his wife Hippolyta at their wedding. Titania's Fairies also watch from a distance: Moth, Peaseblossom, Cobweb and Mustardseed. His name is derived from "quines" or "quoins", which are interlocked oversized corner blocks used by masons to add extra strength at corners and edges of stone walls. Characterization Quince's amateurish playwriting is usually taken to be a parody of the popular mystery plays of the pre-Elizabethan era, which were also produced by craftspeople. His metrical preferences refer to vernacular ballads. Despite Quince's obvious shortcomings as a writer, Stanley Wells argues that he partly resembles Shakespeare himself. Both are from a craftsmanly background, both work quickly and both take se ...
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Mechanical (character)
The mechanicals are six characters in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' who perform the story within a story, play-within-a-play ''Pyramus and Thisbe''. They are a group of amateur and mostly incompetent actors from around Athens, looking to make names for themselves by having their production chosen among several acts as the courtly entertainment for the royal wedding party of Theseus and Hippolyta. The servant-spirit Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Puck describes them as "rude mechanicals" in Act III, Scene 2 of the play, in reference to their occupations as mechanic, skilled manual laborers. The biggest ham among them, Nick Bottom, Bottom, becomes the unlikely object of interest for the fairy queen Titania (Fairy Queen), Titania after she is charmed by a love potion and he is turned into a monster with the head of an donkey, ass by Puck. Peter Quince Peter Quince's name is derived from "quines" or "Quoin (architecture), quoins", which are the strengthening blocks that form the ...
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William Shea (actor)
William James O' Shea (6 October 1856 – 5 November 1918) was a Scottish-born actor. He was born in Dumfries, Scotland and was brought to the United States when he was one-year old. His father, Thomas Shea, was a civil engineer who fought with David Farragut in the Battle of New Orleans during the American Civil War. Shea got his start acting at the age of 18 in Col. John W. Albaugh's stock company in Albany, New York. During the 1880s, he also became known as an Irish dancer and singer. He was said to be the first real actor Vitagraph ever hired, having appeared over 4,000 roles in more than one hundred films from 1905 to 1918. Shea died of heart disease at his home on November 5, 1918. Obituaries at the time listed Shea as the oldest movie actor in the United States, although most list his age at time of death as 56 years old. Shea is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn Holy Cross Cemetery, located at 3620 Tilden Avenue in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, is an ...
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William V
William V may refer to: *William V, Duke of Aquitaine (969–1030) *William V of Montpellier (1075–1121) *William V, Marquess of Montferrat (1191) *William V, Count of Nevers (before 11751181) *William V, Duke of Jülich (1299–1361) *William V, Count of Holland (1330–1389) *William V of Jülich-Berg (1516–1592) *William V, Duke of Bavaria (1548–1626) *William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1602–1637) *William V, Prince of Orange (1748–1806) See also *Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (born 1981), possible future regnal name *William, Prince of Wales William, Prince of Wales, (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales. Born in London, William was educat ...
(born 1982), possible future regnal name {{hndis ...
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William J
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of England in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is sometimes abbreviated "Wm." Shortened familiar versions in English include Will, Wills, Willy, Willie, Bill, and Billy. A common Irish form is Liam. Scottish diminutives include Wull, Willie or Wullie (as in Oor Wullie or the play ''Douglas''). Female forms are Willa, Willemina, Wilma and Wilhelmina. Etymology William is related to the given name ''Wilhelm'' (cf. Proto-Germanic ᚹᛁᛚᛃᚨᚺᛖᛚᛗᚨᛉ, ''*Wiljahelmaz'' > German ''Wilhelm'' and Old Norse ᚢᛁᛚᛋᛅᚼᛅᛚᛘᛅᛋ, ''Vilhjálmr''). By regular sound changes, the native, inherited English form of the name shoul ...
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Elita Proctor Otis
Elita Proctor Otis (1851 or 1860 – August 10, 1927) was an American actress. She had a long distinguished stage career before her foray into early silent films. In 1909 she may have been the first actress to play Nancy Sikes on screen in a Vitagraph produced version of '' Oliver Twist''. Early years and career She was born around 1860 in Cleveland, Ohio. Her father, William Henry Otis, was a banker. Redfield Proctor, who was a senator from Vermont, was her great-uncle. Otis's stage debut came with the Kemble Dramatic Society. She made her professional debut as Ernestine Echo in ''Crust of Society'' at the Globe Theatre in Boston. Broadway plays in which Otis performed included ''The House of Bondage'' (1914), ''Potash and Perlmutter'' (1913), ''Are You a Crook?'' (1913), ''The Purple Road'' (1913), ''The Greyhound'' (1912), ''The Three Romeos'' (1911), ''The Girl from Rector's'' (1909), ''Mary's Lamb'' (1908), ''Society and the Bulldog'' (1908), ''The Little Michus'' (1907), ...
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Titania (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Titania () is a character in William Shakespeare's 1595–1596 play ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. In the play, she is the Queen of the fairies and wife of the Fairy King, Oberon. Due to Shakespeare's influence, later fiction has often used the name "Titania" for fairy queen characters. Origins In traditional folklore, the fairy queen has no name. As such, Shakespeare took the name "Titania" from Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'', where it is an appellation given to the daughters of Titans. Role in the play Shakespeare's Titania has a major role to play in one of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream's'' subplots. Titania is a very proud creature and as much of a force to contend with as her husband, Oberon. She and Oberon are engaged in a marital quarrel over which of them should have the keeping of an Indian changeling boy. It is this quarrel which drives the plot, creating the mix-ups and confusion of the other characters in the play. Due to an enchantment cast by Oberon's servant Puck ...
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Nick Bottom
Nick Bottom is a character in Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' who provides comic relief throughout the play. A weaver by trade, he is famously known for getting his head transformed into that of a donkey by the elusive Puck. Bottom and Puck are the only two characters who converse with and progress the three central stories in the whole play. Puck is first introduced in the fairies' story and creates the drama of the lovers' story by messing up who loves whom, and places the donkey head on Bottom's in his story. Similarly, Bottom is performing in a play in his story intending it to be presented in the lovers' story, as well as interacting with Titania in the fairie's story. Overview While they are in the woods rehearsing a play for the Duke, the fairy Puck, a mischievous sprite and minion of Oberon, king of the fairies, happens upon their rehearsal. He decides to have some fun with them, carrying out part of Oberon's orders in the process, and when Bottom exi ...
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Gladys Hulette
Gladys Hulette (July 21, 1896 – August 8, 1991) was an American silent film actress from Arcade, New York, United States. Her career began in the early years of silent movies and continued until the mid-1930s. She first performed on stage at the age of three and on screen when she was seven years old. Hulette was also a talented artist. Her mother was an opera star. Child actress Hulette was among the principal players in ''Sappho and Phaon'' which had its first performance in Providence, Rhode Island on October 4, 1907. She helped support Bertha Kalich in the Percy MacKaye production. As a child she also appeared in ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1908) and ''The Smoke Fairy'' (1909). On Broadway, in '' The Blue Bird'' (1910), she played Tyltyl. She was the sweet youth, Beth, in ''Little Women'' (1912). Her other Broadway credits included ''The Kreutzer Sonata'' (1906), ''A Doll's House'' (1907), and ''The Faith Healer'' (1910). Silent film player In her earliest motion picture f ...
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