''Twelfth Night'' is a 1910 silent short film directed by

Eugene Mullin Eugene Mullin (December 18, 1894 – April 15, 1967) was an American screenwriter and film director of the silent film, silent era. He wrote for 66 films between 1909 and 1925. He also directed seven films between 1910 and 1921. He was born ...

and Charles Kent. It is based on William Shakespeare's play ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...

''. It was produced and distributed by the

Vitagraph Company of America Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

Cast

Julia Swayne Gordon Julia Swayne Gordon (born Sarah Victoria Smith; October 29, 1878 – May 28, 1933) was an American actress who appeared in at least 228 films between 1908 and 1933. Early years Gordon was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Louis and Anna Smith and wa ...

- Olivia * Charles Kent - Malvolio * Florence Turner - Viola * Edith Storey - Sebastian *

Tefft Johnson William Tefft Johnson, Jr. (September 23, 1883 – October 15, 1956), better known as Tefft Johnson, was an American stage and film actor, and film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 131 films between 1909 and 1926. Biography Johnson was ...

- Orsino *

Marin Sais Marin Sais (born Mae Smith; August 2, 1890 – December 31, 1971) was an American actress whose career was most prolific during the silent film era of the 1910s and 1920s. Sais' acting career spanned over four decades and she is possibly best ...

- Maria * William J. Humphrey - Sir Toby Belch * James Young - Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Synopsis

Viola and her twin brother Sebastian, while on a sea voyage, are shipwrecked. Viola is rescued and Sebastian is supposed to have been lost. Among the wreckage on the coast Sebastian’s trunk is found by Viola. When she opens it and sees her brother’s clothing, she decides to disguise herself as a boy. Learning that she is within the realm of the young Duke Orsino, she repairs to his castle, where she is employed as his page. The Duke is apparently very much in love with Olivia, a rich countess. Nothing daunted, Viola falls in love with the Duke, who adds to her discomfiture by sending her, as his page, with a message of love to Olivia. As soon as Olivia beholds the handsome young page, she falls in love with Viola, thinking that she is a boy. She presents the page with a jewel, and later, through her pompous steward, Malvolio, with a ring. Sebastian, in search for his sister, meets Viola by chance at the house of Olivia and the two are once more united. Explanations follow, and Olivia finds it an easy matter to transfer her affections to Sebastian, who falls madly in love with Olivia. Orsino finds Olivia in the embrace of Sebastian. Viola now appears before the Duke as herself -a sweet and attractive girl. She tells him of her impersonation of her brother and the page. Orsino is so struck by her beauty and cleverness that he declares his love for her and asks her to become his wife. Each one comes into his own. “All’s well that ends well” and everybody is happy.

Preservation status

*Copies are held at BFI National Film and Television Archive and the Library of Congress.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', (<-book title) p.190 c.1978 by The American Film Institute

References

External links

Twelfth Night at IMDb.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Twelfth Night 1910 films American silent short films American black-and-white films American comedy-drama films 1910 comedy-drama films 1910s American films Silent comedy-drama films Silent American drama films Silent American comedy films