- Format: Black & White, Widescreen, NTSC, Import
- Language: English
- Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Warner Archives
- Release Date: Dec 7 2010
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B004GZG7DE
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the heart!,
By
This review is from: Midwinters Tale (DVD)
This is a rare treat of a film. A delightfully heartfelt love letter to Shakespeare, the acting profession and actors themselves. Branagh's writing is slick and Noel Coward-esque, utterly impressive and witty. Truly, don't miss it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why must the show go on?,
By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Midwinters Tale (DVD)
Kenneth Branagh: star, director and producer of a slew of Shakespearean movie productions, including the gorgeous "Much Ado About Nothing."But one of his most imposing films was a sumptuous adaptation of "Hamlet" -- and after making it, a burned-out Branagh made a movie about the travails of putting on a play. "A Midwinter's Tale" is a witty, slightly frenetic comedy that keeps its tongue in cheek, even as it pays homage to the theatre and its people. A struggling actor has decided to fulfill a dream by putting on a production of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." However, the budget is very low, the location is in the middle of a rather cultureless rural town, and the actors are... kind of weird. Among them: a health freak, an avant-garde set designer, a gay man who insists on playing "Dirty Gertie," and a nearsighted women who auditions with a bad Debbie Harry impression. But all weirdness aside, they trundle off to the country and begins rehearsals, but everything is going wrong -- they're in danger of being kicked out, the cast is depressed, the tickets aren't selling and their lead is suddenly offered the role of a lifetime. But somehow they have to pull their peculiar little production together and make it work... "A Midwinter's Tale" is a very bare-bones production -- few actors, few sets, black-and-white film and simple camerawork. What makes this fantastic is the combination of high humor and slapstick, amusingly crazy people and poignant moments (such as Nina explaining why she doesn't want her eyes fixed). Branagh handles the writing beautifully, whether it's funny ("I'm here to play the QUEEN") or passionate (Joe monologuing about why life is worth living). And though the comedy occasionally dips into slapstick, it's witty and crammed with hilarious jokes (the nearsighted Nina rushing across the stage to throw herself into her costar's arms, missing him completely). And the characterizations are excetional -- no matter how silly or eccentric the characters are, they are depicted as real, good-hearted people with their own sorrows and passions. Richard Briars and Nicholas Farrell are as good in this movie as they are in Branagh's other movies, and there are well-rounded turns from Joan Collins, Jennifer Saunders, Julia Sawalha and Celia Imrie. And Michael Maloney is very solid as a slightly frenetic actor who just wants to put on Hamlet, no matter what. "A Midwinter's Tale" is one of those unique little comedies that not enough people have seen -- an ode to Shakespeare and the trials of the theater. All-around delightful.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews) 15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why must the show go on?,
By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Midwinters Tale (DVD)
Kenneth Branagh: star, director and producer of a slew of Shakespearean movie productions, including the gorgeous "Much Ado About Nothing."But one of his most imposing films was a sumptuous adaptation of "Hamlet" -- and after making it, a burned-out Branagh made a movie about the travails of putting on a play. "A Midwinter's Tale" is a witty, slightly frenetic comedy that keeps its tongue in cheek, even as it pays homage to the theatre and its people. A struggling actor has decided to fulfill a dream by putting on a production of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." However, the budget is very low, the location is in the middle of a rather cultureless rural town, and the actors are... kind of weird. Among them: a health freak, an avant-garde set designer, a gay man who insists on playing "Dirty Gertie," and a nearsighted women who auditions with a bad Debbie Harry impression. But all weirdness aside, they trundle off to the country and begins rehearsals, but everything is going wrong -- they're in danger of being kicked out, the cast is depressed, the tickets aren't selling and their lead is suddenly offered the role of a lifetime. But somehow they have to pull their peculiar little production together and make it work... "A Midwinter's Tale" is a very bare-bones production -- few actors, few sets, black-and-white film and simple camerawork. What makes this fantastic is the combination of high humor and slapstick, amusingly crazy people and poignant moments (such as Nina explaining why she doesn't want her eyes fixed). Branagh handles the writing beautifully, whether it's funny ("I'm here to play the QUEEN") or passionate (Joe monologuing about why life is worth living). And though the comedy occasionally dips into slapstick, it's witty and crammed with hilarious jokes (the nearsighted Nina rushing across the stage to throw herself into her costar's arms, missing him completely). And the characterizations are excetional -- no matter how silly or eccentric the characters are, they are depicted as real, good-hearted people with their own sorrows and passions. Richard Briars and Nicholas Farrell are as good in this movie as they are in Branagh's other movies, and there are well-rounded turns from Joan Collins, Jennifer Saunders, Julia Sawalha and Celia Imrie. And Michael Maloney is very solid as a slightly frenetic actor who just wants to put on Hamlet, no matter what. "A Midwinter's Tale" is one of those unique little comedies that not enough people have seen -- an ode to Shakespeare and the trials of the theater. All-around delightful. 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A barebones DVD,
By Joe Frost - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Midwinters Tale (DVD)
This is one of my favorite films of all time - I'm a theatre person, and a one-time 'gloomy dane' - and I've been waiting for the film to be released on DVD for over 10 years. Of all of the crap that gets released on DVD, including stuff they dredge up and digitize from days long gone by, I don't know why it's taken so long, and still this is just the movie, slapped onto a DVD. As grateful as I am, and however many times I will still put this in and watch it, the thing that keeps me from giving this a 5 star review is that the DVD release has NO features, and really not even a title screen sequence.But if what you're looking for is a review of the film: This is a hilarious and at times heartfelt backstage comedy, expertly written and directed, and brilliantly performed. The pace of the film is breakneck, and for some of us Americans, the British slang can be a little tough to pick up on the first viewing. But it is absolutely worth repeat viewings - it gets richer every time I watch it. 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Midwinter's Tale,
By Irene - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Midwinters Tale (DVD)
This is a delightful film which we have lent to so many of our friends we needed an extra copy. For those who love Shakespeare and the theatre and have a sense of humor, it offers a treat. Doing Hamlet in the middle of the winter in a small town church in England is a challenge the actors undertake despite all of their various quirks. Joan Collins is wonderful as an actor's dubious agent. Richard Briers gives one of his best performances. All the foibles of an acting company are spoofed as is the bard, but all with humor and respect. You will laugh and feel good at the same time.
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