King John (1899) | The Film Index

Film Record

King John

Country: United Kingdom
Release: 20 SEP 1899
Runtime: 2 min
Original Language: English

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Based on Shakespeare's play, Act V, Scene vii: King John is in torment, and his supporters fear that his end is near. As he writhes in agony, he is attended by Prince Henry, the Earl of Pembroke, and Robert Bigot. Prince Henry tries repeatedly to comfort his delirious father, but to no avail - John's pain is too great.

Why It's Here

Directed by William K.L. Dickson & Walter Pfeffer Dando, and starring Herbert Beerbohm Tree, this is the earliest known example of Shakespeare on film. It is a vital artifact for studying the earliest attempts to translate legitimate stage acting to the silent cinematic medium.

What to Watch For: The overly broad, pantomime acting style. Because the film is silent, observe how the stage actors must physically overcompensate to convey dialogue and emotion without their voices. It highlights the growing pains of early cinema trying to find its own visual language distinct from theater.

King John

Behind The Scenes

More from the 1890s

The Dreyfus Affair

La Fée aux Choux

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Fred Ott's Sneeze