William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream [Paperback]

Michael Hoffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 1999

A lavish, full-color tie-in to the upcoming 1999 movie release of Shakespeare's lyrical comedy, set in beautiful Tuscany and starring Michelle Pfeiffer. This gorgeous, oversized paperback includes not only the full shooting script--but also daily diaries from the stars and others. 50 full-color photos.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Come now, what masques, what dances shall we have.... What revels are at hand? Is there no play to ease the anguish of a torturing hour?"

This glossy companion to Michael Hoffman's film adaptation of Shakespeare's classic romance is not merely the text of a screenplay. While it does contain Hoffman's complete script, which radically reworks Shakespeare's play for the modern screen, it also limns the flourishes and creativity of his personal vision. The book is filled with the director's commentary on the play's events and the reasons behind his arresting choices. Readers are afforded the rare opportunity to see production designers' drawings of sets and costumes and to peruse art by Moreau, Waterhouse, the Pre-Raphaelites, and the ancient Etruscans alongside shots from the film that these pieces inspired. Scores of sumptuous photographs accompany the text.

Sidebars include commentary by actors Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Stanley Tucci, who portray the chief characters. Hoffman's fascinating introduction relates how he chose his cast, how he imagines Shakespeare's magical world, and why he decided to set the drama in the 19th century: "[The play's] issues of conditioning and subversion led me naturally to the late Victorian setting. In a world dominated by convention, but poised on the verge of a dramatic shift, there seemed no better visual metaphor for the representation of Self than stiff collars, high necklines, tight corsets, and silly accessories. (And then to lose it all in the dark, elemental night)."

Read this book and enter Shakespeare's world of light and darkness, love and fury, magic, sudden change, and lasting delight--and in the process see how a modern filmmaker has brought new fancies to a dream that has entranced audiences for over 400 years. --Raphael Shargel

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1st edition (April 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061073563
• ISBN-13: 978-0061073564
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,138,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, February 16, 2011

By 

Dante - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Paperback)

This version of A Midsummer Night's Dream is truly engaging...I found myself getting swept into this world...it was nice. It also helped matters that Michelle Pfeifer and Calista Flockhart are both beautiful.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Midsummer Night's Dream, August 19, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Paperback)

A Midsummer Night's Dream is about many confused lovers. One loves another and another loves another. It is also about love at first sight. This is only because a fairy put spell on people to make this happen. But, I must say that A Midsummer Night's Dream is really a good movie.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone must read this book!, May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Paperback)

An author still alive, for almost 400 years, is still with us, and his name is William Shakespeare. All his pieces are great, but this most recent movie-comedie, is outstanding. He combines idiocy with love with comedy all at once, making it spectacular. I saw the movie and read the book and both are just about equal, so if you don't like to read, just go to the movie. So, the last thing I want to say is GET IT!