This film is part of Free

Title of error

Merchant of Venice

These scenes from Shakespeare’s play are an example of an early British sound system. This section contains out-takes from the finished film.

Drama 1927 19 mins

Overview

De Forest Phonofilm was a fairly successful sound-on-disc system and is used here to record the Old Vic Theatre Company performing scenes from The Merchant of Venice. The surviving material consists of rushes so each scene is performed more than once, with a primitive clapperboard marking the takes.

Original title

The Merchant of Venice

Director

Widgey R. Newman

Featuring

Joyce Lyons and Lewis Casson

Genres

Drama

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Watch for free

Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 24 mins

Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Watch for free

Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 30 mins

Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell

Documentary 2024 42 mins

Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels

Short documentary 2024 12 mins

Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.