As You Like It (1936)

My Review

“As You Like It” is a romantic comedy telling of the unconventional courtship of two young people banished to an English forest. The play was written by Bill Shakespeare in 1623 and this film version starring Laurence Olivier as Orlando and Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind was well directed by Paul Czinner from a screenplay by J. M. Barrie. It is Olivier’s first performance of Shakespeare material on the big screen; others include “Henry V” (1944), “Hamlet” (1948), and “Richard III” (1955).

Co-stars include Sophie Stewart, Henry Ainley, Leon Quartermaine, Felix Aylmer, and John Laurie. The picture was edited by David Lean, who would go on to become an Oscar-winning director for such films as “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962). The watchable “As You Like It” was produced by Paul Czinner and 20th Century Fox. It was filmed in England.