Two Words, One Answer.
Sophie Fisher
 As You Like It $7.98 The sound on this Alpha Video DVD is dismal: you often can't make out what the actors are saying. After paying a bargain price for this unwatchable film, I'm going to fork out some more to get the Image Entertainment DVD (As You Like it), which has got good reviews on Amazon. I'll update this review after comparing the two.  As You Like it $24.99 I had recently purchased the Alpha Video version of this 1937 classic and when I viewed it I just died. Beat up, cut up, scratched up copy of this timeless classic. Lousy sound quality to boot. The Alpha Video film didn't even feature the Twentieth Century fanfare opening ("Da da da da - da da da da DA..." you know it) which is included on the superior Blackhawk Films collection transfer. The long and short is this is the best DVD of AS YOU LIKE IT on the market. Yes, you'll pay a premium for it, but I was thrilled by the quality of the film and the superb performances of Olivier and Elisabeth Bergner shine through. This was the first Olivier Shakespeare production, and from a historic perspective it demonstrates the genesis of his craft. Elisabeth Bergner's rendition is nothing short of ethereal and can never be duplicated. If you are a fan of this age old classic do your self a favor and buy this version. Although not perfect, I consider it to be one of Shakespeare's best film adaptations ever and, by gosh, shouldn't you be able to enjoy the play without having to be distracted by poor technical considerations? Enough said. |
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