Re Lear

This truncated silent version of Shakespeare's King Lear is an interesting curiosity piece. Color tinted and naturally without spoken words it obviously cuts the power of the Bard off at the knees forcing the actors to wildly gesticulate to get the drama across.

King Lear is a merry old soul who decides to divide his kingdom among his daughters. The two elder he gives large portions while youngest and most faithful daughter Cordelia asks for nothing and gets crumbs. With the shift in power both daughters turn on their father and caste him from his domain with the faithful Cordelia by his side.

Ermette Novelli as Lear has an imposing larger than life look about him as he responds to praise that turns into rage upon betrayal. Francesca Bertini as the suffering Cordelia is the most retrained and touching of the thespians while Ragan and Goneril built like Chicago Bear interior linemen throw their weight around with disdain.

Rickety and physically showing the ravages of age this treatment is worth the little time it asks of you (16 minutes). Not so much for its faithfulness to the folio but for the techniques of the era employed and for the audacity like all the other Shakespeare silents to present him without uttering a word.