Beerbohm Tree was educated in England and Germany. He was born Herbert Beerbohm. He made his debut in London in 1876 and in 1882 he married the actress, Helen Maud Holt, who often appeared on stage with him. His began to be known after he became actor-manager at the Haymarket Theatre, where he played Hamlet and other parts. In 1897 he moved to Her Majesty's Theatre, which he recently had built for him. His Shakespearean productions drew audiences from all over the world, among the most well received were Richard II, King John, Henry VIII, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 1904, Tree established an Academy of Dramatic Art at Her Majesty's Theatre. It became the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1920, three years after his death. In 1909 he was knighted by King Edward VII.
Other silent films Beerbohm Tree appeared in based on Shakespeare plays were Henry VIII in 1911, in which he played Wolsey and Macbeth in 1916, in which he had the title role. Unfortunately, these do not seem to be available on video.
Details
Date of birth:
17 December 1853
London, England.
Date of death:
2 July 1917
London, England.
Founder of Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in 1904.
Knighted in 1909.
Sarah Bernhardt was the first great stage actress to appear in a Shakespeare film., which was also the second film based on a Shakespeare play. She appeared as Hamlet in the French short film, Le Duel d'Hamlet in 1900, surprisingly, this was not a silent film. It features the duel between Hamlet and Laertes towards the end of the play. You can find a picture from this production at The Sarah Bernhardt Pages.
Sarah Bernhardt was born Henriette-Rosine Bernard in 1844. She studied acting at the Paris Conservatory. In the 1870's she opened and managed the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre in Paris. She was known as "The Divine Sarah", her most popular role was in The Lady of the Camellias. In 1914, when she was 70, Bernhardt lost her leg in an accident. She continued to perform all over the world from a chair. She is almost as popular with some as she was when she was alive. There were two documentary films made about her in the 1990's.
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