King Lear

1909
16m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

An aging King invites disaster when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters and rejects his one loving, but honest one.An aging King invites disaster when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters and rejects his one loving, but honest one.An aging King invites disaster when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters and rejects his one loving, but honest one.

Directors
- J. Stuart Blackton
- William V. Ranous
Writers
- Eugene Mullin
- William Shakespeare
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

104

YOUR RATING

Directors
- J. Stuart Blackton
- William V. Ranous
Writers
- Eugene Mullin
- William Shakespeare
Stars

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

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Top cast10

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William V. Ranous

King Lear

Julia Arthur

Regan
(unconfirmed)

Florence Auer

Goneril
(unconfirmed)
…

Maurice Costello

Undetermined role

Mary Fuller

Cordelia
(unconfirmed)

Julia Swayne Gordon

Cordelia
(unconfirmed)

William Humphrey

Fool

Thomas H. Ince

Undetermined role

Edith Storey

Undetermined role

Florence Turner

Goneril
(unconfirmed)

Directors
- J. Stuart Blackton
- William V. Ranous
Writers
- Eugene Mullin
- William Shakespeare
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Although fragments of this film are held by the BFI and the Library of Congress, identification of the cast (apart from Lear) is tentative.

Connections
Referenced in The Facts of Life: Runaway (1982)

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

Silent Shakespeare

King Lear (1909)

*** (out of 4)

Once again the story doesn't come across too clearly but I've still gotta recommend this baby due to the incredibly hand tinting. The work here is downright beautiful and perfectly done making this look and even feel just like a Technicolor film. Whoever did the drawing on this was way ahead of their time considering what most hand tinting jobs look like.

Twelfth Night (1910)

** (out of 4)

The story is very clear in this one but that's about it. The film drags even though it's a one reeler and the acting, direction and sets are all on the boring side. However, this must have been one of the first films to show a lesbian kiss so perhaps that'll give you a historical reason to see this.

Merhant of Venice, The (1910)

** (out of 4)

Another weak Shakespeare adaptation, which has no story whatsoever and comes to an abrupt hault.

Richard III (1911)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent version of Shakespeares play benefits from some good performances and some nice atmosphere. The story here is pretty easy to follow and seems to be filmed from an actual stage production.