These four lovers take their romantic situations to the nearby forest, and night falls. Oberon (Victor Jory), the king of the fairies, shows up. He conspires with overwound imp Puck (Mickey Rooney) to cast love a spell on Demetrius, but things go awry, leading to ridiculous quarrels between the lovers. Puck has better luck with his love spell on Titania (Anita Louise), a soprano-voiced albino babe whose current infatuation is for an adorable Indian child (Sheila Brown). Oberon wants the child for himself, apparently so he can ride horseback with him.
Meanwhile, a group of Athens tradesmen have gone to the forest to rehearse a play they are devising for the amusement of the local benevolent despot, Theseus (Ian Hunter). These amateur actors are played by some of Hollywood's leading comics, including Joe E. Brown, Frank McHugh, and Hugh Hubert. James Cagney, better known for gangster roles but always up for a challenge, has the lead role in the play within the play.
Puck comes across the players in the forest and mischievously turns Cagney's head into that of a donkey. Cagney despairs until he comes across Titania, who falls for floppy-eared Cagney courtesy of Oberon's love spell. With an entourage and an adoring blonde, Cagney enjoys his new status as a Dr. Moreau delicacy. But is it all a midsummer night's dream?
How others will see it. This is not a film for everyone. Even some classic film fans (its natural audience) might be put off by its surreal plot and ensemble cast. But experienced viewers will enjoy the youthful cast. Olive de Havilland, Dick Powell, and (especially) Mickey Rooney are very young, and James Cagney enjoys a rare comic role.
The other audience for the film consists of thespians well-versed in Shakespeare. This 1935 movie may be more than 70 years old, but it is undoubtedly superior to most modern stage adaptations, provided that a production company has the temerity to stage it instead of one of Shakespeare's more accessible (and better known) plays.
How I felt about it. One has to admire Warner Bros. courage. During the height of the Great Depression, they invested a considerable sum into a strange movie with a two-hour-plus running time. Perhaps Warners wished to show MGM that they, too, could make a prestige picture. If so, they pulled it off. A Midsummer Night's Dream is certainly superior to MGM's Romeo and Juliet (1936), despite more difficult staging.
In addition to its generous budget and inspired casting, A Midsummer Night's Dream also benefitted from its two directors. Max Reinhardt previously directed a long-running stage adaptation of the play, while Dieterle knew how to make Hollywood movies. Their co-operation led to this curious but rewarding adaptation.