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As the bfi celebrates the centenary of his birth we look at Laurence Olivier in Shakespeare's As You Like It .

Laurence Olivier and Elisabeth Bergner star in As You Like It, an enchanting and highly acclaimed adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic comedy, released by classic British films specialists DD Home Entertainment.

As You Like It - one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies. The heroine Rosalind - played here by Elisabeth Bergner, the daughter of an exiled Duke, falls in love with Orlando - played by Laurence Olivier - the son of one of her father's courtiers. When Orlando continues to ignore her, Rosalind decides the best way to be at his side is by disguising herself as a boy. Her deception works too well as Orlando would rather be in the boy's company than hers! How Rosalind works out her predicament is all part of the fun and farce.

Filmed in England in 1936 when Olivier was still considered a 'promising young actor' rather than one of the finest actors ever to play Shakespeare, As You Like It is in fact Olivier's first filmed Shakespearean performance and therefore a genuine milestone in film history. This outstanding production boasts a distinguished supporting cast which includes John Laurie and Felix Aylmer, as well as editing by David Lean, camerawork by the legendary Jack Cardiff and a script adaptation co-written by J.M. Barrie of Peter Pan fame.

Widely considered as one of the greatest stage and screen actors of his generation Laurence Olivier went on to win two Academy Awards - and no less than fifteen other nominations - as well as two BAFTAs.

Leading Man

Olivier’s early roles in British films - such as this one - and Fire Over England (1937) established his status as a leading man on screen. His major breakthrough came when he went to Hollywood to take the iconic role of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (1939). Following this with equally compelling performances as Maxim de Winter in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940), Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (1940) and Lord Nelson in Alexander Korda’s Lady Hamilton (1941) he featured probably most famously as the eponymous English king in Henry V (1944), and in Hamlet (1948). Other film roles include Marathon Man - with Dustin Hoffman, The Prince and the Showgirl and Clash of the Titans (1981), among too many others to mention!

Throughout August and September the British Film Institute (bfi) is showing a season of Olivier's features to celebrate the centenary of his birth - including a special re-released Henry V in a digitally restored version. As well as on the South Bank, the film is having a limited theatrical release across the country. For more details visit: www.bfi.org.uk/olivier

For more information on the man himself, visit: www.laurenceolivier.com

Laurence Olivier's As You Like It is available in all good DVD retailers, or direct from the manufacturer, by ringing the 24 hour DD hotline on: 01829 741490 or by visiting DD Home Entertainment/.

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