Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

As You Like It

Play trailer Poster for As You Like It 1936 1h 36m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
20% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 22% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Shakespeare's Rosalind (Elisabeth Bergner) meets her lover, Orlando (Laurence Olivier), while disguised as a shepherd in the Forest of Arden.

Where to Watch

As You Like It

Critics Reviews

View More
Otis Ferguson The New Republic 05/07/2024
Good lord, this was hackwork in its dead day; approached now with literal humorlessness, it runs off without a laugh in the house. Go to Full Review
Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine 04/22/2020
Elizabeth Bergner's mannerisms on show. A tedious production. Go to Full Review
Graham Greene The Spectator 05/08/2018
Regarded as a film, As You Like It is less satisfactory. There are far too many dull middle-length shots from a fixed camera, so that we might just as well be seated in the circle above the deep wide stage at Drury Lane. Go to Full Review
MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin 01/24/2018
It is well worth seeing and, in addition, can be recommended to teachers who want to give children an opportunity of seeing the play well acted and well spoken. Go to Full Review
Beth Accomando KPBS.org 03/17/2009
2/5
Rather bland recitation of Shakespeare notable only for an exceedingly young Olivier. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
bao s Aug 28 I like it when she's a boy.. See more 05/24/2016 http://letterboxd.com/zbender/film/as-you-like-it/ In order to study up for an audition for "As You Like It," what better person to study than Laurence Olivier? Olivier was fantastic in this 1930s adaptation of the comedy. Even though he didn't have any memorable lines to work with, he plays the role really naturally. All two stars go to him. Everything else is really bland. I was hoping to gather some inspiration from the other male roles, but to little to no avail. I just want to be Olivier's Orlando! Rosalind... was a huge drag for me while I was watching. She became a bit unbearable. While I'm sure that the director I work with if I get a role has a great vision in it, this production seems rather uninspired. A lot of energy is zapped for me. Overall, some inspiration is gained, but not a lot. And now I want to shoot for Orlando (instead of the Dukes, Touchstone, or any other character). See more 01/06/2013 This big screen adaptation of one of the most tongue in cheek but imperfect and messy Shakespearean works is stagy, outdated and rather clumsy, though notable for being the cinematic debut of Laurence Olivier. See more 03/27/2011 I would have perhaps enjoyed this more if I could watch the film with subtitles so I could better understand the dialogue. The fact that Rosalind spoke with a French accent didn't really help, but I did manage to enjoy parts of it. I am certainly glad I knew the plot beforehand, though! See more 09/19/2009 Stagey and static, the film is only of interest as being the first Shakespeare performance on film of the young Laurence Olivier (who gets second billing under Elisabeth Bergner). Of course, Larry is fine (hey, Larry Fine!), but he has very little to do as Orlando. As for his leading lady, Bergner is game but quite an odd duck - the Austrian wife of director Czinner, her Rosalind sports a thick German accent that is quite distracting. Not the best casting. See more 10/08/2006 I am not sure why Shakespeare is so popular, I find a lot of his work very slow and boring. This film is quite tedious and very hard to stay interested, but it is finely produces. It is overacted by most, however, laurence Olivier in a very early role is excellent, and for his presence alone, the film garnered a 6 rating. See more Read all reviews
As You Like It

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
A Midsummer Night's Dream 92% 62% A Midsummer Night's Dream Watchlist Swiss Miss 60% 54% Swiss Miss Watchlist Love on the Run 80% 63% Love on the Run Watchlist The Ghost Goes West 100% 47% The Ghost Goes West Watchlist Angels Over Broadway 67% 48% Angels Over Broadway Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Shakespeare's Rosalind (Elisabeth Bergner) meets her lover, Orlando (Laurence Olivier), while disguised as a shepherd in the Forest of Arden.
Director
Paul Czinner
Producer
Joseph M. Schenck
Production Co
HBO Films, BBC Films, Shakespeare Film Company
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 5, 1936, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 9, 2016
Runtime
1h 36m
Most Popular at Home Now