The Merchant of Venice

Overview

A rich merchant, Antonio is depressed for no good reason, until his good friend Bassanio comes to tell him how he's in love with Portia. Portia's father has died and left a very strange will: only the man that picks the correct casket out of three (silver, gold, and lead) can marry her. Bassanio, unfortunately, is strapped for cash with which to go wooing, and Antonio wants to help, so Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, the money-lender. But Shylock has been nursing a grudge against Antonio's insults, and makes unusual terms to the loan. And when Antonio's business fails, those terms threaten his life, and it's up to Bassanio and Portia to save him.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

December 22, 1908

Original language

English

Countries

United States of America

Production

Vitagraph Company of America

Cast

Julia Swayne Gordon,William V. Ranous,Florence Turner,Maurice Costello,Paul Panzer

Director

J. Stuart Blackton

Writer

Theodore A. Liebler Jr.,William Shakespeare

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt0000724