The Real Thing at Last

The Real Thing at Last is a satirical silent movie based on the play Macbeth. It was written and directed in 1916 by J. M. Barrie as a parody of the American film industry. The film was made in response to news that American filmmaker D.W. Griffith – who had just revolutionized cinematography the year before with Birth of a Nation – intended to honor the 300th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death with a film production of The Scottish Play. This film presents itself as a crass example of how the American film industry would adapt the classic. (In fact, such a film was never actually made.)

Although it was nominally directed by minor movie-maker L. C. MacBean, Barrie – who had an interest in the emerging medium of film, and would later write a screenplay for Peter Pan – took over the set during filming.

The film was presented at a benefit for the YMCA, to support its efforts to promote the morale of troops fighting in The Great War. (One of Barrie's wards had been killed, and two more were serving in the British military.) It was hosted live in the theatre by British actor Edmund Gwenn, as the fictional American film producer Rupert K. Thunder; Gwenn also played Macbeth in the film. The movie loosely follows the plot of the play, with comically melodramatic embellishments. The web site The Bioscope describes it as follows:"In the British version, Lady Macbeth wiped a small amount of blood from her hands; in the American she had to wash away gallons of the stuff. In the British, the witches danced around a small cauldron; in the American the witches became dancing beauties cavorting around a huge cauldron. In the British, Macbeth and Macduff fought in a ditch; in the American Macbeth falls to his death from a skyscraper. The intertitles were similarly affected; a telegram was delivered to Macbeth that read, 'If Birnam Wood moves, it’s a cinch'."

The film featured several popular British stage actors of the period, and served as the film debuts of actors Edmund Gwenn, Marie Lohr, Ernest Thesiger, and Frederick Kerr. The benefit presentation was attended by Queen Mary (consort of reigning King George V), and her children Princess Mary and Prince Albert (later King George VI).

Sadly, no copy is known to exist today.

Cast

 * Edmund Gwenn - Rupert K. Thunder (live host)
 * Nelson Keys - Lady Macbeth
 * Godfrey Tearle - Macduff
 * Owen Nares - General Banquo
 * Norman Forbes - Duncan
 * Caleb Porter - Witch
 * George Kelly - Witch
 * Ernest Thesiger - Witch
 * Gladys Cooper - American Witch
 * Teddie Gerard - American Witch
 * Pauline Chase - American Witch
 * Frederick Volpe - Murderer
 * Moya Mannering - Messenger
 * A.E. Matthews - Murdered
 * Marie Lohr - Murdered
 * Frederick Kerr - Murdered
 * Irene Vanbrugh - Lady
 * Eva Rowland - Lady
 * Arthur Shirley - Courtier
 * Leslie Henson - Charlie Chaplin