A Midsummer Night's Dream has been presented on film many times, but perhaps never better than in this 1981 BBC version -- though a television version a decade earlier featuring Ronnie Barker and Michael Gambon made it a close race.

And of course, for lovers of the decidedly peculiar, there was the 1935 Hollywood version directed by Max Reinhardt, with Dick Powell, Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Cagney and Olivia de Havilland -- worth watching, but definitely one for the 'eccentric' shelf.

This version is the definitive one, as far as I'm concerned, because it's directed by one of the greatest stage and opera directors of our generation, the Shanghai born, Australian-educated theatrical zeitgeist, Elijah Moshinsky.

This is my favourite of all Shakespeare's plays -- perhaps because I know not just the play, but the wonderful opera created from it by Benjamin Britten. We've had two outstanding productions here in Australia of that opera. One was by director Baz Luhrmann, with spellbinding designs by Oscar-winner Catherine Martin. The other was just as magical -- and it was by Elijah Moshinsky, the director of this BBC production.

But this is the play, not the opera. And a rare treat it is, with a fine cast including Helen Mirren as the Queeen of the Fairies, Titania, and Peter McEnery as her jealous consort, Oberon.

Back in the earthly realm, the two pairs of confused lovers are strongly portrayed by Robert Lindsay (Lysander), Nicky Henson (Demetrius), Pippa Guard (Hermia) and Cherith Mellor (Helena). Brian Glover as Bottom and Phil Daniels as Puck round out an excellent cast.

I won't attempt to summarise the plot -- enough that this tale, set in Ancient Greece, and mixing in the earthly and Fairy realms in a wonderfully convoluted way, becomes crystal-clear to the viewer thanks to lucid direction and fine acting.

Although it's set in Ancient Greece, the costuming seems to be late-Elizabethan. Watch for the appearance of the little fairies -- who, instead of being denizens of the fairy realm, appear to be delightful drop-ins from a contemporary (in Elizabethan times, that is) garden-party. It's a delicious touch.

The transfer is sound enough, though not as solid as the Hamlet from the same series. Image is soft and the lighting doesn't lend the production the subtlety it needs. But transfer and original production deficiencies aren't enough to spoil the pleasure won from this fine television adaptation.

The mono sound is clear and the ear is never strained -- an important factor when trying to decipher some Shakespearian dialogue! There are subtitles for those who need some help; I wouldn't bother.

There are no extra features of any kind, though I'm awarding a couple of points for the excellent subtitles.