As for DVDs, der B and I laid our hands on a nifty box set of Shakespeare films: the Branaugh Hamlet, the Olivier Othello, the Reinhart Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Cukor Romeo and Juliet.
The list of performers in these films is longish, and they all have names, many of which are recognizable. Apparently, you cannot be a nobody if you want to get cast in a Shakespeare film, at least if you want a speaking part.