Two complaints: I don’t think Tennant handed the soliloquy as well, and I didn’t like the actress who played Ophelia. ( Log Out /  With so many Hamlets on film, Williamson’s and Kline’s successes are less fun than the interesting failures below. This criteria should exclude Schwarzenegger from the running too, of course, but Arnold was simply too funny to consign to a footnote. Over fifty films of William Shakespeare's Hamlet have been made since 1900. Jacobi’s voice has an extraordinary range of emotional colors, and his acting is often supple and subtle. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It made just over $30,000 in the Czech Republic (the film's only foreign market) and ultimately played on fewer than 100 screens in the United States, bringing its total gross to just under $5 million on a budget of $18 million. Claudius is often portrayed as weak, in part because he struggles with his guilt, but he has to be ruthless enough to kill his brother, and I can see Stewart handling that well. It's heavily edited from the original play but that's a good thing as I've always considered the play to be too long and overstuffed. and any corresponding bookmarks? Produced and Directed by: Laurence Olivier. Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. There are many film adaptations “inspired” by Hamlet, from The Lion King to the just released Haider set in Kashmir. But another dimension of the enduring appeal of the Big Three — “Hamlet The guards and Horatio are waiting for the ghost of King Hamlet to arrive. My rankings are for the most part neither here nor there – I just hope the short descriptions help folks find a version that sounds good to them, regardless of how I feel about it. The problem is that a Hamlet who has actually suffered a mental breakdown would be unable to function in the play after Act 2. ], Watch Haider! “Have at you now!”, Richard Burton wins the title “best Hamlet” with the range, insight, and power of his acting in this filmed stage production. ( Log Out /  Yeah, I meant “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”. I always conceived of the post as a useful starting point – a first word on the topic, but certainly not the last. Hamlet had been filmed many times before. This version is filmed like the stodgy stage play it is with the occasional rough close-up, for which none of the actors except Jacobi seem prepared. It also points to this (amusing?) He’s really not bad. Shakespeare’s Hamlet exists in three early editions published in 1603, 1604-05, and 1623. HAMLET IMDb page, Most actors play Hamlet as unsteady but basically sane. HAMLET your lingers and thumb, give it breath with your I do not well understand that. Please do check out the latest adaptation of hamlet. Easily in one of the top 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xakmvJ0WPa4. IMDb page, Both of these performances are solid, intelligent, and affecting. Kenneth chose the right direction to go in to keep the audience’s attention but it did not show the true tragedy of Hamlet. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, Sir Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" continues to be the most compelling version of Shakespeare's beloved tragedy. Just caught the 1990 Mel Gibson Hamlet on TV and I must say I was impressed. 4. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Bruce Ramsay in 2011, both cut the play to a running time of under 90 minutes. Paul Scofield and Robert Helpmann, 1948. Both directors had used different music, costumes, setting, lighting, etc. My counting criteria is more strict (a reasonably intact version of the original text) which is why Melville and Ramsay fall here. my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of Hamlet that can help you study and better understand the play. But these cannot I command to any utterance of Hamlet. Submit your email address and you'll receive alerts when I make new posts live! Hey, these are great tips and thank you! Apparently a DVD’s available at “http://www.amazon.com/Grigori-Kozintsevs-Hamlet-Innokenti-Smoktunovsky/dp/B000HEWENA”, but I’m not sure whether it’s the good one. I do beseech you. —. All rights reserved. A supporting cast that is adequate at best doesn’t help matters. IMDb page, I need to track down a full version of this Russian language Hamlet before I can offer a capsule review. That makes Shakespeare the most filmed playwright of all time! Seven post-war Hamlet films have had a theatrical release: Laurence Olivier's Hamlet of 1948; Grigori Kozintsev's 1964 Russian adaptation; a film of the John Gielgud-directed 1964 Broadway production, Richard Burton's Hamlet, which played limited engagements that same year; Tony Richardson's 1969 version featuring Nicol Williamson as Hamlet and Anthony Hopkins as Claudius; Franco Zeffirelli's 1990 version starring Mel Gi IMDB page, A “Mad Max” Hamlet is a piece of stunt casting, but Gibson climbs into the middle of the list by exceeding expectations. Previous Ophelia drowned herself in the dead of winter?? mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to The ghost scene in 1.5 is unwatchable, and Branagh stages the climactic duel in action-movie land. I pray you. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of Hamlet was not a success at the box office, mostly due to its limited release. For instance, the “to be or not to be” speech is utterly different across the three versions. My lord, I cannot. Also the really fake ground opening up and expelling the really fake smoke – although you could classify that under “Hammer” I suppose rather than make it a separate category. Here’s the video from YouTube: That depends on how you want to count them. HAMLET unmannerly. And Iain Glen (1990) is amazing, isn’t he? But Ethan Hawke’s louche, slacker Hamlet is perfect for its time and his “To be, or not to be”” is superb. His transitions from line to line and emotion to emotion feel like the natural consequence of the previous idea and feeling. Gibson’s Hamlet is angry, wounded, and fearful, and he brings off the role well. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and … Laurence Olivier: Hamlet 1948. IMDb page, Olivier is the better actor, and gives a better performance, but his concentration on Hamlet’s indecision makes less sense than Branagh’s choices. 3. There are strong actors throughout the supporting cast who are interesting in their roles. 1948. harmony; I have not the skill. But they are also familiar. As for the Soviet adaptation, I’ve been searching for the version with decent subtitles for a couple of hours. Iain Glen played Hamlet in scenes of the 1990 film version of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. Nearly all modern editions conflate the three into a single text that includes famous or “important” speeches into a fourth version that would have been unrecognizable to Shakespeare’s audience. The problem is, the English subtitles in this “Hamlet” are sometimes not Shakespeare’s original text, but some crazy retranslation of the Russian lines by great B.Pasternack (which ‘course won’t do). … I also watched it long ago, but I remember this Hamlet to be as much Hamlet as he should; more Hamlet than some “proper” ones. I really connected with Richard Burton’s performance. I used this for a little bit of research for a presentation on Hamlet for a class I’m taking. GUILDENSTERN With Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Derek Jacobi, Kate Winslet. excellent voice, in this little organ; yet cannot Whatever else one may say about Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 film adaptation of Hamlet, it is a visual joy.Moreover, although it is four hours long – much longer than any film has a reasonable right to be – … Hamlet is now prepared to meet his fate if in fact death is his fate. as if you would drive me into a toil? this pipe? 4. The director takes some license in the telling, adhering less strictly to Shakespeare's original text, but at just 2 hours and 15 minutes, this version provides a short and passionate interpretation of the play. ‘Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with Having already adapted “Macbeth” (Maqbool) and “Othello” (Om Kara) into successful films, the latest “Hamlet” (or HAIDER), is excellent, […] overview post of screen versions of Hamlet has some interesting reviews and links to more info. But I loved the set, and they way they modernized it. And all this outweighs the serious limitations director John Gielgud faced filming a live performance in a Broadway theater as well as some less than stellar acting in the other roles. let me see one. Haiku, Book Reviews, Commentary & The Occasional Nonsense. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# When he is funny, Burton is funny without the viciousness or condescension you often see in other performances. instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you Because Hamlet is so long, movie versions are usually heavily cut, but there are five widely-available adaptations of Hamlet which use most or all of Shakespeare’s original text: Hamlet, 1948. If you thought an 11 year-old … The 1948 version directed by and starring Branagh's idol, Laurence Olivier, won the Oscar for Best Picture. The story of Hamlet … I’ll have to see about the Amazon price. I hope you had a chance to see the Russian one– it is “top five” in my opinion. ( Log Out /  This is the mindset he starts the fight in. Believe me, I cannot. How is the ghost scene in Branagh’s version “unwatchable?” I think it’s actually one of the better versions. Liked the death scene too. This was a radical, inventive production directed by … Branagh really makes use of the artistry of film to bring his version to life. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarried to his uncle, Claudius. I wonder what the person who generated such a great idea might look like… Anyway, if I were you, I’d try my luck. It’s an Indian movie called “Haider”. Stewart had a nice turn as Macbeth which I caught on Netflix. Change ). Haven’t seen it, but knowing Stewart plays Claudius bumps it way up my to-do list. Nutshell by Ian McEwan. I don’t think he was the best Hamlet ever, but Patrick Stewart was marvelous as Claudius. This version clocks in … Though last to the party, this account easily takes the prize from the Orson Welles version of 1948 and Roman Polanski’s splatter-movie adaptation of 1971. I was not thrilled AT ALL by Branagh’s Hamlet which I saw complete on the big screen. ( Log Out /  clip from […]. The sheer physical stamina of Burton’s work is impressive. Kenneth Branagh’s version of Hamlet was not quite different to the older versions of Hamlet. Learn how your comment data is processed. Excellent review. In this high-tech contemporary telling, Ethan Hawke stars as the young brooding heir to the Denmark Corporation, out to avenge the murder of his powerful CEO father. … They decide to tell Hamlet … IMDb page. Everyone played their role to the true character, for me. He was highly praised by the great Laurence Olivier and I think that of all Hamlets Olivier is probably the only one competitive with him… But it’s really hard to get hold of this version. For me, it’s the combination of the “Hammer Films” horror style and certain shots that look stolen from the “Knights Who Say Ni” scene from Holy Grail. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. I won’t argue with anyone who thinks Ken gives us too much acting, because he sure does serve up a lot — except in Henry V. It seems weird that Smoktunovsky’s performance (1964) is never mentioned. From the portrayal of … I’m wondering whether your list will alter if (when) you see this movie…. Played him as not too bright, which worked pretty well, but his Macbeth was the most self-reflective not-too-bright guy I’ve ever seen. My longer review of Tennant’s Hamlet is here. Saw this in the theaters. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. easier to be played on than a pipe? (Could an always-hesitating Hamlet improvise the murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or jump into the middle of a battle with pirates?) HAMLET In the worst case scenario you’ll just have to continuously check the subtitles against Shakespeare’s words, right? The 1930s version with … Mel Gibson is my favorite Hamlet. No Hamlet has ever sounded better. IMDb page, Branagh’s performance swings wildly between Hamlet’s famous indecision and the Danish prince’s other signature (but often overlooked) characteristic: his recklessness. Differences between Hamlet the Movie and the Play: First of all, the play starts with the guards standing at the castle with Horatio. You would play upon me; you would seem to know It’s definitely a possibility. My longer review of Cumberbatch’s Hamlet is here. Differing Versions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet TNT Britain’s Theatrical version and Ethan Hawke’s movie version of the play ‘Hamlet’ were vastly different in virtually all aspects. Olivier edits the text so heavily that the story is unintelligible unless you know it. Just a few years before Branagh released his version, Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation starring Mel Gibson was a hit. From the portrayal of … In class we watched two exceedingly diverse film adaptations of Hamlet interpreted by two … Here are the best, and most noteworthy, versions of Hamlet that can help you study and better understand the play. Grigori Kozintsev Hamlet (1964) - 100. Hamlet in the movie comes off very lively compared to the play because by excluding Hamlet’s comparison to Fortinbras, Hamlet’s lack of action is neglected in the movie.Absence of Fortinbras in the movie not only eliminates his role as a foil character, but it also eliminates the war aspect in the movie. Of course there are insurance costs to consider. This movie avoids the affectation of Olivier, the mail-it-in from Mel Gibson (Got to … I know no touch of it, my lord. This is arguably the definitive film version of Hamlet. Any adaptation of hamlet-especially an Indian one, will have the ingredients of a formulaic Bollywood film-but, using Kashmir as backdrop for this version was a cinematic coup that only an Indian “Bard” (Vishal Bhardwaj) could achieve. Patrick Stewart’s Claudius is charismatic but doesn’t quite seem the fratricidal type. After the success of his film versions of Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing, in 1996, British actor and director, Kenneth Branagh, turned his attention to Shakespeare's most famous and, according to many, greatest play, Hamlet. Scott’s Hamlet is actually unhinged, which is what makes this performance from a good actor so intriguing. The only adaptation of the full and uncut play is the Kenneth Branagh version, Hamlet (1996), and this one has the most celebrity walk on appearances (Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Charlton Heston, etc.). This early film version won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor awards for Laurence Olivier in the title role. From the two movies, it was clear to determine which version of Hamlet was most successful. from your Reading List will also remove any 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) The Schwarzenegger clip was especially hilarious and I’ll be showing it to my class! However, the clips available on the internet look promising as does the Shostakovich score. Some of Branagh’s directing is very fine (the two-way mirror in “To be, or not to be”) and some of it is not. Produced and Directed by: Laurence Olivier. Call me what Also, Olivier did his own stunts; but I think that Branagh did not in the ending scene where he swings down into the room. you:–why do you go about to recover the wind of me, Filming Hamlet By one count, there are over 50 filmed versions of Hamlet, Shakespeare's longest and most-quoted masterpiece. Notable cast: Laurence Olivier. Director: Laurence Olivier. GUILDENSTERN To withdraw with Branagh's Hamlet stan… With Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield. I believe I make my case, however. A scene from the Soviet film with Smoktunovsky starring (1964) in Russian (I failed to find in English): [HAMLET Top 8 Quotes Explained. Here are my assessments of the film adaptations of Hamlet I’ve seen ranked in order of personal preference. Although Grigori Kozintsev's Hamlet is spoken entirely in … David Tennant nails Hamlet’s jokes, and his fear, but falls back on acting louder when he plays the Danish Prince’s anger and grief. HAMLET mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Adaptations of Shakespeare's plays and other works have been featured in nearly 500 films and/or videos world-wide. Charles Bramesco. Here is my discussion of the Thematic-Structural Perfection of Hamlet, which is an odd claim to make since the plot of Hamlet sure seems like a hot mess. The production designer for Olivier’s film should demand royalty payments from the Russians, however. Also I quite fond of my 100 word review of As You Like It and my 100 word review of Henry V. Posted in Shakespeare | Tagged movie reviews, Shakespeare | 22 Comments. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother … me! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I didn’t know about Smoktunovsky and I’m wondering if I could lay hands on a subtitled version? Have you seen the recent version with David Tennant? GUILDENSTERN Differing Versions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet TNT Britain’s Theatrical version and Ethan Hawke’s movie version of the play ‘Hamlet’ were vastly different in virtually all aspects. It’s one of the best modern day adaptation of Hamlet & has got a 8.8 rating on imdb. In the movie version of Hamlet the director, Kenneth Branagh, wanted the viewers to find Shakespeare interesting and full of action and drama. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Almost all modern editions of Hamlet … Thank you! This is the best movie version of Hamlet that I've seen. O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too Two recent film versions of Hamlet, David Melville in 2010 and Bruce Ramsay in 2011, both cut the play to a running time of under 90 minutes. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Arnold’s hilarious turn as the perfect anti-Hamlet in The Last Action Hero is not to be missed by fans of the Danish prince. © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. His set pieces are gorgeous and his cast is lively. This early film version won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor awards for Laurence Olivier in the title role. And Olivier’s ditzy, hysterical Ophelia – played by Jean Simmons – not only offends contemporary tastes, but also begs the question, “What does Hamlet see in her?” IMDb page, Derek Jacobi plays Hamlet as amazed by his weakness, rather than desperate for strength, and is one of the few Danish Princes who feels like he could actually be the son of a warrior king. I see your point about Branagh turning his over-acting into a virtue, but it’s still way over the top for me. O, the recorders! Look you, these are the stops. 1. The ghost arrives twice but doesn’t speak. Some clunker performances among the supporting cast and staging a bit heavy on gimmicky spectacle also knock this version down the list. These editions are known among scholars as Q1 (the first quarto, 1603), Q2 (the second quarto, 1604) and F1 (the first folio, 1623). Unfortunately, the rest of the cast is uneven and in some scenes, dull. Will you play upon A failure. IMDb page, Cumberbatch’s superb Hamlet is marred by the choice of making his Danish prince entirely sane and pretty well adjusted. GUILDENSTERN IMA HTML5. As for Ian Glen, is it his performance in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?” I saw that one twenty years ago, and it would be easy enough to see again. IMDb page Williamson and IMDb page Kline, This 2009 Royal Shakespeare Production productively mines the play for maximum humor but comes up short on emotional punch. This makes Cumberbatch the most appealing and engaging Hamlet on my list, but it also robs his Hamlet of the philosophical transformation that powers the last third of the play, leaving the end feeling rushed and flat. A good Wikipedia article says there are more than 50 film adaptations of Hamlet. This is the one for me. This is Hamlet for the 21st century. In this 4+ hour rendering, Kenneth Branagh presents the complete Shakespearean text of the play, and stages the action within a 19th-century setting.