The best Hamlet?

[kelby_lake]

Please note that in the poll, I've included famous TV or film portrayals of Hamlet as more people are likely to have seen them than theatre productions (plus it's been done so many times on stage that it'd be hard to choose).

[wessexgirl]

I haven't yet watched the Tennant version, so I will withold judgement for now. I do love Branagh and Olivier in the role though, so I'm thinking my vote will go to one of those.

[Janine]

My vote really goes in degrees - I like Branagh firstly, Jacobi next and Olivier third. I can't stand Ethan Hawke as Hamlet...maybe I just hate the whole modern version of the film. I am a little prejudiced, since I am a big Branagh fan and waited for with baited breath for the DVD to be released; but I think Branagh nailed it; especially in the "to be or not to be speech" in the mirror. That was brilliant on his part and he pulled it off with perfection. I gasped when I first saw it and I still do when I view the scene individually on DVD or Youtube. I have never seen the David Tennent version, but I think I did catch bits of it on Youtube. I will go now and see if I can dig up any. Mel Gibson actually wasn't bad as Hamlet (surprising at the time) but the film was so abreviated..still not a bad film in my opinion. Actually, the Olivier version is also not the play in it's entirity, and certain scenes I feel are greatly lacking. The BBC Jacobi and the Branagh utilize the entire text. I have never seen the Burton one. I think I have some trouble seeing Burton in the role; but I am sure it must have been a fine performance. I will see if Youtube has some excerpts.


Edit: you can check out the Burton and the Tennent on Youtube...what's with Tennent wearing a T-shirt? I actually thought his version wasn't bad; but I the lines about 'plucking off his beard' don't work with a cleanshaven guy...sort of made me laugh. Burton felt wrong too; although, I can see he's a wonderful stage actor. It just feels off to me...the delivery of the lines. Ok, why no nomination for Kevin Kline? I have actually seen some of his key scenes on Youtube...they are not bad; still not my favorite by far; but he should have been in the voting.

[kelby_lake]

I was thinking of putting him on but wasn't sure if he was that well-known compared to the others.

I haven't watched all of Olivier's version- surprising how the incest got past the censors.

[Lokasenna]

Does this refer to the best production of Hamlet the play, or the best portrayal of Hamlet the character?

The best production on the list is the Tennant/Doran one, but I've yet to Olivier topped as Hamlet, despite the fact that the rest of the production was rather ropey.

[prendrelemick]

I won't vote as I 've only seen 4 of the above, but David Tenant was the pick of them. The others were good, but his was the perfect casting. I discovered new aspects of the role through his performance.

[Niamh]

Tennant got my vote even though i havent seen all of those portrayals.

[kelby_lake]

Does this refer to the best production of Hamlet the play, or the best portrayal of Hamlet the character?
.

Best portrayal of the character- that is to say, which interpretation do you think is most accurate/interesting?

You can see the 'To be or not to be' speeches of all the actors mentioned in the poll on Youtube.

[prendrelemick]

Have you got a link to that?

[kelby_lake]

I'll put them up:
Kenneth Branagh:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JD6gOrARk4&feature=PlayList&p=D0E86BACF31E738B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15

David Tennant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY-QL_HJBCc

Derek Jacobi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-elDeJaPWGg

Mel Gibson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwFzvg3L2Qg

Richard Burton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsrOXAY1arg

Ethan Hawke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YHMYkUrV7A

Laurence Olivier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gft5Gv0QKcE&feature=PlayList&p=D7B121666808A757&index=6

[wessexgirl]

I watched the Tennant version yesterday, and wow.......he was brilliant, I really loved him, mesmerizing. However, I do appreciate that he makes it so naturalistic, as to perhaps lose some of the poetic beauty of the lines, which I always loved Olivier for, but watching that performance again in the clip, I'm not sure I rate him as the best anymore. I loved Derek Jacobi's performance too, surely one of the greatest Shakesperean actors around, with a melodious voice which captures the beauty, but a delivery which makes understanding easier. Branagh, as ever, is wonderful, but I think overall I'm going to sit on the fence and say that there are elements of both Tennant's and Jacobi's which make them the best for me, therefore, I can't vote.

Were Ethan Hawke and Mel Gibson there for a joke Kelby :D? I think Kevin Kline's version is more worthy for the poll, but it's too late now.

[Janine]

The Branagh video is strange. The person putting up the video translated it from the widescreen and to 4.3 ratio and he looks a bit thin. If you go by this and not the film you will definitely not see the brillance in this mirror image version. I did however, view the David Tennant version of the speech and found it quite mesmerizing and very believable. He really captures the inner workings of Hamlet's mind; it's very natural sounding, as he thinks out loud about the idea of his own suicide; his pacing is excellent; he never rushes a line. I do think it beats the Jacobi version; although, that is pretty amazing in the entirity of the performance - I own it and the Branagh films; I still appreciate the Branagh version, but in a different way - actually Hamlet is suppose to be a 35 yr old, not a younger man, although it's been interpretted both ways. Is this Tennant performance from a film or from stage? I don't know that much about the actor or the production. It definitely does look mesmerizing. I might like to check out the entire play. Is it the play uncut?

Thanks for posting the links, kelby lake. That was very helpful.

[Virgil]

Jacobi has always been the model of Hamlet for me.:)

[prendrelemick]

Janine: The David Tenant version is a TV adaptation of The Royal Shakespeare Company's recent production.

It was about 3 hours long, so there will have been cuts, but its pretty seamless.

[kasie]

The Branagh video is strange. The person putting up the video translated it from the widescreen and to 4.3 ratio and he looks a bit thin. If you go by this and not the film you will definitely not see the brillance in this mirror image version. I did however, view the David Tennant version of the speech and found it quite mesmerizing and very believable. He really captures the inner workings of Hamlet's mind; it's very natural sounding, as he thinks out loud about the idea of his own suicide; his pacing is excellent; he never rushes a line. I do think it beats the Jacobi version; although, that is pretty amazing in the entirity of the performance - I own it and the Branagh films; I still appreciate the Branagh version, but in a different way - actually Hamlet is suppose to be a 35 yr old, not a younger man, although it's been interpretted both ways. Is this Tennant performance from a film or from stage? I don't know that much about the actor or the production. It definitely does look mesmerizing. I might like to check out the entire play. Is it the play uncut?

Thanks for posting the links, kelby lake. That was very helpful.

Janine: The version shown on BBCtv over the Christmas holidays is a film of a stage version - the DVD will be available later in January. (Sorry, prendrelemick, I didn't realise you had already posted that)

The original production was staged at the Courtyard theatre in Stratford through the summer of 2008 and transferred to London in late autumn/early winter of that year. It was last year's gold-dust ticket - and I managed to get one for Stratford (lucky, lucky girl). It was electrifying in the theatre - Tennant was manic and Stewart was chillingly menacing.

THe filmed version was interesting - the set had been recreated for the filming, it was not filmed on the actual stage. However it looked as though the dimensions of the set had been kept so the actors did not have to re-learn moves and the severe rectangle of the area available for movement contained the action and gave a certain sense of claustrophobia. Some scenes were filmed in outside settings, the graveyard scene, for example - I'm not sure if this added to the overall effect or not - while the viewer (me, at any rate) is aware of a certain distance watching the action on a 'stage', to have some scenes presented realistically, the hole-and-corner effect of the anonymous backroom from which Hamlet was dispatched for England, the bleak graveyard, somehow distorted the 'reality' that had been accepted in the 'stage set' scenes.

Tennant had grown into his performance - when I saw him on the stage he was David Tennant playing Hamlet - and I'm sure a good proportion of the audience was there to see David Tennant in the flesh: he even got a solo curtain call which I've never before seen at Stratford, very much an ensemble place. In the film he was Hamlet as played by David Tennant (to be compared and measured against other great performances, Olivier, Jacobi etc, etc), The 'mad' scenes had been toned down - he is known for his energetic and athletic performances - and were slightly less hectic and manic, possibly to make it easier for the cameras to track him. The cameras were however able to show the sudden switch between 'mad' and 'sane' - he played the madness as feigned for Hamlet's own ends - even more effectively than the sudden stillness on the stage after all the wild rushing and leaping about.

In contrast, Patrick Stewart's Claudius was somewhat diminished by the filming process. He exuded menace on the stage, a frightening aspect of Claudius I've not seen portrayed before, and that was underplayed in the film - I suppose it might have come over a bit 'hammy' in close-up, but it was a loss to the interpretation of the character, imo.

What was lost in the transposition from stage to film was, I think, the audience - the Courtyard is not a large theatre, built around a tongue stage, so the actors and audience are pretty close to each other and in my experience in that theatre (even more so in the old Swan which was similar in style but even smaller) the actors respond quickly to the audience's reactions - it's almost like a duet in which one side responds fairly silently but affects the way the other side proceeds. The film had none of that feed-back to colour or enlarge the performances which made them just a shade flat and theoretical (imo).

Just as a bit of background info, Janine, David Tennant is a much-loved Doctor Who on tv at the moment - but not for much longer, he's due to regenerate tonight, :bawling:, the new Doctor had better be good..... You don't know Doctor Who? Hmm, where to start? No, just accept that DT is widely loved by young and old in the role. (And features in many an erotic fantasy of ladies who should be old enough to know better....what do you mean, it's a children's programme...)

[prendrelemick]

Just a word about Oliver Ford Davies, the actor playing Polonius in that production, he was outstanding!

[wessexgirl]

Oh Kasie, you lucky thing. I really wanted to see that production at Stratford, but I couldn't get a ticket. I'm not a particular Dr Who fan, (sci-fi isn't my thing) but I did watch the Christmas episode, and will try to catch his demise tonight :bawling: after all he is a national treasure. I think there will be many females mourning his end, from young girls to old, or older ladies like myself :nod:. I had to see it to converse with the students, who will be full of it when we return to school. He has really captured the nation's affections. I don't know how the new Dr will fare having to follow him, but I wish him luck. I'm now going to catch him on Desert Island Discs, which I missed when it was first broadcast. Oh the magic of the iplayer.

Janine, if you can get hold of the complete production, do. He is magnificent. Kasie, I did wonder about Patrick Stewart's role, (or is it Sir Patrick now?). I was expecting more, but as you say, they have to tone down for tv, as stage acting and tv acting is very different. Someone else who saw the production at Stratford said that Ophelia was genuinely terrifying going mad in that closed space, whereas, I was a little unsure about her madness on the tv, as it is so easy to go over the top. I thought Penny Downie as Gertrude was excellent however. I'm glad I taped it, as I can watch it again. Repeated viewings often show things you've missed earlier. And I agree that Oliver Ford Davies, as ever, was wonderful. I wasn't too sure about Laertes, but I will watch it again.

[kelby_lake]

Hamlet is suppose to be a 35 yr old, not a younger man, although it's been interpretted both ways.

In the text, Hamlet's actually 30 as the gravedigger says he's worked there 30 years, starting the day that Hamlet was born. Even if he's actually slightly younger/older, if he was 35, the gravedigger would've said 35.

Part of Hamlet's character is his boyishness and Branagh did look too old to be boyish. It was also too mannered for film- he was playing the lines. I've liked him in other stuff but not Hamlet.
Jacobi does do Hamlet's boyishness well, even if his intellectualism isn't clear, and luckily did not interpret Hamlet being a mummy's boy as an Oedipus complex. How did Olivier get away with all that Freudian stuff?

[Virgil]

Is Hamlet 30? I had not realized he was that old. I pictured him as 20 or so. God, then he is a whiner and a case of arrested development. I used to say, "grow up kid." Now I should say "get a life." :lol:

[Janine]

Is Hamlet 30? I had not realized he was that old. I pictured him as 20 or so. God, then he is a whiner and a case of arrested development. I used to say, "grow up kid." Now I should say "get a life." :lol:

hahah...let you be so mature at 30! I bet your did your share of whining at that age, Virgil. Remember, no frightening ghost confronted you to do away with your uncle. Funny line, funny guy, :lol: ; but actually Hamlet had a life, until he his father dies and he undermining uncle stole his kingdom. He was being groomed to be King of Denmark...a pretty important post. Who wouldn't be shocked to find the uncle stepped in to marry his mother and take over his rightful position?

Anyway, I heard Branagh mention the age factor in an interview segment on the disk set. Kelby is right, he would then be 30 according to the gravedigger's comments; Branagh probably said that and then added he was himself 35. One can usually get away with a few years either way. Many Hamlet's haven't been played by young actors in the past. Actually, though Shakepeare was not intending for Hamlet to be a teenager or even early 20's. I think, given the brevity of the lines and the depth of his thoughts, he would definitely have to be older. It's all in the way, the actor and director interpret Hamlet. It's like the Oscars - is there really any losers or winners here?...All intrepretations are done differently and I am not sure, even though I did vote, one can't truely determine who is best. They all did an admirable job with the scripts they were given. It's also personal preference. If you are a Tennant fan, you are going to feel differently about his performance than others. We all have our prejudices and our view points. I would imagine I could watch all of the above productions and see merit and fine moments in all of them. I don't truly like to vote in polls; I probably should not have voted in this one. To me it's like comparing apple and oranges, in the end. Everyone is different and likes different approaches to Hamlet. I heard Branagh say that once and appreciated his comment. He said his Hamlet was 'his' and some other actor, such as Olivier's Hamlet was his own interpretation. It's true. I would like to see the Tennent version since most of the ones listed I have seen, some several times over. The Tennent version definitely looks good and intensely played.

[kelby_lake]

I think out of the ones in the poll, Ethan Hawke is the only one who was actually 30. Laurence Olivier was about 41 (and the woman playing Gertrude was younger than him!), Burton was probably about late thirties and the others were I think mid-to late thirties.

I think it makes sense for someone in their mid-thirties to play Hamlet, partly because of acting experience, but Gertrude is normally played as a woman in her 40's/50's, so if they're too close in age, it looks a bit weird.

[Janine]

I think out of the ones in the poll, Ethan Hawke is the only one who was actually 30. Laurence Olivier was about 41 (and the woman playing Gertrude was younger than him!), Burton was probably about late thirties and the others were I think mid-to late thirties.

I think it makes sense for someone in their mid-thirties to play Hamlet, partly because of acting experience, but Gertrude is normally played as a woman in her 40's/50's, so if they're too close in age, it looks a bit weird.

Yeah, that has happened before, too. Mel Gibson and Glenn Close actually were nearly the same age. I saw it mentioned on a documentary. I thought it pretty weird, even though they did make Glenn look older. How strange that Olivier was that old; I really didn't think he looked young at all...didn't his real life wife play his mother...Joan Plowright? I might be wrong on that...it's been awhile, since I saw that production...personally, I am not that thrilled with it and think it was over-rated. I just know Plowright was in a lot of his productions, as was his first wife, Vivian Leigh. I have never seen the Burton one either but parts on Youtube and it didn't impress me. The Ethan Hawke one was my very least favorite of all. The 'to be or not to be" speech walking through a video store, just didn't do it for me. I feel anyone playing Hamlet needs to have the maturity, also. I have seen Branagh's early stage production with Jacobi directing. It's looks to be a fine production; but the maturity is just not there yet. It took him time to polish the role. I think playing Hamlet is a process.

[Virgil]

hahah...let you be so mature at 30! I bet your did your share of whining at that age, Virgil. Remember, no frightening ghost confronted you to do away with your uncle. Funny line, funny guy, :lol: ; but actually Hamlet had a life, until he his father dies and he undermining uncle stole his kingdom. He was being groomed to be King of Denmark...a pretty important post. Who wouldn't be shocked to find the uncle stepped in to marry his mother and take over his rightful position?


;) I just find Hamlet such an indecisive nincompoop. I could swear he's a teenage boy. If he's thirty, then I think this play is really flawed. :D

[Janine]

;) I just find Hamlet such an indecisive nincompoop. I could swear he's a teenage boy. If he's thirty, then I think this play is really flawed. :D

Oh blah blah blah, my friend Virgil....:lol:

[prendrelemick]

I think it is just a continuity mistake, Shakespeare's works are riddled with them.
Will Kempe reads the part of Osric and moans he hasn't much material.
"C'mon Will, I know it's final rehersal, but you could stick another comic scene in somewhere couldn't you?."

These plays were never written to be poured over by generations of scholars. The performance was all, the odd mistake didn't really matter.

[kelby_lake]

Yeah, that has happened before, too. Mel Gibson and Glenn Close actually were nearly the same age. I saw it mentioned on a documentary. I thought it pretty weird, even though they did make Glenn look older. How strange that Olivier was that old; I really didn't think he looked young at all...didn't his real life wife play his mother...Joan Plowright?

That would be very creepy! No, some other woman played her- she was 27 and Olivier was 41. I can understand maybe having them 10 years apart in age, or having a very alluring/young Gertrude, but to have her younger is bizarre.

[Janine]

Kelby, do you know who played Hamlet's mother in the Olivier version? You are right it wasn't his wife and yes, would have been creepy indeed. I know in the Jacobi version the mother is played by Judi Dench; they had the right age distance. She played someone's mother and I hope my memory serves me accurately, in saying it was the Jacobi Hamlet. I just went searching on Amazon, to see if the mother's name (actress) is listed. While there, I read two reviews, which I thought were rather interesting...first one points out the cutting of the play by Olivier to 150 some minutes. The other compares Jacobi's performance to Olivier's. I thought both reviews were well written and thoughtout. I didn't read every word, but others on here might want to check them out via this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Criterion-Collection-Laurence-Olivier/dp/0780021312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1262627578&sr=1-1

[NickAdams]

As far as film goes, I would have to go with Ethan Hawke. Does he embody the staples of Hamlet as we know him? I don't know, but his performance is the only one that doesn't seem like it would be better suited for the stage.


Is Hamlet 30? I had not realized he was that old. I pictured him as 20 or so. God, then he is a whiner and a case of arrested development. I used to say, "grow up kid." Now I should say "get a life." :lol:


;) I just find Hamlet such an indecisive nincompoop. I could swear he's a teenage boy. If he's thirty, then I think this play is really flawed. :D

:lol:

[wessexgirl]

Janine, I think the actress is Eileen Herlie :confused:. I don't remember the name, but that's a name on the cover of my dvd, and I know the lovely Jean Simmons was Ophelia, so it must be her.

[Virgil]

My pleasure Nick. :D

[Janine]

My pleasure Nick. :D

blah blah blah....:lol:

I am currently watching Ken Branagh's "Henry V"...he's the best Henry V ever! Oh no, did I open another can of worms???

[kelby_lake]

Janine, I think the actress is Eileen Herlie :confused:. I don't remember the name, but that's a name on the cover of my dvd, and I know the lovely Jean Simmons was Ophelia, so it must be her.

Yeah, it is Herlie

[WICKES]

You left out John Gielgud. For me whoever plays Hamlet has to have an upper class English accent. I couldn't sit through a Hamlet played by someone with an American accent.

[NickAdams]

You left out John Gielgud. For me whoever plays Hamlet has to have an upper class English accent. I couldn't sit through a Hamlet played by someone with an American accent.

Do you think that a Danish accent would be more proper?

[DanielBenoit]

Laurence Oliver, always. Seeing that film was one of the greatest film experiences of my life, though maybe it was because I was experiencing Shakespeare's greatest play for the first time. I remember, I ws thirteen, I had read quite a bit of Shakespeare without realizing that I had never read or seen Hamlet. Since I wanted to experience this great play rather than read it (as I had done with Macbeth) I decided to rent Oliver's version. I watched it, and though I must admit that about 98% of my reaction was based on the greatness of Shakespeare's words, I was utterly mezmerized by the whole thing, including the flawless peformances and the perfect rendering of the masterpiece.

Had I not seen it that way, I probably wouldn't love the film so much, but I treasture it so much that it is undoubtably one of my fifteen or twenty favorite films. One thing that I found quite special was the slightly minimalistic noir sets of the castle, which were far from extravigent and really did seen to reflect Hamlet's state of mind. The bright and wonderous colors of Branaugh's version is what bothered me, as well as the ghost. No ghost of Hamlet's father has ever been done better.

[DanielBenoit]

As far as film goes, I would have to go with Ethan Hawke. Does he embody the staples of Hamlet as we know him? I don't know, but his performance is the only one that doesn't seem like it would be better suited for the stage.


I know, I know. Shakespeare's works are and are only suited for the stage and any purely cinematic rendering is doomed to be unfaithful to his language. Sure novels can be adapted well, but I have absolutley no faith in adaptations of works like The Divine Comedy or Paradise Lost, the power of the work is all too much lost when translated into the language of cinema. Novels are just an exception since they are more adaptatble than narrative poems. But plays are by far the most adaptable, but the only problem is, is that to make a purely cinematic rendering of a play, especially in the case of Shakespeare, comes out almost the same had it been done on stage. Films like 12 Angry Men or Oliver's Hamlet are exceptions since they are so well acted and directed.

In the end, yes the Hawke version is the most cinematic, but even then I found the film awkward. The modern setting of New York for Denmark and buisness executives in place for the king seemed all too weird and out of place. Me being so obsessed with dialects found the iambic parameter in this modern New York setting extremely bothering. Besides, who the hell got the bright idea to get Ethan Hawke to play Hamlet?

Btw, this just made me think, would Daniel-Day Lewis not make a great Macbeth?

[NickAdams]

We missed one of the most interesting choices for Hamlet: To be or not to be ... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVc5TaPpe8)


One thing that I found quite special was the slightly minimalistic noir sets of the castle, which were far from extravigent and really did seen to reflect Hamlet's state of mind.

It does have a great tone.


I know, I know. Shakespeare's works are and are only suited for the stage and any purely cinematic rendering is doomed to be unfaithful to his language. Sure novels can be adapted well, but I have absolutley no faith in adaptations of works like The Divine Comedy or Paradise Lost, the power of the work is all too much lost when translated into the language of cinema. Novels are just an exception since they are more adaptatble than narrative poems. But plays are by far the most adaptable, but the only problem is, is that to make a purely cinematic rendering of a play, especially in the case of Shakespeare, comes out almost the same had it been done on stage. Films like 12 Angry Men or Oliver's Hamlet are exceptions since they are so well acted and directed.

In the end, yes the Hawke version is the most cinematic, but even then I found the film awkward. The modern setting of New York for Denmark and buisness executives in place for the king seemed all too weird and out of place. Me being so obsessed with dialects found the iambic parameter in this modern New York setting extremely bothering. Besides, who the hell got the bright idea to get Ethan Hawke to play Hamlet?

Btw, this just made me think, would Daniel-Day Lewis not make a great Macbeth?

I really enjoy Hawke's blah-blah-blah delivery (no sarcasm) and his mockery during the "To be or not to be" soliloquy. Hawke's Hamlet is a smart-a$$ and I think it's he's behavior more than anything that entertains me. He's a spoiled brat; it's Hamlet in Gossip Girl.:lol:

Daniel-Day Lewis would be amazing. After watching closer, I really wanted to see Clive Owen as Macbeth. I'm not sure about Ray Winstone's range, but it's a curiosity.

[kasie]

It's going a bit off-track, but I agree, NickAdams, Clive Owen could make a good Macbeth - but you should have seen Patrick Stewart's Macbeth at Chichester/London a couple of years ago: he was electrifying.

I'm set for the week-end, however - my David Tennant Hamlet dvd has arrived. (OK, I know I watched it over Christmas on tv, but you can't have too much of a good thing....)

[kelby_lake]

It's going a bit off-track, but I agree, NickAdams, Clive Owen could make a good Macbeth - but you should have seen Patrick Stewart's Macbeth at Chichester/London a couple of years ago: he was electrifying.

I'm set for the week-end, however - my David Tennant Hamlet dvd has arrived. (OK, I know I watched it over Christmas on tv, but you can't have too much of a good thing....)

It was very good :D i'd buy it if it was cheaper

[wessexgirl]

It's going a bit off-track, but I agree, NickAdams, Clive Owen could make a good Macbeth - but you should have seen Patrick Stewart's Macbeth at Chichester/London a couple of years ago: he was electrifying.

I'm set for the week-end, however - my David Tennant Hamlet dvd has arrived. (OK, I know I watched it over Christmas on tv, but you can't have too much of a good thing....)

I watched it again on BBC4 Kasie, and it was wonderful. My complete set of Shakespeare from the Beeb has arrived, I'm so excited :banana:. It doesn't contain the Tennant Hamlet, as this is the complete Shakespeare which was completed over a number of years, from the late '70s -'80s. But it has the Jacobi Hamlet (yay), and Patrick Stewart is in a few of them. I don't know where to start, or when I'm going to watch them, but there's a whole host of stellar actors in there.... whhhooooo! I'm salivating just looking at them.....:D.

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/459382/index.html

I've just noticed this while looking for a link too

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569682/BBC-to-film-all-37-of-Bards-plays.html

but it's dated 2007. I hope it's going to happen....double wwhoooooo! :D

[prendrelemick]

Have you watched them yet! I remember Jane Lapotaire's performance as Lady Macbeth And Cleopatra - I must 've had a crush on her at the time- I also remember Johnathan Miller saying about the Cleopatra casting, he wanted true beauty, not Holywood tat.

[Fen]

I watched it again on BBC4 Kasie, and it was wonderful. My complete set of Shakespeare from the Beeb has arrived, I'm so excited

Wow you are so lucky! I was on the lovefilm DVD rental scheme for awhile and I saw as many of them as I could they are absolutely amazing. I went for the ones that were least likely to come round on tv so I can't tell you about Hamlet but on the whole the acting(with a few exceptions) just made Shakespeare's plays come alive especially Robert Lindsay, he is fantastic.

[wessexgirl]

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to watch any yet, but we break up tomorrow for half-term, so you can guess what I'll be hoping to do :D. I love Jane Lapotaire, so I think I may watch A & C first, (love the play). I've watched clips on youtube of Robert Lindsay as Benedict in Much Ado About Nothing, and I love him too, so I hope to get round to that soon as well. Now I love Jane Lapotaire, and I love Robert Lindsay too, but which one first.......there's only one way to find out.........FIGHT!!!!!!!! (Sorry, only fans of a certain UK comedian may get that :lol:).

[Janine]

I watched it again on BBC4 Kasie, and it was wonderful. My complete set of Shakespeare from the Beeb has arrived, I'm so excited :banana:. It doesn't contain the Tennant Hamlet, as this is the complete Shakespeare which was completed over a number of years, from the late '70s -'80s. But it has the Jacobi Hamlet (yay), and Patrick Stewart is in a few of them. I don't know where to start, or when I'm going to watch them, but there's a whole host of stellar actors in there.... whhhooooo! I'm salivating just looking at them.....:D.

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/459382/index.html

I've just noticed this while looking for a link too

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569682/BBC-to-film-all-37-of-Bards-plays.html

but it's dated 2007. I hope it's going to happen....double wwhoooooo! :D

Wow, lucky you. That's an expensive set. A friend lend me the History plays part of the set and it was quite good. At the time we were discussing "Richard II"; Jacobi plays him. I haven't returned the set yet so I watched the Henry plays several times. I prefer the Branagh version of "Henry V", even if it's a little abreviated; but the young actor (forget his name now) playing Henry in the BBC version is quite good and it's interesting to watch the same actor in both of the Henry plays.

The "Richard III" is quite good, too; the ending is pretty awesome. The "Hamlet" of course is the Jacobi one and it's wonderful. I would really like to see "As You Like it" with Helen Mirren. Let me know, wessexgirl, when you watch these and maybe we can discuss them briefly. I would like to know your impression(s).

[Janine]

I am rewatching Kenneth Branagh's version of "Hamlet"...I watch it about 10 times a year! I always see something new in the production. I was thinking last night how hard it is to compare films...some are closer to plays such as the Jacobi version; a little more barebones. I would say Branagh's production is more cinemagraphic and lush...the sets are really stunning, yet they don't detract from the dialogue or characters. One could do a whole analaysis on the set design. I guess I am very visual, so that his version appeals to me the most. I could turn the sound off and still enjoy the film. The setting, at Blenheim castle estates, is perfect. I saw a another castle on the internet, that is known as the Hamlet castle; I just looked it up and it says: "Shakespeare's play, 'Hamlet' takes place in the Danish castle of Kronborg, which is located in Elsinore or Helsingør North of Copenhagen, on the place where Denmark is closest to Sweden."

That building is quite impressive, too. Here is a link to the site:http://www.copenhagenpictures.dk/kronborg.html

Don't mind me, I am just thinking out loud....

[Janine]

Haha...here is by far the funniest Hamlet ever....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwbB6B0cQs4

[prendrelemick]

10 times a year!!!

I've seen it once, at the local cinema, they were making an event of it , with Danish pastries at the interval. That was enough to entice the wife to come and watch it with me. NEVER AGAIN, she is not a fan of the bard, or of Kenneth, so all the way through she was sighing and making bored sounds and asking how much longer ect.. Not one of our most sucessful nights out.

[Janine]

10 times a year!!!

I've seen it once, at the local cinema, they were making an event of it , with Danish pastries at the interval. That was enough to entice the wife to come and watch it with me. NEVER AGAIN, she is not a fan of the bard, or of Kenneth, so all the way through she was sighing and making bored sounds and asking how much longer ect.. Not one of our most sucessful nights out.

Ahhh...poor you. I find that to totally spoil a film for me. Wowy and to have seen it in the cinema. I would die to see it on a big screen format. It was shot in 70mm, so it must have really been impressive. Luckily, I watch the film all by myself. I concentrate on every nuance and every line. Unlike your wife, I am in love with KB, only he doesn't know it.:lol: We have a whole fan club on YT now. I was quite thrilled with the production first time I saw; it was on VHS tape and then I signed the online petition to bring out the 10 yr aniversary DVD...not sure why they hadn't done it earlier. Yes, indeed, I do watch it at least 10 times a year, if not more. I now know every line, before they even say it. It's pretty obsessive and funny, don't you think?

[prendrelemick]

No, no its perfectly normal behavior.:lol:

It was very impressive on the big screen- almost a sensory overload.

[Janine]

No, no its perfectly normal behavior.:lol: :lol: yes, most of us here are a bit obsessive, to say the least; if we all got cured there would probably be no Litnet. Within the standards I set for myself I feel perfectly normal. :eek2:


It was very impressive on the big screen- almost a sensory overload.

Your should have send you wife home in a cab, so you could better enjoy it. I wish they would show it in a threater again. I would be the first in line. It must be amazing to have seen it on the big screen. Oh man, I am big into sensory overloads! I don't even recall ever seeing it out over here in the US. I guess it must have run sometime or the other, somehow I missed it. :sad:

[kelby_lake]

Wow, lucky you. That's an expensive set. A friend lend me the History plays part of the set and it was quite good. At the time we were discussing "Richard II"; Jacobi plays him. I haven't returned the set yet so I watched the Henry plays several times. I prefer the Branagh version of "Henry V", even if it's a little abreviated; but the young actor (forget his name now) playing Henry in the BBC version is quite good and it's interesting to watch the same actor in both of the Henry plays.

The "Richard III" is quite good, too; the ending is pretty awesome. The "Hamlet" of course is the Jacobi one and it's wonderful. I would really like to see "As You Like it" with Helen Mirren. Let me know, wessexgirl, when you watch these and maybe we can discuss them briefly. I would like to know your impression(s).

Measure for Measure was brilliantly done- the leads were brilliant. I saw a modernised version and it was awful.

[wessexgirl]

Love it Janine :lol:

I think you'll love this one too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM-Y1ch4b5c

:lol: So funny, Shakey, Rowan Atkinson, Colin Firth and Ken referenced....(albeit unflatteringly).

I decided to watch Anthony and Cleopatra last night, and I was loving it, but unfortunately fell asleep, (nothing to do with the production, but my dvd player downstairs is on the blink, so I have to watch in bed, and of course the inevitable happens......get comfy and I'm gone :yawnb:). I woke up to see Cleo with the asp, and kudos to JL for her handling of the little blighter :eek6: I will try to catch up today with what I missed.

Mickeytake, did you know that JL is starring in the new classic drama this Sunday on R4? It's a trilogy called Plantaganet about Henry 11 and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Can't wait.

I want to go through the History cycle Janine, while I'm off school, but I will have to see if I can manage it without the dozing off. If I could figure out how to watch dvds on my computer it would help:confused5: I don't know what I'm doing wrong, as I'm sure I should be able to watch them. I'm not very capable with technology, so it's probably something simple.....

Anyway, I'll try to watch what I can and report back. :)

[prendrelemick]

Great! Henry and Ellenor are my two most favouritist historical figures. I can see Jane is perfect for Ellenor. I wonder if it's available as a podcast so I can listen whilst walling.

[Janine]

Love it Janine :lol:

I think you'll love this one too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM-Y1ch4b5c

:lol: So funny, Shakey, Rowan Atkinson, Colin Firth and Ken referenced....(albeit unflatteringly).

Ahhhh...British humor - love it! I am sure Ken Branagh would be laughing his head off with us. I loved it...so funny....Colin Firth is great. I still love the 'Hamlet rewrite' one best (glad you liked it, too) but this one is a gem, also. Thanks for pointing it out. I put into one of my playlists on YT.


I decided to watch Anthony and Cleopatra last night, and I was loving it, but unfortunately fell asleep, (nothing to do with the production, but my dvd player downstairs is on the blink, so I have to watch in bed, and of course the inevitable happens......get comfy and I'm gone :yawnb:). I woke up to see Cleo with the asp, and kudos to JL for her handling of the little blighter :eek6: I will try to catch up today with what I missed.

Mickeytake, did you know that JL is starring in the new classic drama this Sunday on R4? It's a trilogy called Plantaganet about Henry 11 and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Can't wait.

I want to go through the History cycle Janine, while I'm off school, but I will have to see if I can manage it without the dozing off. If I could figure out how to watch dvds on my computer it would help:confused5: I don't know what I'm doing wrong, as I'm sure I should be able to watch them. I'm not very capable with technology, so it's probably something simple.....

Anyway, I'll try to watch what I can and report back. :)

Interesting information here, wessexgirl...thanks. I have that same problem *yawn* when listening to an audiobook or play. I woke up one night to men screaming at each other. I forget now which play or story it was; but it was alarming, waking from a sound sleep, hearing people attacking each other.

[Fen]

Measure for Measure was brilliantly done- the leads were brilliant. I saw a modernised version and it was awful.

Tim Piggott-Smith was very good as Angelo and I liked the Duke, he was good.

I saw this play without any idea of the story and it was a real wake up call, I never realised till then how bawdy Shakespeare could be. I had been treating Shakespeare, somewhat unconsciously, with a sort of reverence treating his work in an unreal way and the productions I had seen reinforced this view. For example Midsummers Night Dream with Kevin Kline, everything in it was beautiful but there was no life in it. That's what I think was so impressive about the BBC version it was natural it wasn't the stage it was life. Everything started to make more sense. The series revealed so much to me.

[kelby_lake]

Tim Piggott-Smith was very good as Angelo and I liked the Duke, he was good.

I saw this play without any idea of the story and it was a real wake up call, I never realised till then how bawdy Shakespeare could be. I had been treating Shakespeare, somewhat unconsciously, with a sort of reverence treating his work in an unreal way and the productions I had seen reinforced this view. For example Midsummers Night Dream with Kevin Kline, everything in it was beautiful but there was no life in it. That's what I think was so impressive about the BBC version it was natural it wasn't the stage it was life. Everything started to make more sense. The series revealed so much to me.

Because MfM was stripped down to its bones set-wise for the BBC- no flashy camera-work- it let the text speak for itself. In the AMND film, some of the actors were trying to compensate, almost apologise, for the text.

[Janine]

I was watching a commentary on actors and one was Lawrence Olivier and the critic brought up a good point. He said Olivier was a stage actor and he didn't play up as well as others to the camera. I have had this same feeling in viewing his productions of Shakespeare. The critic said his work of that genre was very stagey. I agree and I think that is why basically I am not that impressed with his Hamlet. I fully expected to be when I first saw it but I was disappointed. To me it's just filming a play. I got to thinking about this thread and I think it is sort of unfair now to actually pick the best Hamlet. It's like comparing apples and oranges. I think it would be fairer to say 'who is the best Hamlet in play form' and 'who is the best Hamlet in film. There is a big difference. John Guilgud said it all - "Hamlet can be played in many ways." I therefore conclude that there is probably no best but rather one that appeals to the individual. I think the fact it can be played many ways and interpretted many ways makes the whole story of Hamlet even more intriguing.

[kelby_lake]

I was watching a commentary on actors and one was Lawrence Olivier and the critic brought up a good point. He said Olivier was a stage actor and he didn't play up as well as others to the camera. I have had this same feeling in viewing his productions of Shakespeare. The critic said his work of that genre was very stagey. I agree and I think that is why basically I am not that impressed with his Hamlet. I fully expected to be when I first saw it but I was disappointed. To me it's just filming a play. I got to thinking about this thread and I think it is sort of unfair now to actually pick the best Hamlet. It's like comparing apples and oranges. I think it would be fairer to say 'who is the best Hamlet in play form' and 'who is the best Hamlet in film. There is a big difference. John Guilgud said it all - "Hamlet can be played in many ways." I therefore conclude that there is probably no best but rather one that appeals to the individual. I think the fact it can be played many ways and interpretted many ways makes the whole story of Hamlet even more intriguing.


By 'best', I meant the one closest to your own interpretation of the character, or just the one you find most interesting. For example, is Olivier's Oedpius interpretation valid? And I chose film because it's a fairer way of comparison. Not everybody will have seen famous stage productions.
Tennant's Hamlet was a good example of how a play can be filmed well for television, but most filmed plays are stagey. Branagh's film acting can be stagey- most stage actors can come off as stagey on screen.
Plays are artificial and metaphorical; film is on the whole a literal medium. You want the viewer to believe in the reality of the film and it's hard to create ambiguity in film, therefore a lot of plays suffer because the actors either try to speak realistically, thus losing some of the beauty of the lines, or they ham it up.

[Wilde woman]

I just saw David Tennant's "Hamlet" last night because it FINALLY aired in the States.

Though I love Tennant as the Doctor (WHY did he leave?), I found his Hamlet to be a bit distracting and perhaps overracted. He's constantly moving around and adding all sorts of wild gestures to his speeches, esp. with Polonius. I've always thought of Hamlet as more subdued, introverted, and angsty, though Tennant brings an athletic energy to the character. I've also heard some say that he delivers the lines in such a way as to make them more understandable (perhaps to us younger folks who've not seen much Shakespeare on stage). I found this true for me, especially in the scenes with the players. Tennant also strikes me as one of the younger actors to play Hamlet. (The red T-shirt and bare feet were shocking, though.) That, combined with the modern setting, lent a new dynamic to the play.

Speaking of the setting, what did you all think of the CCTV effects? I thought it was an ingenious way to represent the oppressive atmosphere of Elsinore, though the technique was not always exploited to its fullest extent. And though some of my friends have remarked that the constant use of cracked mirrors felt pretentious, I quite liked it. Not only did they *look* good with all the other black glass, marble, and crystal chandeliers, but I liked the idea of reflection and looking anew at oneself.

I thought Patrick Stewart gave a nice performance, though I didn't get a real sense of menace from him. He seemed rather subdued for the entire performance. And I didn't like the fact that the director used him to play the ghost of Hamlet's father, esp. in the scene in Gertrude's bedroom. The whole point of the scene (from Hamlet's POV) is how different his father and Claudius are, even down to their physical appearance. And then Patrick Stewart appears with a joke of a beard as the ghost, and it's so glaringly obvious that it's the same person who plays Claudius.

Highlights for me: Polonius. Any scene with him was hilarious, especially when Hamlet mocks him. The lead player's recitation of Pyrrhus and Priam because 1) you can just see the cogs in Hamlet's brain turning, 2) it goes completely over Polonius' head, 3) Hamlet keeps shushing Polonius when he interrupts. :biggrin5: The Death of Gonzago, with Hamlet filming Claudius' and Gertrude's responses with a hand-held camera. Again, I like the use of framing devices to focus our attention. And it was a nice twist on the whole play-within-a-play thing. Ophelia's insanity scene - I quite liked her grungy and bleeding with her arms full of foliage. And Hamlet's death in Horatio's arms was more touching than, I felt, any other scene in the play.

Lowlights: I didn't particularly like the gravedigger scene. In fact, it felt like once the production moved outside the castle of Elsinore, the atmosphere lost much of its menace and gravitas. The final death scene felt contrived to me, esp. Laertes constantly falling then raising his head up for more lines. Finally, I wish the director had not cut the final scene when Fortinbras comes. I wanted to see Horatio keep his word to Hamlet and start to tell the his story. I thought it would've been a nice things-come-full-circle kind of ending.

I voted for Ken Branagh's version, though I haven't Jacobi's or Burton's. I really hated Ethan Hawke's performance.

[Sebas. Melmoth]

Recently saw the RSC's film version of Hamlet with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart, etc.

Thought it was the best yet!

Of course they copied the CCTV idea from Kenneth Branagh's remake of Sleuth
http://www.amazon.com/Sleuth-Michael-Caine/dp/B001221DU6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1272825990&sr=1-1

But it was excellent nevertheless.

Of course Branagh's Hamlet is a modern classic; and Gibson's ain't all that bad...

[kelby_lake]

Gibson's is okay but it was a bit too Oedipal.

[bluesun777]

I've seen bits and pieces of a lot of versions, but I've seen the Tennant version all the way through. I loved every bit of it. It accessible without being patronizing, dramatic without having overacting, and just plain excellent. Patrick Stewart is, at any rate, the best Claudius I've ever seen.
Thoughts, questions, comments? =]

[Miss Plum]

I'll jump in.

A few other Hamlets available for rent or sale are:

the Russian one http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Mr-Bongo-Films-DVD/dp/B005FXO5XA/ref=pd_cp_mov_0

the Campbell Scott one http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Lewis-Arlt/dp/B00005RDRT/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1327695828&sr=1-1

the Christopher Plummer one http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-at-Elsinore-Christopher-Plummer/dp/B005COLEOA/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1327695858&sr=1-1



I get something from every Hamlet I watch. I really wish I could have seen the Michael Sheen one at the Young Vic. Set in an insane asylum.

[Arcadian]

I had to cast my vote for Burton's fiery interpretation of Hamlet...angry, rebellious, dangerous (though I must admit I haven't seen Tennant's performance, and I love his work in general).

[kelby_lake]

How did Kenneth Branagh get so many votes? His Hamlet was acceptable but hardly the best.

I used to think Derek Jacobi's Hamlet was too camp but actually the effeminacy is spot on. If you make the character too "manly" as Branagh and Gibson did, it doesn't make sense why he fails repeatedly to kill Claudius. Hamlet is not a superhero- he is a weak man being forced to do a strong thing.

[Miss Plum]

Oop, just found the Nicol Williamson one online, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN0y2OAesYE&feature=related

[Miss Plum]

Hang it all, I found a complete version of Richard Burton's "Electronovision" performance online and now I've lost it!!!! Thought I'd bookmarked it but . . . Can anyone help?

ETA:

Never mind -- found it! In case anyone else is interested:

http://globalshakespeares.mit.edu/hamlet-gielgud-john-1964/

[kelby_lake]

What did you think of Burton?

[Sbrkr]

While there are several admirable performances in the poll, for 'my money', Campbell Scott delivers the one that resonates most completely - though, as John Gielgud said, 'You never get him'. And he tried 5 (6?) times. As the great Stella Adler taught - and I'm no scholar or authority, and probably, greatly, over-simplifying - it's never 'you' on stage but the character. One must not rely on 'the words' alone, but the world of the character. 'Something is rotten in Denmark', and as the Prince and royalty, and all that 'Wittenberg' implies, this guy is torn to pieces inside - and stating the obvious - on many levels. Mr Scott comes the closest, for me, to capturing this layered torment. My main complaint is why does his 'intelligence' always have to render him so precious? I'd love to see a King Cobra hopelessly surrounded by a vicious pack of mongoose. He isn't kidding when he says 'Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd his canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!' Have things ever been that bad...? It's a place of dark and deep ferocity. Not, as they say, for sissies. I agree with the mention of the Russian version. If Mr Scott had Burton's voice and acting chops, you might come close - though I really think that Mr Gielgud has the last word...

[Jitka]

Campbell Scott??? Why isn't he on the list? He's my favorite.