HAMLET

UK, 1996, 240 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Kate Winslett, Nicholas Farrell, Richard Briers, Michael Maloney, Timothy Spall, Jack Lemmon, Charlton Heston, Rosemary Harris, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Gerard Depardieu, Reece Dinsdale, Ken Dodd, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, Michael Bryant, Brian Blessed, Rufus Sewell, Ian Mc Illhinny, Simon Russell Beale, John Mills, Jimi Mistry, Richard Attenborough.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Forty years ago, Laurence Olivier's Oscar-winning interpretation of Shakespeare's classic, with its black and white photography and Olivier's soulful performance; only six years ago Franco Zeffirelli's colourful re-creation of a rough medieval Denmark with a robust though doubting Hamlet; now Kenneth Branagh who has already brought us Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing (and has given a fine performance as Iago in last year's Othello) brings us the complete text of the play in a four hour version.

The setting is the late 19th century, a more cultivated and well-mannered Denmark, where everybody looks particularly healthy and where the castle is now an elegant palace. The plot is credible in this setting.

It is, of course, a marvellous opportunity not only to hear all of Shakespeare's words, but to understand better the drama of the play and appreciate its structure, for instance, the players and their speeches and performance, Polonius and his advice to Reynaldo to spy on Laertes.

The performances are generally excellent. Branagh is an outgoing Hamlet grieving the death of his father but wanting to find evidence that the ghost is speaking the truth. Branagh's is a lucid Hamlet. Julie Christie is a worldly Gertrude with little awareness of the enormity of what she has done. And Derek Jacobi's Claudius is as good as you would find anywhere. Kate Winslett is a robus Ophelia who collapses under the pressure of Hamlet's rejection and her father's death.

Other performances worthy of note are Richard Briers' Polonius, here much more devious and less the old fogey, Charlton Heston as the Player King, Billy Crystal as the gravedigger and Nicholas Farrel as Horatio.

At times, Branagh's visualising the text and the flashbacks seemed a bit too obvious and some performances are weak (for instance Jack Lemmon as Marcellus). However, it is Shakespeare on a grand scale. Those who have seen the abridged two hour version praise its pace and energy. Lavish presentation.

1. The best-known Shakespearean play? Plot, characters, verse? Tragedy? The 16th and 17th centuries? Revenge plays and their conventions?


2. Kenneth Branagh and his Shakespearean films? Acting, directing, in the tradition of Laurence Olivier?

3. His use of the complete text, 4 hours, the effect for the audience of seeing the whole play? With its close-ups, cinematic styles?

4. Colour photography? The 19th century palace, lavish interiors, costumes, the era, books, transport…? Something of the old and something of the new? The musical score?

5. The framework of Denmark and its international conflicts? The role of Norway, the scenes with Old Norway? Fortinbras, the close-ups, his intensity, the forces? Something rotten in Denmark, its collapse, the end and a new beginning?

6. The cast, the core British actors and their skill in reciting Shakespeare? The American cast, successful or not?

7. Audience familiarity with the plot, the text, the soliloquies? Expectations?

8. Marcellus and Bernardo, on guard, their fears, seeing the ghost, conferring with Horatio, and Horatio seeing the ghost, the night watch, the dawn, and the meeting with Hamlet, the discussion, his joining them on the watch, his experience of the ghost, profound, the speeches of the king, the bid for revenge? The effect on him?

9. Hamlet, in himself, heir to the throne, his age, the his melancholy nature? And the experience of the ghost? Being exhorted to swear for revenge? The information about the crime? Claudius and his guilt? Hamlet and his alienation from Claudius? His reaction to his mother and her marriage? The melancholy and the touches of madness, real madness, the cover of madness, or both? His relationship with Ophelia, the sexual consummation seen? His reactions to her? Real or feigned? Interactions with Polonius, killing him? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, friends, fellow-students, the pressure on him, their not to be trusted? The contrast in confiding in Horatio?

10. Derek Jacobi as Claudius, dapper, in uniform, his style? Yet sinister? The confession sequence and his regrets, guilt, Hamlet hearing him and not killing him? Marrying Gertrude, his lust? Their scenes together? His plans for Denmark? Polonius and his advice? Listening to her with Polonius, using Ophelia as a ploy? The experience of the play, Hamlet to be sent to England, the use of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? The death of Polonius? Laertes and his return? Fostering Laertes’ revenge, Ophelia’s funeral, setting up the match, his bet?

11. Gertrude, devoted to her son, her relationship with her dead husband? The discussions with Reynaldo? Marrying so soon after her husband’s death, Claudius seductive? Relationships with Ophelia, hoping she would marry Hamlet? Her place in the court, Hamlet holding the mirror to her, yet her going to Claudius, her concern about Hamlet’s madness? The experience of the play? Ophelia’s death, the speech at the funeral? Hamlet’s return and her being amazed?

12. Ophelia, the influence of her father, of Laertes? The relationship with Hamlet, her bewilderment, the discussions with Hamlet, her memories? Her madness, her death, the visuals, in her grave?

13. The arrival of the players, Hamlet meeting them, the discussions about the nature of theatre? The player king and his recitation, the visuals of Hecuba and Priam? The player’s tears, and his comment? His adding lines, the rehearsal, the performance? the catching the conscience of the king? His sitting with Ophelia and his remarks to her, and his behavior during the performance? The audience reaction and confusion?

14. Polonius, his role as court adviser? With Claudius and Gertrude? His advice to Laertes going to Paris? With Ophelia, using her to draw out Hamlet? Listening in with the king? Behind the arras, his being killed? His body, Claudius searching for it, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Polonius at supper…?

15. Laertes and his earnestness, his friendship with Hamlet, going to Paris, his return, his father’s death, revenge, urged by Claudius, Ophelia’s death, throwing himself into the grave? Hamlet’s challenge to him? The preparation for the bout? The plans with Claudius, the poisoned rapier? The fight, his change of heart, confession, Hamlet’s forgiveness, his death?

16. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, summoned by Claudius, Hamlet’s suspicions, the plans, going to England, their commission, Hamlet changing the letter, the ambassador announcing their deaths?

17. The contrast with Horatio, a decent man, wanting to die with Hamlet?

18. The grave diggers’ episode, humour, death themes, Yorick and the visuals of the past, Hamlet and Horatio and the reminiscence? The grave diggers of the funeral?

19. Osric, the vain courtier, the invitation, fawning behaviour, at the fight, the stabbing and the blood?

20. The insertion of Fortinbras, the siege, the attack of the palace, inside? Fortinbras and order, arranging the funeral, the tribute to Hamlet?

21. The fight, Hamlet scoring, Gertrude drinking and dying of the poison, Laertes stabbing Hamlet, the changing rapiers, Hamlet thrusting it at Claudius, Claudius dying? The pathos of Hamlet’s death, the rest is silence?

22. Fortinbras, holding court, the English ambassador, order restored?

23. Audiences knowing the quotations, the soliloquies, favorite passages and references? The film as a Shakespeare experience?