Kenneth Branagh’sHamlet

Full text—full length

Hamlet in Cinema

• There have been many movie incarnations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the most popular being:– Laurence Olivier’s (1948)– Mel Gibson’s (1990)– Kenneth Branagh’s (1996)– And Ethan Hawke’s (2000)

Kenneth Branagh’s Version

• Filmed at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, even though Shakespeare intended the story to be set in Denmark.

• It was filmed in the style of the 18th century, well after Shakespeare lived.

• Despite these two “inaccuracies,” which were intended by the filmmaker, it is the most complete version of Hamlet ever set on film.

Cast and Crew

• Hamlet• Queen Gertrude• King Claudius• Ophelia• Laertes• Polonius• Horatio

• Kenneth Branagh• Julie Christie• Derek Jacobi• Kate Winslet• Michael Maloney• Richard Briers• Nicholas Farrell

Cameos• Brannagh was able to pull in many famous

faces for cameos in the film…– Richard Attenborough– Billy Crystal– Dame Judi Dench– Gérard Depardieu– Rosemary Harris– Charlton Heston– Robin Williams

• Each is seen for a few moments at the most, and many do not speak, but its fun to see them!

Major Scenes: To Be or Not to Be…• That is the question…

– Filmed with Hamlet looking into a mirror

Major Scenes: Ophelia’s Death• Based upon the paintings by John Waterhouse,

Ophelia’s death is a beautiful, watery journey into insanity.

Major Scenes: The Play within aPlay

• One of the most important scenes, this one is shot in the gathering hall of Blenheim palace

Goofs… Oops! My bad!• There is an electric cord visible coming out the

back of a lamp on a table near the window during Hamlet's long soliloquy in his chamber.

• Both Ophelia AND Hamlet blink after they are supposed to be dead.

• Several times in the throne room, cameras and lights are visible in the mirrors.

Resources

• Internet Movie Database– www.imdb.com

• Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) Movie Links– http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6261/h

amlet.html

• Kenneth Branagh’s site at Warner Brothers– http://www.kenbranagh.com/main.htm