- Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Criterion
- DVD Release Date: 19 Sep 2000
- Run Time: 153 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 0780021312
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 132,769 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
In the opening scene of Hamlet, Laurence Olivier describes the play in a voice-over as "the tragedy of a man who couldn't make up his mind". But Olivier's screen adaptation is considerably more thoughtful and complex than this thesis would suggest. The contradictions and ambiguities of the title character, who prowls cavernous sets filled with vast, ancient corridors and winding staircases, emerge as if from a dream. The plethora of tracking shots--precise enough to impress Stanley Kubrick--encircle Olivier and his tightly constructed geometry of demise. Drawing on his experience playing the Prince on stage at Elsinore in 1937, the legendary thesp provides the film with the patina of greatness and shows how the constitution of the formerly cheerful Prince weakens increasingly under the burden of his own thoughts and inability to accept his mother's o'er-hasty marriage to uncle Claudius (Basil Sydney). Indeed, if emotions could possess ghosts, Olivier's Hamlet shows how they would manifest themselves. There is even a dollop of Freud, suggesting that Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie) has perhaps loved her offspring too closely--thus providing the fuel for Hamlet's actions. As Ophelia, Jeans Simmons captures the character's early spirit better than her gradual disintegration (Helena Bonham Carter fares better in Franco Zeffirelli's fine 1990 remake). Purists may bemoan the loss of Fortinbras, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, but these choices allow Olivier to focus more squarely on Hamlet's plight. His monologues, many held in secret enclaves, glow with the dramatic markedness of a Dostoevski novel, with all of the master's irony, allusions and witticisms in place. The winner of four Oscars (Best Picture, Actor, Art Direction, and Costumes), this is a Hamlet for the ages. The rest is silence. --Kevin Mulhall
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This was the first film I was taken to see, at the age of 5. I loved it then, and love it now.
Filmed in Denmark, it's a stylish work of art. The sets and cinematography are fabulous, and it boasts a superb score by Sir William Walton.
Filmed in Denmark, it's a stylish work of art. The sets and cinematography are fabulous, and it boasts a superb score by Sir William Walton.
The magnificent Olivier gives us the most poetic and melancholy Hamlet on film...the way he uses his eyes in this performance is extraordinary, and very moving. Jean Simmons is a delicate and beautiful Ophelia, I like Eileen Hurlie's Gertrude, and Norman Woodland's graceful Horatio is outstanding.
Though the Zeffirelli/Gibson version is my favourite, and Branagh's ever so long uncut version stunning, this one shouldn't be missed...it's the classic of classics...riveting even for a child of 5 !
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Olivier's film of Hamlet is not perfect, but it is unlikely to be excelled. No present-day director, of sufficient intellect or skill to match it, would want to try; and there is no living English-speaking actor with the physical presence, voice or mastery of Shakespeare's language to fill the role. Any apparently negative judgements here are made in the context of a standard so far unequalled. There is no point in discussing Olivier's cuts or re-arrangements of the text; his film is an entertainment, not an academic exercise, and anyone who is not a moron will be handsomely entertained. The pace is somewhat sedate, until the cathartic final bloodbath, but the ghost is gripping and effective enough from the start to engage the viewer with the action. There is a strongly Victorian, neo-Gothic feel to the magnificent staging and rich costumes, reinforced by deliberate emulation of Millais' 1852 painting of the drowning Ophelia. The costumes benefit from the black and white photography, avoiding the technicolour garishness which obtrudes in Olivier's later Richard III. Modern viewers may think Hamlet should show a rather more feverish and agitated distraction, but this is not a serious fault. What, then, are the major flaws? First, the introduction ("this is the tragedy of a man who could not make up his mind"), which is completely unnecessary, off-putting, and almost silly. It should be removed. Second, although the acting of the supporting players (especially Eileen Herlie, and including Jean Simmons, whose touchingly fragile Ophelia has sometimes been disparaged) is generally excellent, Terence Morgan as Laertes is weak and mechanical, particularly in the early scenes. He cuts a spirited figure in the duel, but is otherwise unconvincing. Perhaps his woodenness is partly intentional, since he is suspected of being but "the painting of a sorrow, a face without a heart". Occasionally there is a sense that one or two other actors are also merely reciting the lines, without living them. The third, and most surprising failing, however, is in Olivier's delivery of "to be or not to be", the most famous soliloquy in English literature. This speech is a distillation of Hamlet's three preoccupations: the riddle of life and death, the legitimacy of revenge, and his perplexed sense of sexual frustration and disgust, which underpins the entire play. By treating the passage exclusively as a meditation on suicide, Olivier misses the opportunity of consolidating his fully justified Freudian interpretation of the drama, and virtually throws it away, symbolically dropping his bodkin into the troubled sea. But in spite of these criticisms I can't see any other actor/director bringing a fraction of the concentrated intelligence and stagecraft displayed in this production to the modern screen.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After seeing a ghost of his father King Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Hamlet (Olivier) goes into madness as he learns the truth of his father's death.
Based on William Shakespeare's tragedy, Laurence Olivier's (Sleuth) picture depicts the play expertly, filled with brilliant performances, direction and a chilling climax.
Olivier directs and stars for this picture, and was the first person to direct themselves towards an Oscar, a remarkable achievement in the Englishman's career, and described as one of his finest onscreen performances of all time.
Though Olivier looks slightly old to play the role of the young Prince, there is no question about his performance as he gets it absolutely spot on, with very dramatic motives, using the text to his knowledge, especially the use of prose and blank verse and to direct himself in such a drastic dynamic way whilst delivering this remarkable performance will never be praised enough.
His long and slow direction helps achieve the delicacy of the character, and of the dramatic turn of events in Denmark, and though Olivier shines throughout, the whole concept of madness and the play is the ultimate star of the show.
Shakespeare's controversial tragedy is brilliantly adapted and contains very strong drama, filled with strong ideologies of loyalty, truth and betrayal, but particularly madness.
When Hamlet hears of his Uncle's actions, we see the Prince act very strangely and are immediately guessing what is going through his mind, which we soon find out through the use of soliloquies, where we see the deepest desires and thoughts inside Hamlet's heart. All the famous quotes including "To be or not to be" and "The play's the thing" are the key moments and stand out come the end of the film, which takes a while to come.
Olivier gets every element in apart from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, which he received criticism for. Though brilliant, this is an exceptionally long and drawn out film, which may test your patience.
There are a few lapses but ultimately this is one of Shakespeare's finest adaptations and helped me a lot when studying for my English A level. Finely acted and superbly directed, Olivier has created a landmark in the drama genre and is one of the finest adaptations of all time.
8.5/10
Based on William Shakespeare's tragedy, Laurence Olivier's (Sleuth) picture depicts the play expertly, filled with brilliant performances, direction and a chilling climax.
Olivier directs and stars for this picture, and was the first person to direct themselves towards an Oscar, a remarkable achievement in the Englishman's career, and described as one of his finest onscreen performances of all time.
Though Olivier looks slightly old to play the role of the young Prince, there is no question about his performance as he gets it absolutely spot on, with very dramatic motives, using the text to his knowledge, especially the use of prose and blank verse and to direct himself in such a drastic dynamic way whilst delivering this remarkable performance will never be praised enough.
His long and slow direction helps achieve the delicacy of the character, and of the dramatic turn of events in Denmark, and though Olivier shines throughout, the whole concept of madness and the play is the ultimate star of the show.
Shakespeare's controversial tragedy is brilliantly adapted and contains very strong drama, filled with strong ideologies of loyalty, truth and betrayal, but particularly madness.
When Hamlet hears of his Uncle's actions, we see the Prince act very strangely and are immediately guessing what is going through his mind, which we soon find out through the use of soliloquies, where we see the deepest desires and thoughts inside Hamlet's heart. All the famous quotes including "To be or not to be" and "The play's the thing" are the key moments and stand out come the end of the film, which takes a while to come.
Olivier gets every element in apart from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, which he received criticism for. Though brilliant, this is an exceptionally long and drawn out film, which may test your patience.
There are a few lapses but ultimately this is one of Shakespeare's finest adaptations and helped me a lot when studying for my English A level. Finely acted and superbly directed, Olivier has created a landmark in the drama genre and is one of the finest adaptations of all time.
8.5/10
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Film review
Arrived within a couple of days. Quality of packing and boxing first class. Film was exactly what I wanted for my son's A Level revision
Published 1 month ago by John
Hamlet
Once you got used to the old fashioned English it was a really captivating film. Hamlet comes over initially as a highly principled character. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Gary M. Stocker
A must-have-seen film
I saw this adoption of Hamlet a few years ago with subtitles on German TV and was already fascinated at that time.
I'm no Shakespeare expert. Read more
I'm no Shakespeare expert. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Anonymus
Not matching either Derek Jacobi or Kenneth Brannagh!
I agree with Susan Cairns. I was not impressed by Olivier's effort nor indeed by the production in general. Read more
Published on 21 April 2009 by Terentius
NO EXPRESSION
HAVE NONE OF YOU SEEN THE KENNETH BRANAGH HAMLET? Laurence Olivier delivers his lines with little or no expression, varying only between monotonous, feelingless prose and loud... Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2008 by Mrs. Susan Cairns
Laurence Olivier
This is probably Laurence at his best. He struggled with Othello, very obviously a white actor trying to play a black man. His Lear was better, but not as good as Michael Horden's. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2008 by John F. Doherty
A tragedy about a man who couldn't make up his mind
Having just finished reading the play,I was keen to view this classic 1948 film of "Hamlet" which stars Laurence Olivier as the tragic Danish prince. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2007 by L. Davidson
A Great Movie...Exciting, Tragic, Engrossing...But Most Of All,...
I'm no more competent to discuss Hamlet as literature than I am to ride a horse. So let's talk about it as a story and as a movie. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by C. O. DeRiemer
Good - but more about Olivier's ego than Hamlet's
Although I think this is an excellent version of Hamlet, Olivier's performance as the eponymous character is a tour de force, and the period setting and authentic Danish location... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2006 by Andrew Page
Good - but more about Olivier's ego than Hamlet's
Although I think this is an excellent version of Hamlet, and Olivier's performance as the eponymous character is a tour de force, there is a gripe I'd like to share. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2006
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