Hamlet

Using Film
There a number of films of Hamlet available, from a black and white version set in medieval Denmark to one set in present-day New York including;

Hamlet directed by Laurence Olivier (1948) UK 153 minutes, in which Laurence Olivier played Hamlet.

Hamlet directed by Grigori Kozintsev (1964) USSR 140 minutes, in which Innokenti Smoktunovsky played Hamlet.

Hamlet directed by Tony Richardson (1969) UK 117 minutes, with Nicol Williamson played Hamlet.

Hamlet directed by Rodney Bennett (1980) BBC 225 minutes, with Derek Jacobi as Hamlet.

Hamlet directed by Franco Zeffirelli (1990) US 135 minutes. Hamlet was played by Mel Gibson.

Hamlet directed by Kenneth Branagh (1996) UK/US 243 minutes. Hamlet was played by Kenneth Branagh.

Hamlet directed by Michael Almereyda (2000) US 111 minutes, with Ethan Hawkes as Hamlet

You could ask students to compare a number of scenes in the different film versions, for example:

The opening court scene (Act 1 scene 2)

The closet scene (Act 3 scene 4)

Ophelia's mad scene (Act 4 scene 5)

Ophelia's funeral (Act 5 scene 1)

The final sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes (Act 5 scene 2)

Each version offers interesting discussion points about the vast array of options open to directors as they interpret texts and proves that there are more ways than one to tell a story. If you are bringing students to see the current production, you can use these exercises either before seeing the show, asking students to anticipate how the Ghost might be portrayed on stage or afterwards to compare ways directors, designers and actors have realised the Ghost in the different media of film, television and theatre.

Try this:
Cue up 3 or 4 film versions of the second entrance of the Ghost from Act 1 scene 4 around line 35. The following versions offer particularly useful contrasts since no two Ghosts are exactly alike:

The Olivier version (1948)

Tony Richardson's production (1969) with Nicol Williamson

Kenneth Branagh (1996)

Michael Almereyda's modern Hamlet (2000) with Ethan Hawkes set in Manhattan

Divide the class in half;

Ask one half to pay particular attention to 'sound' (Music, sound effects, voices etc).

Ask the other group to make note of 'visual effects' (lighting, camera shots, use of flashback, costumes, sets etc.). Print off and distribute the following questions. Students will also need to be able to see a copy of the play.

Click here to load the questions.

Exercise
Imagine you are making a film version of Hamlet. In two columns, list points for and against setting it

1. in period costume
2. in modern dress

Make a list of problem areas in the play if setting a film/stage version in modern dress, e.g. what happens regarding

the castle

the mousetrap

the duel

the arras

the Ghost?

If you haven't seen the version set in present day New York, in which Ethan Hawkes plays Hamlet, you might like to see it and discuss what does and what does not work when you set a 400 year old play in a modern context without updating the language.

EnterText: Hamlet on Film
This site uses multimedia technology and academic criticism to discuss Hamlet on film. Features critical essays by leading scholars and film clips

BBC Education: The Filming of Hamlet
Site about the filming of Branagh's Hamlet. Features interviews with Branagh, production crew and cast members as well as a discussion of textual interpretation by text adviser Russell Jackson

Bardolatry
An interesting website from Debra Murphy which looks at the BBC version (1980) in which Derek Jacobi played Hamlet:

There is also Daniel Rosenthal's excellent and well-illustrated book Shakespeare on Screen (Hamlyn 2000).


			There a number of films of Hamlet available, from a black and white version set in medieval Denmark to one set in present-day New York including; Hamlet directed by Laurence Olivier (1948) UK 153 minutes, in which Laurence Olivier played Hamlet. Hamlet directed by Grigori Kozintsev (1964) USSR 140 minutes, in which Innokenti Smoktunovsky played Hamlet. Hamlet directed by Tony Richardson (1969) UK 117 minutes, with Nicol Williamson played Hamlet. Hamlet directed by Rodney Bennett (1980) BBC 225 minutes, with Derek Jacobi as Hamlet. Hamlet directed by Franco Zeffirelli (1990) US 135 minutes. Hamlet was played by Mel Gibson. Hamlet directed by Kenneth Branagh (1996) UK/US 243 minutes. Hamlet was played by Kenneth Branagh. Hamlet directed by Michael Almereyda (2000) US 111 minutes, with Ethan Hawkes as Hamlet You could ask students to compare a number of scenes in the different film versions, for example: The opening court scene (Act 1 scene 2) The closet scene (Act 3 scene 4) Ophelia's mad scene (Act 4 scene 5) Ophelia's funeral (Act 5 scene 1) The final sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes (Act 5 scene 2) Each version offers interesting discussion points about the vast array of options open to directors as they interpret texts and proves that there are more ways than one to tell a story. If you are bringing students to see the current production, you can use these exercises either before seeing the show, asking students to anticipate how the Ghost might be portrayed on stage or afterwards to compare ways directors, designers and actors have realised the Ghost in the different media of film, television and theatre. Cue up 3 or 4 film versions of the second entrance of the Ghost from Act 1 scene 4 around line 35. The following versions offer particularly useful contrasts since no two Ghosts are exactly alike: The Olivier version (1948) Tony Richardson's production (1969) with Nicol Williamson Kenneth Branagh (1996) Michael Almereyda's modern Hamlet (2000) with Ethan Hawkes set in Manhattan Divide the class in half; Ask one half to pay particular attention to 'sound' (Music, sound effects, voices etc). Ask the other group to make note of 'visual effects' (lighting, camera shots, use of flashback, costumes, sets etc.). Print off and distribute the following questions. Students will also need to be able to see a copy of the play. Click here to load the questions. Imagine you are making a film version of Hamlet. In two columns, list points for and against setting it 1. in period costume 2. in modern dress Make a list of problem areas in the play if setting a film/stage version in modern dress, e.g. what happens regarding the castle the mousetrap the duel the arras the Ghost? If you haven't seen the version set in present day New York, in which Ethan Hawkes plays Hamlet, you might like to see it and discuss what does and what does not work when you set a 400 year old play in a modern context without updating the language. EnterText: Hamlet on Film This site uses multimedia technology and academic criticism to discuss Hamlet on film. Features critical essays by leading scholars and film clips BBC Education: The Filming of Hamlet Site about the filming of Branagh's Hamlet. Features interviews with Branagh, production crew and cast members as well as a discussion of textual interpretation by text adviser Russell Jackson Bardolatry An interesting website from Debra Murphy which looks at the BBC version (1980) in which Derek Jacobi played Hamlet: There is also Daniel Rosenthal's excellent and well-illustrated book Shakespeare on Screen (Hamlyn 2000).