Theres Laurence Oliviers 1948 version, in good old-fashioned black and white. So it should be no surprise that if youre on the lookout for silver screen adaptations, youve got about a zillion to choose from. Other Adaptations Shmoopers, its Hamlet arguably the most important play, you know, ever. In fact, he respects the play so much that he doesnt change a single word. He also cast Kate Winslet as Ophelia, who wasnt a huge star then but became one a year later with Titanic way to predict the future, Ken.) Add that to a youd better pack a lunch running time and you get a Hamlet thats been supersized and modernized for an audience that likes all things big and bold.īranaghs Hamlet wants to show us how important the play is by making it as huge as possible, while still keeping the faith with the original text. These are small roles that big shots like them normally never play, but it adds a bit of gravitas and whimsy to the whole project.
Thats why you see people like Billy Crystal as the Gravedigger or Robin Williams as Osric. Whats Up to Date Branagh likes casting big stars in his movies, to help the audience better identify with the text. Just take a look at the ghost, played by noted Very Large Man Brian Blessed.Įvery time he speaks, the ground shakes, and his voice promises unholy damnation to anyone who hears it. Those jeweled Faberge Easter eggs Those were Nicholass.) Everything here is big and bold: the palace, the parties, even the train that brings Rosencrantz and Guildenstern acalling. Just sayin.) Only Hamlet wears black, serving the role of the honest man in the room to remind everyone of the way things really are. So we (here in the audience) focus on all the prettiness of the surfaces themselves and slowly become aware of whats really going down.įor example, the main hallway is decorated with mirrors that lead to hidden rooms, and the sets have all sorts of filigrees and sculpted edges that stress their appearance.ĭressing screen, anyone This version stands out from the rest because its not all gloom and doom.Įverything is bright here: people wear colorful outfits, confetti falls from the ceiling, and the party never ends.Ĭonsidering that the old king just died and Fortinbras is marching on the palace, thats probably a mistake. In his mind, the courts corruption has been papered over with pretty pictures, and people are doing their best to ignore it. No, Branaghlike every other fancypants person on the planethas an opinion about this play, and it definitely comes through in his adaptation.īranagh seems to stress the hidden secrets and other goodies lurking just below the surface. He keeps every dost thou and pray forsooth right where it should be. So howd he do Whats the Same This bad boy presents the whole text unabridged. When he set out to deliver a whole new Hamlet, he promised to deliver the end-all-be-all, throw-out-your-other-versions take on Shakespeares beloved play. Then 1969 rolled around and Tony Richardson tried his hand at a version that played up all the nasty head games in a major way. The Hollywood Reporter says Branagh has boldly invigorated William Shakespeares most celebrated play to a towering visual dimension that captures the tumultuous tragedy as no stage or filmic version has.
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