{"id":80243,"date":"2022-01-13T00:40:33","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T07:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80243"},"modified":"2022-01-16T11:26:13","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T18:26:13","slug":"hamlet-1948","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80243","title":{"rendered":"Hamlet (1948)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster-679x1024.png 679w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Poster.png 719w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen Prince Hamlet of Denmark (Laurence Olivier) returns home to Elsinore, he is distressed to learn that his recently widowed mother (Eileen Herlie) has married his father&#8217;s brother (Basil Sydney), and becomes even more agitated when his dead father&#8217;s ghost appears and explains how he was murdered by Sydney. Lashing out in grief and anger, Hamlet feigns to be mad, and spurns his would-be lover, Ophelia (Jean Simmons), whose father Polonius (Felix Aylmer) and brother Laertes (Terence Morgan) are understandably upset by this turn in events.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anthony Quayle Films<\/li>\n<li>Grown Children<\/li>\n<li>Jean Simmons Films<\/li>\n<li>Laurence Olivier Films<\/li>\n<li>Peter Cushing Films<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Shakespeare<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary doesn&#8217;t discuss Laurence Olivier&#8217;s Oscar-winning adaptation of Shakespeare&#8217;s play of the same name in his <em>GFTFF<\/em>, but he does comment on it in his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, where he writes: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;What true movie fan wouldn&#8217;t prefer watching John Huston&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=57022\"><em>The Treasure of the Sierra Madre<\/em><\/a> for the hundredth time to squirming through [this film]? But prestige-minded Academy members were blinded by the imposing specter of Shakespeare, Olivier, and a British cast that dressed in royal garb and didn&#8217;t trip over difficult lines.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He concedes, &#8220;<em>Hamlet<\/em> isn&#8217;t without merits, of course &#8212; not with Olivier himself in the lead.&#8221; But he argues that &#8220;Olivier&#8217;s direction isn&#8217;t imaginative, he pretty much ignores the other actors, his visuals have little thematic relevance (it isn&#8217;t enough just to move the camera), and much of the production looks no better than a kinescope of some fifties American television drama.&#8221; Ouch! I disagree with each of these points. Olivier&#8217;s direction and visuals (aided by DP Desmond Dickinson) are highly atmospheric and innovative throughout: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing-1024x755.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"472\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing-1024x755.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing-768x566.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Swearing.png 1277w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the supporting actors all do a fine job: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4-1024x738.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"461\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4-1024x738.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4-374x270.png 374w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Simmons4.png 1283w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Numerous scenes are quite haunting, including Hamlet seeing his father&#8217;s ghost: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog-1024x739.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"462\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog-1024x739.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog-374x270.png 374w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Ghost-Fog.png 1277w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the discovery of the jester Yorick&#8217;s skull: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull-1024x744.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"465\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull-1024x744.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull-768x558.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull-372x270.png 372w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Grave-Skull.png 1273w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>(Complaints have been made over Olivier casting a woman 11 years younger than him as his mother in the film, but this age difference isn&#8217;t all that noticeable; we simply believe Queen Gertrude was a young-ish mother, and Hamlet may have aged a bit prematurely due to stress.) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son-1024x754.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"471\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son-1024x754.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son-768x566.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son-367x270.png 367w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Mother-Son.png 1267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary further asserts that &#8220;until Hamlet&#8217;s swordfight with Laertes:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight-1024x744.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"465\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight-1024x744.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight-768x558.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight-372x270.png 372w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Sword-Fight.png 1281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the picture drags,&#8221; and he notes that while &#8220;Olivier deleted almost two hours from the play,&#8221; &#8220;it still seems too long.&#8221; I&#8217;ll agree the film feels long at points, but it&#8217;s hard to determine how Olivier could have made too many more cuts given how much flack he already received over removing the supporting characters of Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Fortinbras, as well as a couple of key soliloquies. We see just enough here to get the strong gist of the tragic storyline, and are treated to the cast&#8217;s expressive handling of the dialogue throughout. <\/p>\n<p>Finally, Peary argues this film &#8220;doesn&#8217;t equal either [Olivier&#8217;s] earlier <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79890\"><em>Henry V<\/em><\/a> or his later <em>Richard III<\/em>.&#8221; I haven&#8217;t seen <em>Richard III<\/em> recently enough to comment, but I prefer this over <em>Henry V<\/em>, which is visually innovative but lack&#8217;s <em>Hamlet&#8217;s<\/em> narrative depth and inherent interest. This adaptation remains well worth a look.   <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Laurence Olivier as Hamlet<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword-1024x748.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword-1024x748.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword-768x561.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Olivier-Sword.png 1271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Highly atmospheric cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying-1024x738.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"461\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying-1024x738.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying-374x270.png 374w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Dying.png 1283w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Hamlet-Kettle-to-the-Trumpets.png 1271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a still-powerful, Oscar-winning adaptation. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0040416\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/28119\/hamlet#articles-reviews?articleId=111398\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.criterion.com\/current\/posts\/85-hamlet\">Criterion Essay<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.&#8221; Synopsis: When Prince Hamlet of Denmark (Laurence Olivier) returns home to Elsinore, he is distressed to learn that his recently widowed mother (Eileen Herlie) has married his father&#8217;s brother (Basil Sydney), and becomes even more agitated when his dead father&#8217;s ghost appears and explains how he was murdered by Sydney. Lashing out in grief and anger, Hamlet feigns to be mad, and spurns his&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80243\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80243"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80367,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80243\/revisions\/80367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}