Hamlet

Starring: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Basil Sidney, et al.

Product Description

Shakespeare's melancholy Danish prince avenges his father's murder. Directed by Olivier. Oscars for best picture, best actor for Olivier.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 037429128428
• Release Date: September 2000
• Rating: Unrated (Not Rated)
• Publisher: Criterion Collection
• Director: Laurence Olivier
• Starring: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Basil Sidney, Eileen Herlie, Felix Aylmer, Stanley Holloway, Peter Cushing
• Runtime: 2 hours, 33 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: multiple_formats
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Tradition has its merit.

Just as when you think about the Ten Commandments, you think of Charlton Heston as Moses in "The Ten Commandments" (1956). Everyone knows that Hamlet looks like Laurence Olivier. People concentrate on Olivier and may miss the great camerawork and atmosphere in which he works. There are longer and flashier versions out now, many quite good; however, this is the one that will always come to mind. I will not attempt to interpret the meaning behind the story; however, most of the acting and all of the words are quite clear. If you are afraid of misinterpreting the play, take a course on it. Otherwise, this will stand on its merit, and you will be fascinated. It is a tad irritating not to have the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern dialogue. Just a quickie synopsis, Hamlet’s father, the king of Denmark, is dead, and his uncle marries his mother. His father’s ghost returns to say his uncle dispatched his father on purpose (murder most foul), while he seeks revenge, he is also distraught with indecision. How young Hamlet acts with friends and relatives to conduct his plans is the play. Naturally, the word Criterion should alert you to the quality of this version.