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Hamlet
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Hamlet (1996) -- Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   17,218 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Kenneth Branagh
Writers:
William Shakespeare (play)
Kenneth Branagh (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Hamlet on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 December 1996 (USA) more
Plot:
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Rich handsome actor Jude Law, oh wah wah wah
 (From Monsters and Critics. 30 May 2009, 4:01 AM, PDT)

Disillusioned Jude Law
 (From Monsters and Critics. 30 May 2009, 4:01 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Brilliant version more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
William Shakespeare's Hamlet (USA) (complete title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violent images and sexuality.
Runtime:
242 min | 150 min (cut version)
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (35 mm prints) | SDDS (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Star/Director Kenneth Branagh first encountered the 'full length' version of the play while performing in the 1992 BBC Radio production of the play with co-stars Derek Jacobi and Richard Briers (who would reprise their roles as Claudius and Polonius respectively in the film). This radio performance anticipated the winter 1992 full text production of Hamlet by the Royal Shakespeare company - the one that would finally crystallize Branagh's interpretation of the character and lead to the film. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Ophelia blinks as she is being buried. more
Quotes:
Hamlet: If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, absent thee from felicity awhile and in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain to tell my story. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "HBO First Look: Hamlet (#3.9)" (1996) more
Soundtrack:
In Pace more

FAQ

Why Hamlet treat his mother and Ophelia badly?
Did Hamlet really love Ophelia?
Is it true that Hamlet fake his madness?
more
49 out of 57 people found the following comment useful:-
Brilliant version, 5 February 2005
10/10
Author: tbone_4ever

I must say that, looking at Hamlet from the perspective of a student, Brannagh's version of Hamlet is by far the best. His dedication to stay true to the original text should be applauded. It helps the play come to life on screen, and makes it easier for people holding the text while watching, as we did while studying it, to follow and analyze the text.

One of the things I have heard criticized many times is the casting of major Hollywood names in the play. I find that this helps viewers recognize the characters easier, as opposed to having actors that all look and sound the same that aid in the confusion normally associated with Shakespeare.

Also, his flashbacks help to clear up many ambiguities in the text. Such as how far the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia really went and why Fortinbras just happened to be at the castle at the end. All in all, not only does this version contain some brilliant performances by actors both familiar and not familiar with Shakespeare. It is presented in a way that one does not have to be an English Literature Ph.D to understand and enjoy it.

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Message Boards

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Ophelia's 'song' ashes_to_autumn
Reading or Watching MrEric87
'To Be Or Not To Be' Luanna255
I Can't Find This Movie Anywhere! MrEric87
Derek Jacobi sankoff
prostitute? SilverDrake11
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