The famous plays within the play are given their own filmic treatment. For example, it dramatizes flashbacks exploring the past of characters in a way that stage presentations could not. The medium of film is used to make this Hamlet larger even than the Shakespearean play. The supporting players are a mix of classical veterans (John Gieldgud who had been a famous stage Hamlet himself, Derek Jacobi at last playing his age as Claudius, and Judi Dench), young movie stars (Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Bill Crystal as a gravedigger, and Robin Williams as Osric), and aging movie stars (Gérard Depardieu, Julie Christie as Gertrude, Charlton Heston, and Jack Lemmon).Īll the actors-even the comedians with little classical experience-do some of their best work in bringing to life and giving emotional depths to their characters. Trailer for Kenneth Branagh's sumptous, reimagined Hamlet of 1996. A real palace in England is used for interior scenes but it's dressed up with sparkling bright decor to match the colourful costumes of the cast-a startling and welcome contrast with the dour atmosphere of just about every other production of Hamlet you've ever seen. This production is also called William Shakespeare's Hamlet, though Branagh brings the time period up to the Victorian era.

Too bad for them, as this Hamlet is fresh Which still seemed like too much Shakespeare for many viewers. He also produced a two-and-a-half-hour version, The accomplished stage and film actor Kenneth Branagh both directed and starred in the four-hour film, which includes every line Shakespeare wrote for Hamlet. It performed modestly at the box office, however, perhaps due to its length. The version that many have acclaimed the best yet, a match for Olivier's 1948 production. Hamlet (1996): Also called William Shakespeare's Hamlet director Kenneth Branagh featuring Branagh, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Derek Jacobi, Gérard Depardieu Julie Christie as the queen and Derek Jacobi as the king try to reason with Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet.

Hamlet 1996 full movie dailymotion