Gamlet 1963  N/R, 148 min.
Genre: Foreign / Drama
aka: Hamlet
Director: Grigori Kozintsev, Iosif Shapiro
Cast: Innokenti Smoktunovsky, Mikhail Nazvanov, Elze Radzinya, Yuri Tolubeyev, Anastasiya Vertinskaya, Vladimir Erenberg, Stepan Oleksenko, Vadim Medvedev, Igor Dmitriyev, A. Krevalid, Viktor Kolpakov, Ants Lauter
This Russian adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is filmed in black and white and takes the viewer back to the Middle Ages in the story of the introspective Prince Hamlet (Innokenti Smoktunovsky) whose father the king is murdered. Torment over his father's murder sets him out to avenge his father's death. In the process, Hamlet and all those he loves are destroyed.
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 Hamlet 2000 TV, 178 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Campbell Scott, Eric Simonson
Cast: Campbell Scott, Blair Brown, Roscoe Lee Browne, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Jamey Sheridan, Marcus Giamatti, John Benjamin Hickey, Michael Imperioli, Byron Jennings, Dan Moran, Denis O'Hare, Sam Robards, Roger Guenveur Smith, Bill Buell, David Debesse
This made-for-TV production of Shakespeare's tragedy of Hamlet (Campbell Scott) is based on co-director/star Campbell Scott's earlier theatrical production. It has been updated to late 19th century America and captures most of the bard's story about Hamlet's mother Gertrude (Blair Brown) marrying her brother-in-law Claudius (Jamey Sheridan) soon after Hamlet's father was murdered. His father's ghost (Byron Jennings) appears, tells Hamlet that Claudius killed him, and orders Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet fakes madness to avoid suspicion, and the murders and suicide begin–including those of Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius (Roscoe Lee Brown), and Polonius' daughter Ophelia (Lisa Gay Hamilton), and even Hamlet.
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 Hamlet 2000  R, 111 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance / Thriller
Director: Michael Almereyda
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, Sam Shepard, Diane Venora, Bill Murray, Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Karl Geary, Paula Malcomson, Steve Zahn, Dechen Thurman, Rome Neal, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Bartel, Casey Affleck
This Shakespeare classic is updated. The year is 2000 and set in hi-tech corporate America at the multinational conglomerate Denwick Corporation in Manhattan. Hamlet (Ethan Hawke) is struggling as a young filmmaker in New York City trying to gain control in his deceased father's company while also dealing with his mother Gertrude's (Diane Venora) marriage to her brother-in-law Claudius (Kyle MacLachlan). His father's Ghost (Sam Shepard) appears and wants Hamlet to be kind to Gertrude but to get revenge against Claudius who killed him. Once again, Shakespeare's drama proves timeless.
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Hamlet 1996   PG-13, 238 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance / Thriller
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Kate Winslet, Charlton Heston, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Gerard Depardieu, John Gielgud, Richard Briers, Nicholas Farrell, Michael Maloney, Brian Blessed, Judi Dench
"Hamlet," the melancholy Dane, is directed by and stars Kenneth Branagh in this–indeed unique–innovative presentation of Shakespeare's classic. Branagh uses Shakespeare's entire text to uncover the layers behind the Bard of Avon's words in his play about Hamlet (Branagh) seeking revenge for his father the king's murder. Julie Christie plays Gertrude, Hamlet's mother who marries her brother-in-law Claudius (Derek Jacobi) soon after her husband's murder. His father's ghost (Brian Blessed) appears and tells Hamlet to be kind to Gertrude but to kill Claudius who had murdered him. Now, insanity takes over resulting in homicide and suicide.
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 Hamlet 1990 PG, 135 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Cast: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Dillane, John McEnery, Vernon Dobtcheff, Pete Postlethwaite, Nathaniel Parker, Sean Murray, Michael Maloney, Trevor Peacock, Christien Anholt
Hamlet (Mel Gibson), the Prince of Denmark, finds his life changing after his father's murder. Soon after Hamlet's father dies, his mother, Queen Gertrude (Glenn Close) marries her brother-in-law Claudius (Alan Bates). When his father's ghost (Paul Schofield) appears, he tells Hamlet that it was Claudius who killed him and orders Hamlet to avenge his murder. Hamlet fakes madness to avoid suspicion, and the death toll rises. Victims include Claudius, Hamlet's friends and family, and even Hamlet. A very good remake of the Shakespeare classic.
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 Hamlet 1969 G, 119 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Tony Richardson
Cast: Nicol Williamson, Gordon Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, Judy Parfitt, Mark Dignam, Marianne Faithfull, Roger Livesey, Anjelica Huston, Michael Elphick, Ben Aris, Michael Pennington, Gordon Jackson, Clive Graham, Peter Gale, John J. Carney
Filmed as a play, this is another version of Shakespeare's play about the Danish prince, Hamlet (Nicol Williamson), whose father was killed. Soon after the king's murder, his widow Gertrude (Judy Parfitt) marries Claudius (Anthony Hopkins) who was the king's brother. The ghost of the king talks to Hamlet and tells him to be kind to Gertrude but to murder Claudius. To accomplish the goal and avoid suspicion, Hamlet fakes madness. His "madness" sets off a string of deaths–including those of Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet's chief counsel Polonius (Mark Dignam), and Polonius' daughter Ophelia (Marianne Faithfull) who had loved Hamlet, and Hamlet as well.
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 Hamlet 1964 N/R, 199 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Bill Colleran, John Gielgud
Cast: Richard Burton, Hume Cronyn, Alfred Drake, Barnard Hughes, Eileen Herlie, William Redfield, John Cullum, John Gielgud, Frederick Young, Michael Ebert, George Rose, George Voskovec, Hugh Alexander, Dillon Evans, Linda Marsh
This version of Shakespeare's play was filmed with a process that made the dark story even darker during a live performance on Broadway. Richard Burton excels in his role of Prince Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. Soon after Hamlet's father is killed, his mother, Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie), marries her brother-in-law Claudius (Alfred Drake). When the ghost of Hamlet's father returns, he tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered him and demands that Hamlet seek revenge. Hamlet fakes madness to avoid suspicion, and before it is over, not only Claudius, but Gertrude, Hamlet's chief counselor Polonius (Hume Cronyn) and Polonius' daughter Ophelia (Linda Marsh)–who loves Hamlet– and Hamlet all lie dead. John Gielgud directed the Broadway production (and was also the voice of the Ghost); Bill Colleran directed the filming, using 15 cameras to catch all of the action.
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Hamlet 1948   N/R, 153 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Laurence Olivier
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Basil Sydney, Eileen Herlie, Jean Simmons, Felix Aylmer, Norman Wooland, Terence Morgan, Peter Cushing, Stanley Holloway, John Laurie, Esmond Knight, Anthony Quayle, Niall MacGinnis, Harcourt Williams, Christopher Lee
This film represents Laurence Olivier at his best starring as the melancholy Dane, Prince Hamlet. Soon after his father's death, Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie), marries her brother-in-law Claudius (Basil Sydney). Now his father's ghost returns to speak to Hamlet and tells him that his own brother Claudius murdered him. He wants Hamlet to be kind to Gertrude but to kill Claudius. Hamlet vows to avenge his death and fakes madness to accomplish that goal. His acts lead to the end of several lives–including Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet's chief counselor Polonius (Felix Almer) and Polonius' daughter Ophelia (Jean Simmons) who loves Hamlet, and, finally, Hamlet. There was a well-deserved Best Actor Oscar presented to Olivier. The film also won Oscars for Best Picture, Art Direction/Set Decoration, and Costume Design. Olivier also received a nomination for Best Director, and Simmons was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
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|  | | Gamlet (1963) |
| | Hamlet (2000) |
| | Hamlet (2000) |
| | Hamlet (1996) |
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| Oscar: Best Actress for Darling (1965) |
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| Oscar: Best Actor for Ben-Hur (1959) |
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| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997) |
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| Oscars: Best Supporting Actor for Mister Roberts (1955), Best Actor for Save the Tiger (1973) |
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| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Arthur (1981) |
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| Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare in Love (1998) |
| | Hamlet (1990) |
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| Oscar: Best Director for Braveheart (1995) |
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| Oscar: Best Actor for A Man for All Seasons (1966) |
| | Hamlet (1969) |
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| Oscar: Best Director for Tom Jones (1963) |
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| Oscar: Best Actor for The Silence of the Lambs (1991) |
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| Oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Prizzi's Honor (1985) |
| | Hamlet (1964) |
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| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Arthur (1981) |
| | Hamlet (1948) |
| Oscars: Best Movie, Best Actor for Laurence Olivier |
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| Oscar: Best Actor for Hamlet (1948) |
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