Gamlet (Hamlet) (1964)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
93% of users liked it
(324 ratings)

At least the 22nd time William Shakespeare's most famous tragedy has been brought to the screen, Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of Hamlet was the first to preserve Shakespeare's entire text, uncut and unabridged. Moving the action into the 19th century, Branagh cast himself in the title role and,… More At least the 22nd time William Shakespeare's most famous tragedy has been brought to the screen, Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of Hamlet was the first to preserve Shakespeare's entire text, uncut and unabridged. Moving the action into the 19th century, Branagh cast himself in the title role and, as in his adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, assembled an eclectic group of actors that mixed veteran Shakespearean performers (including John Mills, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, and Derek Jacobi) with Hollywood stars not known for interpreting the Bard's work (among them Robin Williams, Charlton Heston, Billy Crystal, and Jack Lemmon). However, unlike most interpretations, it's the women who really carry the show, with the two best performances delivered by Kate Winslet as Ophelia and Julie Christie as Gertrude. As usual, Hamlet finds himself torn over what to do after the death of his father and his mother's hasty remarriage. Branagh's version of Hamlet was also notable on a technical level, as it was filmed in the 70-mm format for increased visual clarity and detail. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 4 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: Grigori Kozintsev
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 24, 1964 Wide
On DVD: Oct 31, 2006
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the better versions of Hamlet.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Kozintsev's film is probably the most cohesive of the five [Hamlets].
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit
Striking Soviet imagery will send chills down your spine
Doug Cummings, Filmjourney
Kozintsev emphasizes the imprisoning moral architecture of Elsinore, not by obvious claustrophobic visuals, but by a rich, widescreen frame and purist, black-and-white imagery...
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Elsinore's prince, via the great Soviet director Grigory Kozintsev. A devastating, extraordinary achievement.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Janice :

Perhaps the best and most captivating on-screen adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Kenneth Branagh's performance blew me away!

Cast

            Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet

            Richard Attenborough as English Ambassador

            Brian Blessed as The Ghost

            Julie Christie as Gertrude

            Derek Jacobi as Claudius

            Kate Winslet as Ophelia

            Richard Briers as Polonius

            Billy Crystal as First Gravedigger

            Judi Dench as Hecuba

            Gérard Depardieu as Reynaldo

            Reece Dinsdale as Guildenstern

            Nicholas Farrell as Horatio

            John Gielgud as Priam

            Rosemary Harris as Player Queen

            Charlton Heston as Player King

            Jack Lemmon as Marcellus

            John Mills as Old Norway

            Simon Russell Beale as Second Gravedigger

            Rufus Sewell as Fortinbras

            Timothy Spall as Rosencrantz

            Robin Williams as Osric

            Michael Bryant as Priest

            Angela Douglas as Attendant to Gertrude

            Rowena King as Attendant to Gertrude/Messenger

            Sarah Lam as Attendant to Gertrude

            Michael Maloney as Laertes

            Ian McElhinney as Barnardo

            Don Warrington as Valtemand

            David Yip as Sailor One

            Jimmy Yuill as Alexander

            Andrew Schofield as Young Lord

            Ken Dodd as Yorich

            Ray Fearon as Francisco

            Ravil Isyanov as Cornelius

            David Blair as Attendant to Claudius/Servant

            Innokenty Smoktunovsky as Hamlet

            Mikhail Nazvanov as King

            Elza Radzina as Queen

            Yuri Tolubeyev as Polonius

            Anastasia Vertinskaya as Ophelia

            Vadim Medvedev as Guildenstern

            Vladimir Erenberg as Horatio

            Stepan Oleksenko as Laertes

            Dmitriev Igor
            
            Grigoriy Gay
            
            Reyno Aren
            
            Viktor Kolpakov as Gravedigger
See full cast