Hamlet (I) (1964)

The highly successful 1964 Richard Burton Broadway production of "Hamlet", deliberately staged in the style of a "dress rehearsal", but performed in front of a live audience.

Directors:

Bill Colleran, John Gielgud

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Richard Burton, Hume Cronyn, Alfred Drake

Cast

Credited cast:
Richard Burton	...	Hamlet
Hume Cronyn	...	Polonius
Alfred Drake	...	Claudius
Eileen Herlie	...	Gertrude
William Redfield	...	Guildenstern
George Rose	...	First Gravedigger
George Voskovec	...	Player King
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hugh Alexander	...	Cornelius / Second Gravedigger / English Ambassador
Philip Coolidge	...	Voltimand
Christopher Culkin	...	Player Queen
John Cullum	...	Laertes
Michael Ebert	...	Francisco / Fortinbras
Dillon Evans	...	Reynaldo / Osric / Fortinbras's Captain
Clement Fowler	...	Rosencrantz
Geoff Garland	...	Lucianus

Storyline

Sir John Gielgud directed this "Electronovision" taping of the play "Hamlet" performed at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on Broadway in 1964 ("Electronovision" was a short-lived gimmick which was basically closed-circuit TV). The most unusual thing about this film is that the actors are in street clothes instead of period costumes, and the sets are minimal, to say the least.

---

Plot Keywords:

royalty | shakespeare's hamlet | ghost | theatre | resentment toward stepfather | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Richard Burton's Hamlet

Filming Locations:

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - 205 West 46th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Theatrofilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

191 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

By the time this film was made, Frederick Young had replaced Robert Burr in the role of Bernardo.

---

Connections

Version of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1997)

User Reviews

Gielgud adds soul to "Hamlet Production.

For many years I have tried to find a copy of this film. Having been familiar with the audio recording made with the Broadway cast I always wanted to see them in action. Along comes DVD and my prayers are answered. This stage version of "Hamlet' directed by the legendary Sir John Gielgud is well worth the wait. He sets the play as if we were watching a final run through before costumes and final props are added which really brings the play's themes to the front and center. Richard Burton manages well as Hamlet,however there are times (as this is a live performace that he does not quite seem "in the moment". his vocal inflections and movements ar all technically perfect,but what seems to be lacking is what is strong in the rest of the production...soul. The finest performance in the production is Hume Cronyn as Polonius.he fleshes out a role that could easily be played as(and has been) a stock character. Cronyn's Polonius is a shrewd politician whose age sometimes gets in the way of his reasoning. Also sharpe is Alfred Drake as Claudius. A fine stage actor,This is a rare opportunity to see him in his full glory. Other fine performances are turned in by George Rose as The Grave Digger, Eileen Herlie as Gertrude and a young John Cullum as a passionate Laertes. on the down side is Linda Marsh's Ophelia.Although she seems in character she does not have a strong command of the language. The sets and rehearsal clothes costumes add to the feel of the piece.

Overall this is a piece of theatre history to be cherished.