IMDb > Hamlet (1990)
Hamlet
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Hamlet (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   13,167 votes »
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Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Franco Zeffirelli
Writers (WGA):
William Shakespeare (play)
Christopher De Vore (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Hamlet on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 January 1991 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Romance See more »
Tagline:
The extraordinary adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tale of vengeance and tragedy.
Plot:
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and plans revenge. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
James McAvoy and Emily Blunt Lend Voices to 'Gnomeo and Juliet'
 (From Get The Big Picture. 19 August 2008, 11:53 PM, PDT)
Actor Paul Scofield Dies at 86
 (From IMDb News. 20 March 2008)
Actor Alan Bates Dies at 69
 (From IMDb News. 28 December 2003)
User Reviews:
Hamlet See more (87 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Mel Gibson ... Hamlet

Glenn Close ... Gertrude

Alan Bates ... Claudius

Paul Scofield ... The Ghost

Ian Holm ... Polonius

Helena Bonham Carter ... Ophelia

Stephen Dillane ... Horatio

Nathaniel Parker ... Laertes
Sean Murray ... Guildenstern

Michael Maloney ... Rosencrantz

Trevor Peacock ... The Gravedigger

John McEnery ... Osric
Richard Warwick ... Bernardo
Christien Anholt ... Marcellus
Dave Duffy ... Francisco

Vernon Dobtcheff ... Reynaldo

Pete Postlethwaite ... Player King

Christopher Fairbank ... Player Queen
Sarah Phillips ... The Players
Ned Mendez ... The Players
Roy York ... The Players
Marjorie Bell ... The Players
Justin Case ... The Players
Roger Low ... Lucianus (in "The Murder of Gonzago")
Pamela Sinclair ... The Players
Baby Simon Sinclair ... The Players
Roy Evans ... The Players
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barrie Holland ... Palace Nobleman (uncredited)

Graham Riddell ... Bodyguard (uncredited)
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Directed by
Franco Zeffirelli 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
William Shakespeare (play)

Christopher De Vore (screenplay) &
Franco Zeffirelli (screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Davey .... executive producer
Dyson Lovell .... producer
 
Original Music by
Ennio Morricone 
 
Cinematography by
David Watkin 
 
Film Editing by
Richard Marden 
 
Casting by
Joyce Nettles 
 
Production Design by
Dante Ferretti 
 
Art Direction by
Franco Ceraolo 
Michael Lamont 
Jim Morahan  (as James Morahan)
Antonio Tarolla 
Alan Tomkins 
 
Set Decoration by
Francesca Lo Schiavo 
 
Costume Design by
Maurizio Millenotti 
 
Makeup Department
Eric Allwright .... makeup artist
Lois Burwell .... makeup artist: Mel Gibson
Franco Corridoni .... supervising makeup artist
Maria Teresa Corridoni .... supervising hairdresser
Alberta Giuliani .... hair stylist
Paolo Mantini .... hair stylist
Daniel Parker .... prosthetics: Mel Gibson
Jean-Luc Russier .... makeup artist: Ms. Close
Maurizio Silvi .... makeup assistant
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cliff Lanning .... third assistant director
Michael Murray .... first assistant director
Gerry Toomey .... second assistant director
Kevin Westley .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Andrew Ackland-Snow .... draughtsman
Brian Aldridge .... dressing props
Brian Bishop .... scenic artist
Celia Bobak .... production buyer
Alan Cheevers .... plasterer
George Coussins .... supervising carpenter
Eddie Francis .... dressing props (as Edward Francis)
Gavin Gordon .... carpenter
James Hambidge .... art department runner
Michael Hayward .... supervising carpenter
Bert Hearn .... property master
Richard Lyon .... construction storeman
Mickey Pugh .... stand-by props
Michael Redding .... construction coordinator
John Wells .... stand-by props
Bill Pearson .... props (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Gerry Bates .... boom swinger
Terry Busby .... assistant sound editor
Mike Dowson .... adr mixer
Dean Humphreys .... sound re-recording mixer
Gerry Humphreys .... sound re-recording mixer
Tim Lewiston .... assistant sound editor
Archie Ludski .... dialogue editor
Tony Message .... footsteps editor
John Pitt .... sound maintenance
Lawrence Sibley .... sound assistant
David Stephenson .... sound mixer
Nicholas Stevenson .... sound editor
 
Special Effects by
Ian Wingrove .... special effects supervisor
 
Visual Effects by
Angus Bickerton .... model unit camera operator
 
Stunts
Graeme Crowther .... stunt double (as Graham Crowther)
Paul Jennings .... stunt double
Tina Maskell .... stunt double
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Derek V. Browne .... camera operator (as Derek Browne)
Peter Butler .... grip
Chuck Finch .... gaffer
Tommy Finch .... best boy (as Tom Finch)
Alan Grosch .... electrician
Graham Hall .... camera loader
Keith Hamshere .... still photographer
Simon Hume .... focus puller
Billy Merrell .... best boy (as Bill Merrell)
Simon Mills .... focus puller: second camera
Spencer Murray .... camera trainee
Keegan O'Neill .... camera trainee
Stuart Reid .... electrician
Jonathan Taylor .... camera operator
Toby Tyler .... electrician
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Birkinshaw .... wardrobe assistant (as John Birkenshaw)
Anne Brault .... assistant costume designer
Robyn Elliott .... costume buyer (as Robyn Elliot)
Alan Flyng .... wardrobe master
Frank Gardiner .... assistant costume designer
Annie Hadley .... chief costume cutter
Linda Lashley .... costumer
Geoff Lawrence .... wardrobe assistant
Alfonsina Lettieri .... wardrobe assistant
Richard Pointing .... wardrobe supervisor
Gerardo Sacco .... principal jewelry designed and supplied by
Enrico Serafini .... assistant costume designer
Pat Williamson .... wardrobe assistant
Dominic Young .... costume maker
 
Editorial Department
Roy Birchley .... first assistant editor
Jeremy Child .... second assistant editor
Andrew MacRitchie .... assistant editor
Matthew Tucker .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Robin Clarke .... music editor (as Robin Clark)
Enrico DeMelis .... general music coordinator
Sergio Marcotulli .... music engineer
Fabio Venturi .... assistant music engineer
 
Other crew
Angela Allen .... script supervisor
Luciano Bacchielli .... assistant: Mr. Zeffirelli
Jill Bennett .... production accountant
Maurice Binder .... title designer
Lucia Boni .... hand woven fabrics by
Nick Daubeny .... location manager (as Nicholas Daubeny)
Terri Depaolo .... assistant to unit publicist
Terri Depaolo .... assistant: Mel Gibson
Susan Gee .... production financing
William Hobbs .... duel arranger
Julie Hoffman .... assistant: Mr. Zeffirelli
Pauline Hume .... graphic artist: titles
Lyndy Noakes .... assistant accountant
Alison Odell .... assistant to producer
Kay Rouse .... assistant: Ms. Close
Adam Somner .... assistant location manager
Clare St. John .... production coordinator
Roy Street .... horse master
Alan Sutton .... fire safety
Paul Tucker .... production controller
Sara-Jane Valentine .... production assistant
Beverly Winston .... assistant script supervisor
 
Thanks
Dalisa Cohen .... grateful acknowledgments
Alexander Gelderman .... grateful acknowledgments
Bryan Isaacs .... grateful acknowledgments
Ruth Jackson .... grateful acknowledgments
Mario Kassar .... grateful acknowledgments
Paul Kijzer .... grateful acknowledgments
Eveleen McCormack .... grateful acknowledgments
Charles R. Meeker .... grateful acknowledgments (as Charles Meeker)
Kari Ann Messina .... grateful acknowledgments
Richard Northcott .... grateful acknowledgment
John Ort .... grateful acknowledgment
Nigel Sinclair .... special thanks
Barry Spikings .... grateful acknowledgments
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
130 min
Country:
USA | UK | France
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-11 | Australia:PG | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:U (original rating) | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M (blu-ray)
Filming Locations:
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UKSee more »
Company:
Canal+See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Mel Gibson's only previous Shakespearan experience was playing Juliet in an all male production of "Romeo and Juliet" in Australia. By contrast, Alan Bates (who played Claudius) had played Hamlet in London in 1970 and Paul Scofield (who played the Ghost) had played the part in 1948 and 1955 and is considered one of the greatest twentieth century interpreters of the role.See more »
Goofs:
Errors in geography: Elsinore in Denmark is a very flat, not at like the hilly landscape portrayed in the film.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Claudius:Hamlet! Think of us as of a father. For let the world take note: you are the most immediate to our throne. And with no less nobility of love than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart toward you.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Clueless (1995)See more »

FAQ

What does Zeffirelli cut from Shakespeare's original play?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
31 out of 42 people found the following review useful.
Hamlet, 28 August 2005
Author: Jim Colyer from Nashville, Tennessee

Mel Gibson explained how Hamlet was shot out of sequence. He lamented the film cut the 4 hour play in half and how it is more suited to the stage. He confessed it only "seemed" like he played Hamlet. But it was his portrayal of the confused Dane which made me respect him as an actor. I cared nothing for Mad Max or his previous work. Hamlet is a beautiful film. The grays and browns of the middle ages contrast nicely with the colorful Glenn Close as Gertrude. Hamlet was directed by Franco Zefferelli who did Romeo and Juliet 22 years earlier. I found this remarkable. We are told the themes of Hamlet are revenge, madness and procrastination. Its overwhelming concern is death in all its forms: murder, suicide and natural causes. "To be or not to be." In the graveyard, Hamlet contemplates the skull of a court jester he knew as a child. Shakespeare's greatest play asks life's biggest questions. Why must we die? What is the point of life if we must die? Is there life after death? Heaven? Hell? Biblical thinking pervades the play. There was little science in either mideval Denmark or Elizabethan England. Mel Gibson brought an energy to his role not seen before. His facial expressions show his mental state. Helena Bonham Carter renders a distracted Ophelia.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Hamlet (1990)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Anyone find the Hamlet/Gertrude kiss just a little bit weird? squeekyfish
An oscar for Mel Gibson! torgane
Opheila pregnant? animalmother78
BORING Captain_Jack_Skellington
MEL's HAMLET katsfile52
in wich century is Zeffirellis Version set? andrew-brechbuehl
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