Hamlet (1953 TV Movie) User Reviews

TV Shakespeare

[Mozjoukine · 21 January 2007]

This historically important pioneer effort turns out to be a misguided, ugly production with ranting players. The whole thing is done in a kind of 30s indoors operetta setting Evans fails to substantiate the reputation of his stage Hamlet. He appears to be doubled by a fencer in a dueling mask for the sword fight. Addy and Barry Jones deliver their lines with some plausibility and Sarah Churchill might get by with a more likely Hamlet and better wardrobe.

Don't look for Yorrick and Fortinbras but they give us buckets of Rosencranz & Gilderstern.

There are a few of the live TV goofs everyone scans these for.

The voice over intoning "Shakespeare belongs to the ages" to introduce The Hallmark Hall of Fame is there to impress us with the worth of bringing classics into our lounge rooms - with commercials.

Looking to review this movie

[TheSilentMuppet · 10/10 · 10 November 2022]

Trying to find a way of viewing this movie outside of going to an on site archive: for those who has reviewed this movie, how did you see it? Is there a physical or digital copy available for a wider public?

Im a researcher in media studies and early modern drama so I'm trying to find this production as part of that. I have seen no evidence of this movie on dvd, vhs or streaming: I know it's at UCLA, Paley and the library of congress but the review that has been posted here suggests there is some sort of way of the broader public watching the movie so I wanted to know how the reviewer saw the film and where I can access it? Thanks.