Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, finds out that his uncle Claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and plans revenge.
Director:
Franco Zeffirelli
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| 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 | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Hamlet returns to Denmark when his father, the King, dies. His mother Gertrude has already married Hamlet's uncle Claudius, the new King. They urge Hamlet to marry his beloved Ophelia. But soon the ghost of Hamlet's father appears and tells Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius and Gertrude. Hamlet must choose between passive acquiescence and the need for a vengeance which might lead to tragedy. Written by Reid Gagle
Plot Keywords:
gertrude character | ophelia character | horatio character | polonius character | claudius character |Taglines:
The extraordinary adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tale of vengeance and tragedy.Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
18 January 1991 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Amlet See more »Edit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$20,710,451Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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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.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Director Franco Zeffirelli reportedly wanted Mel Gibson for the title role, after seeing his near-suicide scene in Lethal Weapon (1987). See more »Goofs
During Ophelia's lament, she reaches out with one arm to anyone who will help. In the next shot, the opposite arm is outstretched. 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 »
Alternate Versions
One American print, which as of January 2016 appears on Paramount's Vault Channel on YouTube, features no credits overlaid during the first two minutes of the film as seen on most prints (aside from the title) and the same goes for the end titles, which leaves only a black screen with music, followed by the Paramount logo. It is unknown how or why there are essentially no credits at all on this print; it is most likely an accident that the distributor was unaware of. See more »Contribute to This Page
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This film was my first introduction to the story of Hamlet, and though condensed and simplified it did a magnificent job. I was only 11, but it made me fall madly in love with Hamlet. After reading it, it quickly became my favorite Shakespeare play. I love how clear and defined the film is, while still having the essence of Shakespeare's intent. The acting is so intense, yet believable. I love the interpretation of the era, and how the delivery of the lines made them so easy to grasp without losing the authenticity. The play is really long and repetitive, so I think this movie did a fantastic job of really getting the meat. In some other Shakespeare film adaptations I've seen the lines are stale and rehearsed, and it really shocks me that someone could accuse these actors of being out of touch with the dialog. I found it to be quite the opposite. So many of the scenes are just so juicy. They really capture the story's power and depth. Plus, I'm really into that period, so I found it difficult to get into Branagh's film, no matter how good it was, *and* I really can't stand to watch Kenneth Branaugh. He really irritates me because I feel like he uses this same set of annoying expressions for every couple phrases. Huge apologies to all those out there who worship him. It's just how I feel. This version is just more my cup of tea in so many ways.