Hamlet (1948)

• Directed by Laurence Olivier
• Written by William Shakespeare, Lauence Olivier
• Stars Lauence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Norman Wooland, Felix Aylmer, Terence Morgan
• Run Time: 2 Hours, 34 Minutes
• Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SurQBgWIVh0

Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone

This is a little slow and a lot talky for modern viewers, but it’s very well put together and superbly acted. The speech is in a dated style which takes deciphering sometimes, but it’s clear and easy to understand. Horror-wise, it does have a ghost. And Peter Cushing has a nice little role very early in his career. Plus Christopher Lee can be spotted in the background if you watch the guards. If you’re a fan of Shakespeare or are curious about sampling some, this is a good one to check out.

Spoilery Synopsis

“This is the tragedy of a man who could not make up his mind,” we are told. We open on a group of guards and Horatio, who have come to the tower to see this “thing” that some have reported seeing. They see it; it’s the ghost of King Hamlet. It looks at them ominously and then vanishes without speaking. 

The new king is Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, who has married dead King Hamlet’s wife Gertrude, the queen. Laertes is there, and he wants permission to go back to France. Polonius, Laertes’s father, gives his approval. Young Hamlet is moody and doesn’t participate in the celebration. His mother urges him to get over his father’s death, as everyone dies, and life goes on. The king says he feels that Hamlet is like his own son. 

Laertes says goodbye to his sister Ophelia before Polonius gives him some traveling advice. Ophelia tells her father that Hamlet has been showing interest in her, but he forbids her to even talk to him. 

Horatio comes to Hamlet and tells about seeing his father’s ghost. Naturally, Hamlet wants to join them tonight and see for himself. Sure enough, the ghost appears, and Hamlet goes to talk to it, alone. The ghost says he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who poured hemlock in his ear. Hamlet then swears vengeance against the new king. 

Polonius complains to the king and queen about Hamlet; he’s sent a love letter to Ophelia, and the old man wants him to stop. Hamlet overhears all this, but pretends that he didn’t. Later, he talks to Ophelia, and they argue. “Get thee to a nunnery!” Later, Polonius accuses Hamlet of being insane to the king, who doesn’t disagree. Hamlet considers suicide, but decides against it. 

Polonius tells Hamlet that a bunch of actors have arrived, and that cheers him up a bit. Hamlet talks to the lead actor and gives him some instructions and a revised script for a classic play. The king and queen come to the show, as does Ophelia, and Hamlet hits on her again. The play begins, and it’s essentially a re-enactment of Claudius killing old King Hamlet by pouring poison in his ear. Claudius takes the hint, and he is not amused. Everyone runs out of the theater in a panic. 

Hamlet goes to his mother’s quarters to talk, and Polonius hides in the closet to spy on what’s being said. Hamlet and his mother argue, and Hamlet stabs into the closet, thinking he’s killed the king, but instead it’s just Polonius. He’s about to kill his mother as well, but his father’s ghost appears just then and distracts Hamlet. He later boasts about it to the king, who starts plotting Hamlet’s death on an upcoming trip to England. 

Ophelia takes her father’s death badly and starts acting crazy, singing for no reason. Laertes returns from France wanting answers about his father’s murder. Also, he finds that his sister has gone mad from grief. She eventually drowns herself in the river. 

The king, queen, and Horatio get messages from Hamlet. Pirates attacked his ship and took him prisoner. Horatio goes and pays the ransom to get Hamlet freed, and they return just in time for Ophelia’s funeral. Since she’s a suicide, her funeral is small and the priest isn’t very forgiving. Laertes blames Hamlet for his sister’s death, and there’s a fight. 

The king talks to Laertes and talks him into a duel with Hamlet. He plans to make sure that Hamlet has an “accident” during the fight. 

Osric comes to Hamlet and Horatio, and brings an invitation to the duel. It’s an offer that Hamlet cannot refuse. Everyone files in as the duel gets set up. The king drinks to Hamlet in an elaborate toast, and then the battle starts. Hamlet and Laertes cross swords and fight as Osric referees. The king poisons Hamlet’s drink, but he’s too busy to try any. The queen, however, drinks what’s in the cup; it looks like she knows what’s in the cup and willingly embraces it. 

Hamlet and Laertes go another round, both injuring each other with a poison blade. The queen keels over dead. Laertes blames the king’s treachery before he dies, so Hamlet stabs Claudius to death repeatedly. Hamlet manages to get out one more short speech before he, too, dies from the poison. 

Commentary

One of the oldest “ghost stories” that’s still popular today. 

It won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Art Direction, Best Music, and Best Costume Design. Jean Simmons was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, as was Laurence Olivier for Best Director, but it didn’t win those. 

On the horror side of things, beyond the ghost and the murders, this film also features early roles by Christopher Lee, as an uncredited spear carrier, and Peter Cushing, as Osric. They are small roles, but this was the first of 22 films they did together. Actually, I never did spot Lee in the crowd, but Cushing’s role was bigger than I expected. 

The first thing I noticed about this one is that they’re all speaking Shakespearean English, but slowly and clearly enough that it’s all entirely understandable and easy enough to follow. You have to pay attention, but it’s not a tough watch. The costumes are impressive, but the sets are cheap– but probably not bad for the period.  They did cut out a few characters and scenes from the original play, but the main plot is intact. It’s slow-paced and probably a bit draggy for modern viewers, but you get most of the story here, and again, it’s easy to follow.