Hamlet Overview:

Hamlet (1948) was a Drama - Film Adaptation Film directed by Laurence Olivier and produced by Anthony Bushell, Herbert Smith and Reginald Beck.

Academy Awards 1948 --- Ceremony Number 21 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorLaurence OlivierWon
Best Supporting ActressJean SimmonsNominated
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Roger K. Furse; Set Decoration: Carmen DillonWon
Best Costume DesignRoger K. FurseWon
Best DirectorLaurence OlivierNominated
Best Music - ScoringWilliam WaltonNominated
Best PictureJ. Arthur Rank-Two Cities FilmsWon
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BlogHub Articles:

Hamlet (1948): A Medieval Film Noir

By Amanda Garrett on Mar 1, 2016 From Old Hollywood Films

Today, I'm commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death a bit early (it's April 23) with a look at Laurence Olivier's film noir-inspired take on the bard's great tragedy, Hamlet. This article is part of the In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb Blogathon hosted by MovieMovieBlogBl... Read full article


Hamlet (1948)

By Beatrice on Apr 10, 2015 From Flickers in Time

Hamlet Directed by Laurence Olivier Written by William Shakespeare 1948/UK Two Cities Films Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant You couldn’t ask for a better traditional version of Hamlet than this one. ?The acting is very big and stagey but I think that’s the point. Hamlet Prince of Denm... Read full article


Hamlet Isn’t Dead: The Taming Of The Shrew – A Personal Kickstarter Appeal

By Michael on Nov 14, 2013 From Durnmoose Movie Musings

Ok, you guys know that I usually try to keep the personal side of my life out of the blogging side, except for where it relates to movies and TV shows, but I hope you’ll forgive me taking just a moment here to promote something near and dear to my heart. Earlier this year, my son David and som... Read full article


Hamlet (1)

By RBuccicone on Oct 15, 2010 From MacGuffin Movies

Hamlet (1948) ???? In making Hamlet, Laurence Olivier was credited?with, more than anyone else, introducing Shakespeare to the mass public at the time, and rightfully so. Not only does Olivier star in this film adaptation of a brooding young man attempting to prove his uncle murdered his father in p... Read full article


Hamlet (1948)

By Judy on Jul 10, 2010 From Movie Classics

Laurence Olivier as Hamlet I’m not going to say a lot about this film,?but, as part of my mini-Shakespeare season,?just wanted briefly?to?record that I’ve re-watched the Olivier Hamlet?and enjoyed it very much – it is?much better than his first Shakespearean film role in As You Lik... Read full article


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Quotes from

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: Oh, that this too, too solid flesh would melt!


Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: Frailty, thy name is woman.


Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.


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Facts about

Laurence Olivier played the voice of Hamlet's father's ghost himself by recording the dialog and playing it back at a reduced speed, giving it a macabre quality. The role is often erroneously reported as being performed by Sir John Gielgud, perhaps because it does sound vaguely like him, but it has been said that Olivier actually disliked working with Gielgud in William Shakespeare films, and turned down his request to play the Chorus in The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fift with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France. If Gielgud had played the Ghost in Hamlet, it would have been the first of three appearances (so to speak) as the character: Gielgud played the Ghost in Hamlet and Hamlet.
First full length feature film of Terence Morgan.
The play probably opened no later than 1601 in London, with William Shakespeare himself playing the part of the Ghost and Richard Burbage playing Hamlet. It was first published in 1602 with the title "The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince of Denmark," but that version was probably based on reports of speeches as delivered on stage, and bears little resemblance to modern versions. Modern texts are based more on the second version published in 1604 and a version published in 1623, each containing lines not in the other's text.
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Best Picture Oscar 1948






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