HAMLET

REVIEWED BY CARISSA HORTON

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: mild thematic elements

Rated:

Hamlet, royal king of Denmark, is dead, and has been duly noted as such for nearly two months. What then is the explanation for a ghostly apparition which appears in the very likeness of His Majesty? The phantasm will not speak to the soldiers who first beheld it on the ramparts of Elsinore Castle, nor even to the learned Horatio (Norman Woodland). Yet, perhaps it will make its purpose known to Prince Hamlet (Laurence Olivier), for they were a devoted father and son pairing. Conveying with all possible speed what they have seen to young Hamlet, he reacts as any grieved son would, shocked, unbelieving, and finally desperate to behold the being who has disrupted his somewhat peaceful, if not pointless life.

With no hope of reclaiming the throne, rightfully his, from Claudius (Basil Sydney) his uncle and now king, Hamlet swiftly seeks out the ghost, waiting with his loyal companions on the castle wall for a reappearance. His expectations are realized and rapidly too. Drawn from a power beyond his will, Hamlet alone follows the spirit onto the highest rampart of the castle where his subconscious suspicions are confirmed. The deceased Hamlet reveals the truth concerning his death which was in actuality caused by his brother Claudius and not a serpent as supposed, though they could be considered one and the same. Fury flows swift as quicksilver through Young Hamlet’s veins, bringing with it a promise to avenge his father’s murder.

From here on Hamlet assumes an aura of madness, holding others at arms length, even the woman he loves more than his life’s breath, Ophelia (Jean Simmons), daughter of Polonius (Felix Aylmer) a court advisor. Yet his madness contains method for he constantly goads his uncle toward a battle of wills and even makes demands and accusations toward his mother Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie) who had indiscreetly married her husband’s brother , behaving as if he had truly lost control of his wits. Only one decision or lack thereof on Hamlet’s part actually turns the tale into a tragedy. Horrible events occur because of Hamlet not yielding to the chance given him.

One cannot have Hamlet without violence, even a version so old as Laurence Olivier’s. You’ll find swords and daggers threateningly drawn at the slightest provocation, mostly by Hamlet. At one point he even considers turning a dirk upon himself, a fitting end to his misery. Once Hamlet has become “mad,” he’s rather ruthless in his treatment of others, even toward his mother, Gertrude, and the woman he adores, Ophelia. The swordplay scenes are extremely well-done, a masterpiece for the era, and a true accomplishment for Laurence Olivier himself who actually fought with such fervor that he became accidentally wounded. Be prepared for many deaths, some by the sword, others by madness, still others by poison. Then of course there’s the hatred Hamlet harbors toward his uncle. Justice and revenge are main themes to Hamlet, ones which must be overlooked for the play’s other magnificent qualities.

There are also sensual undertones with the relationship Hamlet and his mother share. Gertrude kisses Hamlet several times on the lips and though it is not a passionate kiss as if between lovers it is still enough to make a person uncomfortable. I realize during the era of Hamlet there would have been this special bond between mother and son yet it still hit hard when viewed onscreen. Hamlet also offends Ophelia now and again with his mannerisms and harsh words, which at times take a turn toward sexual desire. It is never implied Hamlet had a sexual relationship with Ophelia, the desires are there naturally yet unlike Branagh’s production all is kept very modest between them.

I have become a true fan of Shakespeare, though I have not as of yet managed to read all his plays. Hamlet was Shakespeare’s true triumph, a classic battle of evil against good, tormented souls, and lustful desires. Although many would claim Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet lacks the depth of today’s productions, I completely disagree. Even with the dramatic shortening of the play itself and the slight shuffling of scenes and characters, Olivier’s soars far above the generally accepted versions. Having viewed six different Hamlets over the past year, including Kenneth Branaugh’s somewhat dubious attempt and Mel Gibson’s admirable effort, I would recommend Laurence Olivier’s over any other. Not only did Laurence Olivier bring home the award for Best Actor during the 1948 Oscars but he also won Best Picture and Best Director. The accomplishments awarded him speak for themselves.

Of course no actor could possibly carry a film on his own and the cast Olivier chose are excellent. They appear to have a full knowledge of the difficulty of Shakespeare’s language, even Jean Simmons (Ophelia) who many believed to be chosen simply for her blonde beauty understood precisely how to speak her lines and control her movements. The black and white cinematography is some of the finest I’ve seen, with sharp images, and gorgeous contrasts. One thing I deeply appreciated was the use of a true castle for Elsinore. We’re not talking a building, nor a house, nor even just a mansion, but an actual castle with parapets, halls, and chambers with incredible stone masonry. The setting, filming, and actors truly lend a sense of dignity to the play which many other versions do not contain.

Laurence Olivier was an actor who could take on a role, and actually become that character. No matter what film he was in or what role he played he made it his, and you no longer see him as an actor, but rather as the character. It takes an incredible amount of talent to pull that off in any film, let alone Hamlet. He defines the role so completely that he leaves no doubt in your mind what Hamlet was thinking, feeling, and what he was experiencing emotionally. You will find hidden depths no other actor possesses. Sir Laurence Olivier was in my mind the greatest English actor of all time on the screen and this superb version will always be remembered, by myself and many others, as the one and only Hamlet!