Mel Gibson and Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Hamlet has filled some of the gaps left by Shakespeare. This version of the classic story is thoroughly watchable. This is “Hamlet for the 90s,” according to the director, and it is an especially entertaining version. With much of the text diced, the pace quickened, and the action streamlined, the film offers what amounts to an introduction to Shakespeare’s classic, without losing any of the play’s psychological complexities. Gibson is perfect as Hamlet the Prince of Denmark, and he is well supported by Glenn Close (Gertrude), Alan Bates (Claudius), Ian Holm (Polonius) and Helena Bonham Carter (Ophelia).
This paper will show how Franco Zeffirelli justly mirrors Shakespeare’s tragedy on film.
Here is a short summary of the film version of the play. Returning to his native Denmark after going to school in Germany, young Prince Hamlet (Gibson) finds his uncle, Claudius (Alan Bates), who now sits on the throne of the family castle, Elsinore. Claudius has married Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude (Glenn Close), a scant few weeks after the death of Hamlet’s beloved father, the king. The ghost of his father (Paul Scofield), who tells him he was poisoned by Claudius, and commands his son to avenge his murder, visits hamlet. The troubled prince is plagued with doubts about the truth of what the ghost has spoken and determines to find out what really happened. He feigns madness to disguise his intentions and when a troupe of players visits Elsinore, he invites them to reenact a scene that closely duplicates his father’s murder. His plan is to observe the reactions of Claudius in the hope it will help him determine if his uncle is guilty. The ploy works only too well. Claudius is so unnerved that he leaves before the performance ends, and plots to have Hamlet killed. This, in turn, precipitates unexpected havoc. Polonius (Ian Holm), a garrulous old courtier, is killed in error by Hamlet, who mistakes him for Claudius, while Ophelia (Helena Bonham-Carter), Polonius’ daughter and Hamlet’s one-time lover, goes mad and drowns herself.
The Essay on Hamlet Claudius Life Murder
Within all of William Shakespeare s tragic plays the main characters contains a tragic flaw. A tragic flaw of a character is defined as some aspect of the character that will enviably result in his or her demise. In Hamlet the main character, Hamlet contains sever tragic flaws just as most of all normal humans do. As many people say it is a well known fact that no one is perfect and because Hamlet ...
During the course of a supposedly friendly duel, the queen accidentally drinks from a goblet laced with poison intended for her son, and Hamlet and Claudius are done in by a poisoned-tipped sword. The acting is the highlight of this version. You can see the emotions boiling over on Gibson’s face, and Close gives Gertrude’s nature a remarkable realism as both a worried mother and a lustful lover. Bates is the best Claudius I have ever seen, and Holm displays in Polonius what makes him such a great actor. Mel Gibson has portrayed Hamlet in the most true-to-human nature as anyone ever has. His brooding and depressing personality is realistic. Gibson doesn’t allow the madness to overcome him. He is passionate, powerful and the epitome of a son who has gone through hell over his father’s death and incestuous marriage of his mother. Zeffirelli gives us a Hamlet, who does his best to carry on, until he is overwhelmed by the sheer weight of events. This Hamlet has an extremely good set design that complements the mood of each scene perfectly. Zeffirelli sets his film in a spectacular location, a castle on an outcropping of the coast in northern Scotland, on top of a rock nearly surrounded by the sea.
The castle has a great look to it, both inside and outside. There is rain and mist, and the characters seemed dragged down by the weight of their clothing. The costumes, particularly those worn by Close, are excellent. They really highlight the mood and temperament of her character perfectly. On top of this, all of the costumes worn by the players symbolize the message that Hamlet was trying to get across. We have the feeling that the throne rules over real subjects, instead of existing only in Shakespeare’s imagination. The interpretation of the story is a perfect one that required a great amount of thought and reading of the very play. Zeferelli interprets it so well, that it flows like real life. Every aspect comes together to form a very real event. Around Gibson, the director has gathered a stellar cast, with Oscar winners and nominees, who, have added a new perspective to the play. Zeferelli is an amazing filmmaker, and I highly suggest this film to anyone, especially Hamlet fans around the world.
The Essay on Hamlet Gibson Olivier Hopkins
Hamlet has been produced in a variety of ways, but making a movie out of Hamlet is very different. When producing Hamlet on film there are some liberties that are taken for either artistic benefit or to keep it shorter. These liberties are up to the director?s interpretation of Hamlet. The director?s interpretations make each Hamlet production different. Unique differences make each Hamlet ...
