‘This is the tragedy of a men who could not make up his mind’ announces the movie interpretation of Sir Laurence Olivier, the Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for his Hamlet. It might be said that the award for Best Picture mainly belongs to William Shakespeare himself as the movie is closely following the original script of the play.
In some cases it reveals the perception of the play by the movie director, the order of some scenes was changed. For example, in the first Act, the scenes of the appearance of Horatio, his conversation with Hamlet and their entrance to the platform before the castle are divided by the other scenes as it would be more conveniently reenacted in the theater and the changed order of Oliver’s is the most suitable for the screen lies together perfectly with other scenes. The transitions from one location of the castle to another are very smooth, they reveal the atmosphere in the castle by the means of lighting and sounds. The attention of the camera and viewers of the movie is chained to Hamlet at all times, while there are brilliant appearances of other characters like talkative and at times naive Polonium they all are partially overshadowed by Hamlet whose soliloquies are central points of the scenes. The character of Hamlet is extremely dramatic, full of tragedy while most of his speeches are concise and quiet unless spoken out loud, for example, on the platform after talking to the ghost of his father.
There is no doubt that Sir Laurence Oliver’s talent was fully expressed in the role of Hamlet, however, there is a place for another interpretation that gives more space and deepness to the other characters as well. It is obvious that Hamlet is the main figure of the story, but the other characters could also express themselves on screen thought him. For instance, the character of Ophelia so joyful and active at first is rapidly transformed to depressed and bitter soul. The story of her own transformation that follows Hamlet’s change could be more engaging, when she speaks about Hamlet with her father at the beginning of the second act, the story that she tells should reveal her feelings rather then show another scene of strange behavior of the prince.
Works cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark. Champaign, Ill.: Project Gutenberg. Print.
Hamlet. Australia: Laurence Olivier, 1948. Film.
