Richard Burton's Hamlet
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Movie Reviews of Richard Burton's Hamlet
Movie Review: Hamlet saved from the ashes
Summary: 5 Stars
Hamlet is the prince of Denmark. His father has just died and before the funeral meats were cold his mother marries his uncle. His father's ghost returns to tell him of a murder most foul. Now hamlet must decide what to do about this, and how.
This version of the play is well done however Hamlet is up for interpretation and everyone has a favorite.
The DVD its self has very little goodies other than the play.
According to the pamphlet that comes with the DVD the prints of this film were contractually ordered to be destroyed. So we are lucky to have this interpretation.
It is easy to see why ratings are all over the spectrum. First this is a film of a play. Therefore it is neither a film nor a play. Secondly they use rehearsal clothes and minimum trappings (or distractions). Now if you enjoy the novelty of the presentation style, your next hurtle is trying to understand Richard Burton's speaking style for the first 20 minutes or so. What may appear to be a long viewing time is actually a pared down version of Hamlet witch leaves out many subtleties.
It is intriguing to see the actors in the play and see how far they came. If you do not take the time to analyze, then this really is a good version and you will find yourself kibitzing.
Hamlet - Criterion Collection ~ Laurence Olivier
Movie Review: Burton is Shakespear's Hamlet
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1964 I was in New York and saw this performance. Unfortunately at that time I was more interested in seeing Richard Burton than Hamlet.
I just purchased the DVD and watched it. Forty one years later I realize that Richard Burton speaks the words Shakespeare wrote as easily and with as much feeling as we speak words in our daily lives. He is superb, his phrasing, emotions, facial expressions, all add up to a perfect Hamlet.
As I continued to watch the play I realized how much satire and pathos really exist and are played out more keenly than in many versions I have seen.
The supporting cast is excellent, the minimalistic staging is best and doesn't detract from the performers. I was slightly taken back when I saw the original play by the fact that the actors were wearing street clothes, but as I watch it now I see that what shines through is the play not the trappings.
All in all, I was mesmerized by this footage, raw, touching, and even more so since Burton and Cronyn are deceased. This is the quintessential Hamlet, I will have trouble watching any other.
Movie Review: Low Tech, High Value
Summary: 5 Stars
On one hand, this disc could be viewed as suffering from a number of problems: it's visually limited to the point of almost not being a movie, the sound is over-reverberant, making he ghost in particular, difficult to understand. At the same time, like Mitropoulos' Mahler Third, the virtues of the performance supercede all other considerations, and and this is the one 'Hamlet' that has come to be 'HAMLET' for me. Burton practically sings the role, as well as endowing it with an energetic, and at times tortured, physicality. The supporting cast is up to his level all the way. The modern dress minimalist staging starkly puts the primal drama where it belongs, out front. And the liveness feeds the whole proceding with an energy unknown in other filmed versions. And back to the ghost, the fact that we never see him, but only his larger-than-life shadow, and that his disembodied voice comes from nowhere and everywhere, makes his presence eerily pre-eminent. The performance is uncut, and riveting for every one of the 191 minutes. Burton is the prince of Hamlets!Movie Review: Burton and the Bard
Summary: 5 Stars
This was taped or filmed in the 1960s so the quality is not the best and it takes a litle time to get accustomed to it.
Burton growls, whimpers, plays with his voice the way a musician plays with an instrument while tuning it. Yet the end result is.... well, not to be hyperbolic, etherial and marvelous.
A dream cast is present which includes Hume Cronyn , Alfred Drake (of musical fame),John Cullum (Northern Exposure), and an offstage appearance by John Gielgud, just to name a few.
Burton had become noted for having won the heart of Elizabeth Taylor . This performance shows how brilliant he was, an accomplished actor in his own right and not a Mr Elizabeth Taylor.
I am not going to debate which of the DVD versions of Hamlet is the best, I find that a difficult if not impossible decision to make. However I am saying this is a version worth watching, and hopefully there will be none gainsaying me on that opinion.
Movie Review: The state of art!
Summary: 5 Stars
The magnetic presence of Richard Burton on stage as Hamlet is simply outstandig. His personal approach in contrast to Olivier, for instance, resides in the modern vision and contemporary flavour he adds and carves in relief.
Burton had one of the most powerful, expreessive and dark voices in the history of cinema or theater. This DVD shows us just a sample of a set of famous performances in Broadway during 1964, and it convinces us once more about the impressive amount of expressive devices and gamut of his actoral gifts.
To be true, the edition process is not at first rate level, but the performance is so strong and mesmerizing, that you tend to forget this minor factor.
Don't hesitate just for a second at the moment to acquire this historical performance of this fabulous actor.