Richard Burton's Hamlet
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Movie Reviews of Richard Burton's Hamlet
Movie Review: Time Capsule
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a trip back in time to an extraordinary set of performances. Burton is fascinating, but I particularly enjoyed the Polonius of Hume Cronyn. Somewhat of a curiousity is the Laertes of John Collum, 8 years before he co-starred in 1776. The production was shot over two days, during actual performances, back in 1964. The video quality shows why this did not become a standard practice (uneven lighting and sound). Nonetheless this is nothing less than a step back to a Broadway dramatic event of 1964, perhaps the premier dramatic event of that year in New York.Movie Review: The Best Hamlet I've Seen
Summary: 5 Stars
Burton (and Gielgud) have the best understanding of Hamlet that I've seen on film. I don't know why Olivier and Jacobi want to play Hamlet like he's bisexual, but it isn't right. Branagh is good, but for some scenes Gibson's interpretation is better than Branagh's. Gibson's is the most romantic Hamlet, but plays Hamlet as mostly depressed at first. Truth is, Hamlet is as mad as hell, but is torn and doesn't know what to do about it, so he turns it inward, at first. Burton's interpretation is quite good and the closest to the way Hamlet should be played.Movie Review: Definitive Hamlet
Summary: 5 Stars
This is priviledged viewing. Burton's Hamlet is everything Hamlet should be; virile, impassioned, needling, damaged. The fact that it is a filmed play is obvious. Clarity is not brilliant and you do miss the close-ups of a cinema experience. But in light of the performance, it hardly matters. Hugh Cronyn as Polonius is very good, wry and comical but it is Burton's performance that dominates. The way he paces the stage, the unexpected rhythms of that incomparable voice. No-one has ever depicted the soul in torment like Burton.Movie Review: Two classics--"Hamlet" & Burton
Summary: 5 Stars
There are many fine productions of Hamlet available today, but you won't find a better performance than Richard Burton's in this 1964 legendary production directed by John Gielgud.Besides the excellent performance of Burton, you get to see a live production on stage with an audience, and the immediacy of the moment.If you're fimiliar with Mel Gibson's Hamlet and Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, you certainly should give yourself the opportunity to view Burton's Hamlet and see a different kind of raw, brave performance.Don't miss it!Movie Review: Simply a Classic Despite Poor Video Quality
Summary: 5 Stars
This is simply one of the greatest performances of Hamlet ever presented on the Broadway stage, or any stage for that matter. Richard Burton is phenomenal with kudos to Hume Cronyn for his Polonius. Because of the brilliance of the performance and the historical importance of this recording, the poor video quality is forgivable. This film was beleived lost for many years, and it is a joy to see its re-release on DVD.