Branagh's "Hamlet" coming to DVD!

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:37pm

After undoing many legal tangles, Kenneth Branagh's epic, critically acclaimed (and my own cinematic favorite) 1996 film version of "Hamlet" is coming to DVD in 2007, via Warner Home Video!



Digitalbits.com

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:38pm

Well, it's about freakin' time! What were the legal issues with it?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:43pm

I remember when this movie came out. It looks so opulent -- a feast for the eyes! How does it compare to Olivier's Oscar-winning version?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:43pm

HORRAH!

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:43pm

Shakespeare wanted a cut.




Honestly... I never knew what it was... but this was held up for years, due to legal issues.

I remember when WHV first pursued doing a DVD release, and that was about five years ago! I heard there were legal clearance issues. I'm assuming it was Branagh, or perhaps several of the actors were given percentages (prior to the consideration of the "new" DVD format)... that's speculation on my part, though. But those are typical reasons things get held up. Music royalties is another, but I can't imagine that being the case here.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:45pm

I think all film adaptions of Shakespeare need to be directed and starring Kenneth Branagh. **Genius**

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:45pm

Hmmm...you're probably right.

At any rate, I can't wait to see it again. I know it's been available for years in fullscreen VHS format, but I can't even stomach the thought of that -- so I haven't even seen it since 1996!

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:46pm

SM2---I'm not discounting Olivier's Oscar-winning (Best Picture, 1948 ) film adaptation.

But for my money, this Branagh version is far more exciting, and equally well-acted (if not better in some cases). I was riveted through all FOUR HOURS. This is the most complete film version of Hamlet... and although some might quibble with the period change, that didn't bother me one bit. Especially because it was so visually stunning.

This is a BIG MOVIE.

It's like "Hamlet"... the blockbuster.

Updated On: 10/20/06 at 12:46 PM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:54pm

Or "Hamlet"... the miniseries. (Four hours?)

Updated On: 10/20/06 at 12:54 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:57pm

Well, it did have an intermission.

If feels more like seeing "Gone With the Wind" in a movie theatre, than a mini-series. I remember it was my favorite film of 1996, and probably ranks as one of my favorite films EVER.

I've been holding onto my laser disc for years now, since at least it was widescreen.

The cast was so incredible (here in alpha order):


Riz Abbasi .... Attendant to Claudius

Richard Attenborough .... English Ambassador
David Blair .... Attendant to Claudius
Brian Blessed .... Ghost

Kenneth Branagh .... Hamlet

Richard Briers .... Polonius
Michael Bryant .... Priest
Peter Bygott .... Attendant to Claudius

Julie Christie .... Gertrude

Billy Crystal .... First Gravedigger
Charles Daish .... Stage Manager

Judi Dench .... Hecuba

Gérard Depardieu .... Reynaldo
Reece Dinsdale .... Guildenstern
Ken Dodd .... Yorick
Angela Douglas .... Attendant to Gertrude
Rob Edwards .... Lucianus
Nicholas Farrell .... Horatio
Ray Fearon .... Francisco
Yvonne Gidden .... Doctor

John Gielgud .... Priam

Rosemary Harris .... Player Queen

Charlton Heston .... Player King

Ravil Issyanov .... Cornelius (as Ravil Isyanov)

Derek Jacobi .... Claudius
Rowena King .... Attendant to Gertrude
Jeffery Kissoon .... Fortinbras's Captain
Sarah Lam .... Attendant to Gertrude

Jack Lemmon .... Marcellus
Ian McElhinney .... Barnardo
Michael Maloney .... Laertes
Duke of Marlborough .... Fortinbras's General

John Mills .... Old Norway
Jimi Mistry .... Sailor Two
Sian Radinger .... Prologue
Melanie Ramsey .... Prostitute
Simon Russell Beale .... Second Gravedigger
Andrew Schofield .... Young Lord

Rufus Sewell .... Fortinbras

Timothy Spall .... Rosencrantz
Thomas Szekeres .... Young Hamlet (as Tom Szekeres)
Ben Thom .... First Player
Don Warrington .... Voltimand
Perdita Weeks .... Second Player

Robin Williams .... Osric

Kate Winslet .... Ophelia
David Yip .... Sailor One

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 12:57pm

yup, Four hours . . . but it is one of those movies that you get sucked into and the four hours just fly right by!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 1:51pm

I actually never saw this adaptation. I think I was mad at him over the Emma split. I worshipped their Much Ado.

[Patronus]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 1:52pm

Finally. I've been waiting for this for nearly 10 years.

I won't watch a film if it isn't in the OAR so I have yet to see it.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 1:56pm

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is my favorite of the film Shakespeare adaptions.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 2:14pm

JG2: Branagh was slated to direct EMMA?

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 10/20/06 at 2:23pm

I fell in love with it my senior year of high school. I watched it constantly. I think it was the first adaptation of Shakespeare that I could share with my friends that they wouldn't call boring. I thought it was just beautiful. I think I will watch it tonight!

SM2, huh?

Updated On: 10/20/06 at 02:23 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 11:50am

BUMP!

It comes out on Tuesday. You can buy it alone (in a 2-Disc version), or in a box set of other Shakespeare movies (including 1935's visually stunning Midsummer Night's Dream).

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 3:07pm

That's neat! Branagh is an amazing interpreter of Shakespeare's work. I saw portions of this film when I was in high school and remember loving it (I particularly remember loving Kate Winslet's Ophelia). I'll definitely be buying this to watch all 4 hours.
Of the post-Olivier HAMLET films, I think the Mel Gibson version is disappointing and there must've been some major drugs involved in the Ethan Hawke version (though I like the latter better).

[Taryn]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 3:48pm

I actually rather like the Mel Gibson version, but I know I'm in the minority.

Kenneth Branagh just has a way of interpreting Shakespeare that makes it so immediate and readily understandable. He's really a remarkable actor.

[Blair]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 4:21pm

After studying the work, we watched Branagh's MUCH ADO in my AP English Class this past year, and we all were absolutely obsessed with it, so much that on one of our free days after the AP test, we put it on again. Any director that can make Shakespeare that accessible to a bunch of high school kids (that aren't avid Shakespeare fans, in general) is pretty amazing in my eyes.

We also studied HAMLET, and watched a couple scenes from his adaptation, but never had time to watch the whole thing. I am so excited to finally be able to buy the DVD and watch the whole thing!

I also cannot wait for his AS YOU LIKE IT!

[misschung]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 5:01pm

I'm so happy about this! Kate Winslet, the love of my life, as Ophelia

I taped this when it aired on tv, but there is such bad generation loss that it's basically unwatchable. I'm exciting for the dvd! Its really a wonderful version

[justagirl2]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 5:19pm

I adore this version, it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm excited to hear this news!

Speaking of Much Ado, that is also my favorite Shakespeare adaptation (and my favorite Shakespeare work)!

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 6:06pm

So excited. I LOVE this movie! I checked on Amazon, and I couldn't tell if there were any special features. I hope there are at least a few!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 7:29pm

Oh boy!
Incredibly exciting!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 8:28pm

According to Amazon.com:

DVD Features:
Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Introduction by Kenneth Branagh
Commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Shakespeare scholar Russell Jackson
New digital transfer from original 70mm elements
Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
"To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet" featurette
1996 Cannes Film Festival promo
Shakespeare movies trailer gallery