Hamlet, prince of denmark, finds out that his uncle claudius killed his father to obtain the throne, and. In fact, this hamlet reference has also appeared in the films grosse pointe blank. Ran, for example, is a japanese movie that sets king lear in feudal japan and turns lears daughters. Shakespeare turns 450, and modern movies and tv are still his. Hamlet, released in 1991, directed by franco zeffirelli and starring mel gibson, and hamlet, released in 1996, directed and starring kenneth branagh, leap to mind. But the most highprofile television series paralleling hamlet is fxs sons of anarchy now in its final season. The bad sleep well is a noir about corporate corruption, but it was inspired by hamlet. Kenneth branaghs movie of hamlet was set in 19th century making the setting of the castle more of a luxurious modern palace. As the son of the murdered king hamlet, hamlet is also a prince. But regardless of his intent, kurt sutter has stated on numerous occasions that sons of anarchy is loosely based on shakespeares hamlet, which means we were bound to. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more.
There are many film adaptations inspired by hamlet, from the. Often considered the greatest drama of all time, the play tells the story of the troubled titular prince of denmark. Jul 12, 2019 the similarities between the lion king and the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark, one of shakespeares bestknown plays, are absolutely intentionaland its not the only work it draws inspiration from, either. Not just englishspeaking movie makers raid the canon. Ophelia on dvd november 5, 2019 starring naomi watts, daisy ridley, tom felton, clive owen. With kenneth branagh, julie christie, derek jacobi, kate winslet. Hamlet is a 1948 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name, adapted and directed by and starring laurence olivier.
With laurence olivier, jean simmons, john laurie, esmond knight. From hamlet and shakespeare in love to romantic comedy adaptations of the taming of the shrew, here are 17 of the best movies based on. Parents need to know that this 1948 oscarwinning version of hamlet is based on william shakespeares classic play and is both directed and stars laurence olivier the language of the film is entirely based on shakespeares work. Shakespeare turns 450, and modern movies and tv are still. Apr 23, 2019 shakespeare day is celebrated every april 23 to recognize the birth and death of english poet and playwright william shakespeare. This movie avoids the affectation of olivier, the mailitin from mel gibson got to acknowledge the physicality mel brought to the role, but other than that, nothing there. Nov 26, 2012 the story of hamlet told through the lion. Are these the 10 best shakespeare screen adaptations. The movie was a multiple oscar and bafta winner on its release in 1948 the ony shakespeare adaptation to ever win the best film oscar and the first british movie to win the award.
Prince hamlet struggles over whether or not he should kill his uncle, whom he suspects has murdered his father, the former king. Hamlet quickly sees through the scheme and begins to act the part of a madman in front of them. Most actors play hamlet as unsteady but basically sane. Owings 3 alex owings professor jellerson english 102 8 april 2014 hamlet almereyda film analysis throughout almyereydas version of hamlet there are many scenes that are unique, but i feel that one scene that stands out the most is the movie that hamlet makes. Written and directed by women and starring star wars daisy ridley in the title role, the film moves through all the beats of hamlet from ophelias point. Shakespeares plays that have had hollywood adaptations. Adapted for the screen and filmed on location, this dynamic, exciting and contemporary production features all key original cast members from the staged version, including patrick stewart as claudius. Delphine is the author of a highly personal novel about her mother, which has become a bestseller. Five movies you forgot were based on shakespeare plays. Released in 1994, the lion king contains some direct parallels to the play, including the death of king mufasa at the hands of his scheming brother, scar. Driven by a guilty conscience, claudius attempts to ascertain the cause of hamlets odd behaviour by hiring hamlets onetime friends rosencrantz and guildenstern to spy on him.
Instead, simbas quest to reclaim his animal kingdom from his evil uncle scar was, seemingly derived from the essential conflict of shakespeares hamlet. As a part of our fall classic film series, cabaret cinema. Oct 09, 2015 macbeth, starring michael fassbender and marion cotillard, joins kenneth branaghs hamlet and orson welless chimes at midnight in my top 10 films based on the stratford playwrights works. The lion king was inspired by hamlet, yes, but also by the biblical stories of joseph and moses. Here, seven films that you may not know were based on.
Shakespeare day is celebrated every april 23 to recognize the birth and death of english poet and playwright william shakespeare. Mel gibson version of hamlet is set in a dark and medieval time castle. He stabs the curtain that polonius was behind multiple times. Branagh based this film on a conflated version of the hamlet text. It happened to sweet little simba of disneys 1994 hit the lion. Hamlet, prince of denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer, his uncle.
He wrote some of the worlds most famous plays, including hamlet and romeo and juliet, so its no wonder hollywood adapted his literary works for the big screen. Based on a true story dapres une histoire vraie 2017. Much of the plot of hamlet ceases to make sense when it is set in modern new york city, as this version is. The following 49 pages are in this category, out of 49 total. The brothers are appointed to rule over jutland, and orvendil. Sep 08, 20 branagh based this film on a conflated version of the hamlet text. Tells the hamlet tale from the point of view of ophelia, the daughter of claudius chief advisor who falls for prince hamlet. And there are a lot of shakespeare films out there. While the use of sets and effects were impressive in the 1940s, by todays standards this version looks and feels more like a stage play. He has the perfect look for the part, and he nailed the danish princes anxiety and snark. How many movies based on shakespeare plays are there.
My fiance and i screened 4 versions of hamlet in the last 4 weeks before this came out. In the movie during the scene where hamlet kills polonius hamlet is definitely being depicted as actually being insane. Already exhausted by the endless demands for interviews and made vulnerable by her memories. Hamlets dearest friend, horatio, agrees with him that claudius has unambiguously confirmed his guilt. Parents need to know that ophelia is a revisionist take on hamlets love interest presenting her as much more independent and wiseminded than she appears in shakespeares classic play. First loved, then spurned by hamlet, she goes mad and drowns in the river, though we do not know whether by accident or intention.
Two recent film versions of hamlet, david melville in 2010 and bruce ramsay in 2011, both cut the play to a running time of under 90 minutes. But his third film, haider, based on the english writers work is getting wider media attention due to its controversial backdrop. The royal shakespeare companys awardwinning production of hamlet, directed by rsc chief associate director gregory doran, stars david tennant doctor who in the title role. Everything you need to know about ophelia movie 2019. Hamlet, tragedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written about 15991601 and published in a quarto edition in 1603 from an unauthorized text. After a string of hits that started with the little mermaid in 1989, by 1994 the lion king was the first big disney animated feature at that time that wasnt based even loosely on an existing fairy tale, myth or story. Most popular shakespeares hamlet movies and tv shows imdb. Nicol williamson, marianne faithfull, anthony hopkins. The lion king shares a similar plot, character relationship, and symbols and theme with the hamlet play. While there is no profanity apart from damn and god the dialogue is often hard to follow for those unfamiliar with shakespearean plays. This lesson leaves out some films that function mainly as records of. Top 10 movies you didnt know were based on shakespeare plays. Over half of all shakespeare feature film adaptations are based on hamlet, romeo and juliet, macbeth or othello.
Simba, the lion king s main protagonist, is the son of mufasa, the king of pride rock. By one count, there are over 50 filmed versions of hamlet, shakespeares longest and mostquoted masterpiece. The 17 best movies based on william shakespeares plays. The movie was arguably based off of the famous hamlet play written by william shakespeare almost four hundred years earlier. Adapted for the screen and filmed on location, this dynamic, exciting and contemporary production features all key original cast members from the staged version. Movie adaption of hamlet analysis film studies essay. Hamlet is based on a norse legend composed by saxo grammaticus in latin around 1200 ad. If anything, hamlet is about the undiscovered country, which, in the play is pretty clearly a metaphor for death. Both characters lives are profoundly shaped by their fathers death, and no siblings are mentioned in either story. The creatorwriter of the show, kurt sutter, has mentioned in interviews that sons of anarchy which centers on a closelyknit motorcycle club is loosely based on hamlet.
In the play, hamlets mother gertrude describes ophelias death as though she saw it herself, the girl incapable of her own distress, singing in the water. Christopher plummer stars as shakespeares dane in this production of hamlet, shot on location at elsinore castle. In total, there are 525 feature films which give william shakespeare some form of writing credit. Apr 14, 2014 hamlet is the most often adapted shakespeare play. This is a major scene because of the importance that it has to the movie. Parents need to know that ophelia is a revisionist take on hamlet s love interest presenting her as much more independent and wiseminded than she appears in shakespeares classic play.
Jun 28, 2019 ophelia is a tragic figure in a tragic play. In saxos version, king rorik of the danes places his trust in two brothers, orvendil and fengi. Its easy to overlook the relationship between hamlet and the lion. Hamlet just three years later, kurosawa directed another shakespeare adaptation. The best standard version is probably the arden shakespeare edition, amazon uk. The relationship between hamlet and his father claudius played by derek jacobi shows much more emotion than other adaptations of hamlet, clearly expressing their emotions verbally and physically. The movie was a critical and commercial failure, and its probably. The lighting of the movie plays a major role in the production of the film because it demonstrates emotions and feelings from the characters. Macbeth, starring michael fassbender and marion cotillard, joins kenneth branaghs hamlet and orson welless chimes at midnight in my top. This movie used all of shakespeares text, making the movie last for approximately four hours long. There is a book version of the hamlet screenplay, amazon uk though this has no notes on the text. Apr 23, 2014 lion king and hamlet jax of sons of anarchy was hardly the first fictional character forced to live out the plot of hamlet. Sep 27, 2016 christopher plummer stars as shakespeares dane in this production of hamlet, shot on location at elsinore castle.
Even when he finds out that it was polonius and not claudius he felt no sympathy. Hamlet was oliviers second film as director and the second of the three shakespeare films that he directed the 1936 as you like it had starred olivier, but had been directed by paul czinner. The disney classic, the lion king, is also loosely based on hamlet. There is a book version of the hamlet screenplay, amazon uk. Of hamlet alone, close to 100 movie and tv adaptations have been made since 1907. Written and directed by women and starring star wars daisy ridley in the title role, the film moves through all the beats of hamlet from ophelias point of view. It reminds us that shakespeare is all around us and that his plays capture the essence of humanity in a way that. The lion king movie was a breathtaking drama and musical movie created by disney released in 1994. Lion king and hamlet jax of sons of anarchy was hardly the first fictional character forced to live out the plot of hamlet. Four modern movies, based on shakespeare plays are.
Tells the hamlet tale from the point of view of ophelia, the daughter of claudius chief advisor who falls for. Hollywood has produced at least 250 films based on the plays or on characters or plots from the plays. But ethan hawkes louche, slacker hamlet is perfect for its time and his to be, or not to be is superb. Tony richardsons hamlet is based on his own stage production. Zeffirelli, an icon of the shakespeare world, directed this version of hamlet. Dec 09, 2014 but regardless of his intent, kurt sutter has stated on numerous occasions that sons of anarchy is loosely based on shakespeares hamlet, which means we were bound to come across quite a few. Richardsons movie was based on his stage production of hamlet, and it has a more theatrical feel than the other adaptations. The lion king and hamlet both feature an uncle as the villain. The movie was a critical and commercial failure, and its probably the least popular movie adaptation of hamlet.
Favorite animated movie villains defeats and deaths duration. Filmed entirely within the roundhouse in london a disused train shed, it is shot almost entirely in close up, focusing the attention on faces and language rather than action. Of the movies based on shakespeare, which plays are most frequently adapted. Jul 19, 2019 the ghost in hamlet is shiftier than the ghost in the lion king in the same way that hamlets journey is shifter than just walking across a log and suddenly being a grownup. It focuses more on hamlets relationship with ophelia than the other versions.