Europäisches Theater: Hamlet

I was more fortunate than I knew at the time to catch this version of Hamlet in 1964. I was a teen and newly smitten with Shakespeare tragedies. I taped the audio from our television with my new Wollensak 7" reel-to-reel. I listened to and studied that tape for the rest of my adolescence, watched the Olivier Hamlet and later others, both onstage and on film, and this is the one that stayed with me as the most complete in every dimension. The cast was the best balanced, the setting the most evocative of place and time. Above all, this treatment of character and motivation was the most humanly real, truthful, not pontifical like Olivier's or melodramatic and stagy like others. I have been looking for any kind of reproduction of it ever since, even an audio. What I wouldn't give to have this on CD now!

It is out of a long memory I write this review and the score of ten is biased as my late Father was the recording engineer. How dearly I would love to have a copy of this. If somebody has this on tape from a TV screening, check the credits for Palle K Rasmussen. He was in charge of "Dubbing" - the audio side - of DR, the Danish equivalent of the BBC. As the BBC did the video side my Dad was boss of the audio side. The old Elsinore Castle, known as Kronborg by the locals, was not electrified and the BBC paid several thousand pounds to have it done. There is a beach in front of the castle looking across the Sound to Sweden, and as a kid went fishing there (I live in Australia). Now my sister lives in the outskirts of Elsinore and works in the bank near the shadow of the castle. Also Joern Utzon, the designer of the Opera House here in Sydney, lived nearby but passed away just recently. If you ever go there, do go to the castle and see the famous 200 feet long great Knights Hall where the final scene of the duel and Hamlet's death was filmed, the very place Shakespeare had in mind. Walk through the grottoes as well and see the sleeping Holger the Dane. It is well worth it.

As for Plummer's performance, it is a very sensitive and reflective one. Quite authentic in its own way. Now can anybody help with a copy... ?

Even though I saw this program only twice 45 years ago, the quality of the acting and the high production standards made this HAMLET a very memorable experience. I was a drama student in high school at that time, and very much into Shakespeare and classical theater. I am now a semi-retired actor, director, and author; I have seen over 35 movie, television, and stage productions of HAMLET, and still remember Mr. Plummer's interpretation of HAMLET with clear distinction. The fine acting, the atmosphere, and the authentic staging created by filming at the actual Elsinore Castle in Denmark make this HAMLET the benchmark to which most other productions have aspired. In addition to Christopher Plummer, the cast included Robert Shaw, Michael Caine, Roy Kinnear, and Donald Sutherland. However, the most amazing thing about this HAMLET is that it has never become available in either VHS or DVD. THAT is the REAL tragedy... indeed, something does seem rotten in the State of Denmark.

I wasn't very old but I was fascinated. Of course Christopher Plummer and Robert Shaw were brilliant, but it was also fascinating to watch a young Michael Caine and Donald Sutherland. Since I'm Danish it was a special thrill that it was actually filmed where Shakespeare let it take place. I would love to watch it again.

It's funny that so many people remember this telecast from almost 50 years ago. And with such uniformly positive feelings.

I remember the pounding waves and the Long Hall. I remember Robert Shaw as the first Claudius I ever saw who was not only sonorous and regal, but violent, and sexy enough to seduce the Queen and make her agree to kill her husband. I remember Donald Sutherland coming in at the end as Fortinbras, and for once saving the character from being a wimpy, pompous letdown.

Until recently, the film could only be seen in America at the Paley Media Centers in New York and Los Angeles.

However Sir Michael Caine was recently reminded of his participation in this long-forgotten film, and he asked the BBC to resurrect it.

We'll all have a chance to check our memories soon.