This is part 1 of 4 of a series that takes Act 1, Scene 2 from Hamlet and gives it to us again and again and again, from different film productions. We'll be focusing on Laurence Olivier, Mel Gibson, Ethan Hawke, and David Tennant. Let's look at some key aspects of the Hamlets in these productions:
The first clip is LAURENCE OLIVIER as Hamlet, who we looked at in the last post (mentioned above) when we focused on how the setting influenced the sound and the overall mood. If you'll watch the clip, you'll notice that:
- the actors are both delivering their lines in RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION (for a review of RP and OP (original pronunciation), see this previous post). It is very proper, and dignified. It also seems a bit unattached at times (this is off topic, but for my feelings on why this actually matters, check out this post).
- Hamlet has a lot of "method in his madness". Olivier pulls off this madness as a continuation of his brooding self. He plays around with words, but he is still very solemn, and that makes it very difficult for Polonius to know whether or not to take him very seriously. Olivier has astounding acting skills, and this brand of calculating, cool-minded mad-man is rather startling.
The next clip is at 6:25 in that same video up there. Here we have MEL GIBSON as Hamlet, and he gives a new idea of Hamlet.
- His tone is more natural sounding, more human. It's definitely not OP, but it's more accessible than Olivier's high tone.
- Hamlet seems much more ... loose, shall we say? He is very quick on the draw (fishmonger, honest men, "slanderous" information on old men), he changes topics on a dime (from carrion to daughters), and his actions are more spasmodic, like a child desiring attention (jumping up into the loft, pushing the ladder away).
- I especially enjoy his interpretation of the line "Words, words, words" in response to Polonius' inquiry about his reading. He searches through his book, as if expecting to find something new, but he finds what he found in the beginning. Words.
Now, this next clip is of Ethan Hawke at 2:50 in the video below.
- This Hamlet brings out the troubled angsty teenager aspect of the character. Notice that the voice is not brooding like Olivier, but more sullen, angry, and very modern in tone.
- His "madness" is that of anger, and it can be witnessed in his carrying around a loaded gun.
The last one that I would like to look at starts right after the Ethan Hawke production in the second video clip (appx. 4:10). This is David Tennant.
- This man pulls madness into Hamlet's character! Notice the way that he is at times childlike (facial expressions, sitting upside down in the chair, the way he changes topics, etc.) and at others times he is deadly serious (when talking about carrion and daughters).
