Hamlet (1964) 2

Alternative title: Richard Burton’s Hamlet
Synopsis: Richard Burton’s performance as Hamlet, directed for stage by John Gielgud, and recorded at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre, New York, on 30 June and 1 July 1964, during a regularly scheduled performance of the play. Cameras were placed at various points in the auditorium, recording the performance over the two nights, and the actors made no concessions to the cameras. The result was as close to a live theatre performance as possible. Burton is charismatic, treating the role almost as a one-man show, he is clearly enthralled by the language, but fails to unite the production through engagement with the physical stage and rapport with the emotional demands of the other characters.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Film; Video; 2 videocassettes. VHS. b&w. 220 min.
Technical information: Black-and-white / Sound
Year of release: 1964
Year of production: 1964
Availability: Sale; 1996 sale: £16.99 (inclusive)
Notes: The 1996 BMG video release includes a four-minute interview with Richard Burton made on the eve of the original screenings of the film. The video release is currently out of distribution (8/2009). The DVD (NTSC) interactive menus include filmographies and awards, trailer and chapter selections.

The British Library Sound Archive holds a live sound recording made 30 June 1964.
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items: Richard Burton Discusses Hamlet; Shakespeare - Playing the Dane

Online availability

URI: https://youtu.be/vABGEzB7T9M
Delivery: Streamed

Credits

Director

Bill Colleran

Producer

Alfred W Crown; William Sargent

Writer

Costume

Art Direction

Contributor

Cast

Alex Giannini
Alfred Drake
Barnard Hughes
Christopher Culkin
Clement Fowler
Dillon Evans
Eileen Herlie
Frederick Young
George Rose
George Voskovec
Hugh Alexander
Hume Cronyn
John Cullum
John Gielgud
Linda Marsh
Michael Ebert
Philip Coolidge
Richard Burton
Richard Sterne
Robert Milli
William Redfield