British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Hamlet

Synopsis
Televised adaptation of Robert Chetwyn’s Prospect Theatre Company production with Ian McKellen in the title role. David Giles directs for television.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
23 Sep 1972 at 21:05 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
115 mins

Credits

Director
David Giles
Producer
Eddie Kulukundis; Robert Chetwyn
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Marc Wilkinson
Cast
Ian McKellenHamlet
John WoodvineClaudius
Faith BrookGertrude
James CairncrossPolonius
Susan FleetwoodOphelia
Alan BennionVoltimand (Voltemand)
Christopher MorleyPlayer (4) (Player)
Colin KayeCornelius
David Ashton (2)Francisco
Duncan PrestonReynaldo
Ian PigotPlayer Queen
James CairncrossGravedigger
Julian CurryHoratio
Simon PrebbleGuildenstern
Stephen O’RourkeLucianus
Terence DoughertyPlayer (5) (Player)
Terence WiltonRosencrantz
Tim Pigott-SmithPlayer (1)
Tim Pigott-SmithLaertes

Additional Details

Theatre company
Prospect Theatre Company
Production type
Stage Recordings
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Edinburgh Festival

Notes

Notes
Although this production appears to have been a straightforward recording of the stage production, the visual possibilities of television came to bear fruit in the Ghost scene, where two simultaneous images of Ian McKellen’s face were superimposed on top of one another.
History
Produced by Knightsbridge Films for the BBC. The play was shown in America on CBS 4 August 1982 and the Theatre on Film and Tape and Paley Center recordings are from this transmission.

Production Company

Name

Knightsbridge Films

Phone
(020) 7373 5783
Address
63 Philbeach Gardens
London
SW5 9EE
UK

Archive

Name

Paley Center for Media

Web
http://www.paleycenter.org/ External site opens in new window
Phone
(212) 621-6600
Address
25 West 52 Street
New York
New York
110019
USA
Notes
Formerly Museum of Television and Radio (MTR). The name changed in 2007.
Name

Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT)

Email
toft@nypl.org
Web
http://www.nypl.org/locations/lpa/theatre-film-and-tape-archive External site opens in new window
Phone
+ 1 (212) 870-1642
Fax
(212) 8701868
Address
Billy Rose Theatre Collection
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York,New York
10023-7498
USA
Name

V&A Theatre & Performance Collections: National Video Archive of Performance

Email
tmenquiries@vam.ac.uk
Web
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/nvap/ External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7942 2697
Fax
020 7471 9864
Address
Blythe House
23 Blythe Road
London
W14 0QX

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 978 times.