Hamlet

press release:

THURS., 11/10, 6 p.m. HAMLET: UK | 1948 | 35mm | 153 min.

Director: Laurence Olivier; Cast: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Peter Cushing

Shakespeare’s masterpiece is given a lush, big-screen treatment by producer, director and star Olivier, who was rewarded with Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor. As the title character, Olivier is a crafty and quick-witted blonde Prince of Denmark. “This is very likely the most exciting and alive production...you will ever see on the screen” (Pauline Kael).

Hamlet x2: In conjunction with the Chazen Museum of Art’s exhibition of the Shakespeare First Folio from November 3 to December 11, the Cinematheque will co-present two decidedly different adaptations of the Bard’s Hamlet in the Chazen’s auditorium. Laurence Olivier won two Oscars for his largely faithful 1948 version of the tragedy, screening in a 35mm print on November 10. 35 years later, Canadian comics Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis brought their SCTV alter-egos Bob and Doug Mackenzie to the big screen for a “take off” on Hamlet entitled Strange Brew, screening on November 17. Also in November, other Shakespeare-on-film presentations include the Othello variation Catch My Soul, our Marquee Monday selection for November 7, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, part of our Olivia de Havilland centennial salute, at the Chazen on November 13.