Research Essay on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

To Cut Or Not To Cut

Kenneth Branagh 's William Shakespeare 's Hamlet ' is the only film adaptation to completely film every scene and dialogue of the play , thus the four hour run . The edited version is over two hours . Branagh takes on the role of the Danish prince , stands behind the camera (as he is the director ) and is responsible for the screenplay 'Hamlet ' is one of Shakespeare 's best tragedy . It was written between 1599 and 1601 . This is the story of Hamlet who is the Prince of Denmark He wants

to avenge the death of his father who was murdered by his own uncle , Claudius . Claudius also marries Hamlet 's mother Gertrude . There is still ongoing debate whether Hamlet is really mad or he merely pretends to be mad in to fool everyone around him

A true blue Shakespearean like Branagh knows that there are three different versions of the play . There is the First Quarto , the Second Quarto and the First Folio . For his movie , Branagh used the Second Quarto and added some lines from the First Folio in to show the audience the complete version of Shakespeare 's Hamlet

In the big screen , Hamlet ' has been adapted over and over again Laurence Olivier and Franco Zefferelli had their own versions . The role has been played by actors like Olivier , Mel Gibson and Ethan Hawke (who is the youngest ever to do so ) However , critics who respect Shakespeare 's works believe that it is only Branagh who got it right . In fact , he was able to present the story of the Danish prince in an engaging manner

At a time when people are easily bored and has more important stuff to do than spend four hours in the movie house and listen to British actors speak old English and spend minutes talking to themselves , Branagh directs the 1996 version of Hamlet ' as an action-packed and emotionally riveting cinematic masterpiece that has a wonderful ensemble of the best British (and a couple of American ) actors . This is because Branagh is the only director-actor-writer who understands how important every scene is in the play . If William Shakespeare were alive , he would have been proud

The play begins at Elsinore . This is the abode of the Danish royal family . Marcellus and Barnardo , two guards , persuade Horatio , Hamlet 's best friend , that they have seen an apparition which they believe to be the ghost of the former king . Horatio only believes them after seeing the ghost himself . Horatio brings Hamlet with him and together , they wait for the ghost to appear . The ghost confides to his son that he was poisoned by Claudius . He wishes that his death be avenged

Hamlet 's actions toward others clearly show his growing madness . Experts on the play believe that at the first part of the play , Hamlet was merely pretending to be mad so he could play the people around him , just as he was being played . He accuses his school...