Really Minnelli

  Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet is widely considered one of the best adaptations to date, and he is regarded as the best Shakespearean actor in many circles. Although the play does feature a few comedic scenes, overall it has, quite fittingly, a very dull and melancholy theme to it. Death and afterlife in Olivier’s Hamlet is presented with uncertainty which is portrayed through Hamlet’s indecisiveness. In the famous “To be, or not to be” scene, Olivier (Hamlet) watches over waves crashing violently on some rocks beneath him from the top of the ramparts, where he considers suicide as he draws out a dagger, but decides against it as he seems to fear “…in that sleep of death what dreams may come”. It seems as if Hamlet is weary of life, but fears what may come after, which proves to be the deciding factor in him choosing to live. This theme of uncertainty of what happens after death seems to recur throughout the play. Another instance where Hamlet is bothered by this doubt is when he chanc

Director's Notebook   The play featured in the video is an amateur production of Hamlet, of Act 1 Scene 4. The opening scene shows Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus standing in silence on a minimalistic set, on watch for the Ghost King. The Ghost appears a few minutes into the clip, and only a few features are discernible because of the dim lighting and eerily swirling smoke, causing the trio to panic. The Ghost’s appearance has intentionally been given an air of mystery, so as to create a sense of tension and uncertainty among the audience, as this is one of the most important turning points in the plot. Although on watch, the group seem to be at ease before the Ghost appears. The speech is casual; however, at the appearance of the Ghost, the atmosphere of the scene changes instantly and dramatically. Horatio cries out in surprise and grabs Hamlet’s shoulder to point in the direction of the approaching apparition. Soon after, Hamlet addresses the Ghost in a frightened and wavering v