Hamlet

In his adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, Kenneth Branagh set the story in the 19th century, but did not change the text, which was written in Elizabethan English. Over four hours long, the star-studded film—featuring Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie and Kate Winslet in the lead roles, alongside John Gielgud, Judi Dench, Charlton Heston, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon and Richard Attenborough—was the first to present the unabridged version of the play. Blenheim Palace served as the exterior backdrop for Elsinore Castle, while the interior scenes were filmed at Shepperton Studios. Until 2011, HAMLET was the last film to be shot entirely with 65-mm cameras, unusually for a stage-to-screen adaptation that eschews spectacle and consists primarily of close-ups. "The glory of 70mm is the sharpness of the images it offers. With 70mm, we get a chance to go from what is essentially a personal, domestic story about a family and its' problems to the epic dimension that reflects the effects of those problems on the nation." (Kenneth Branagh) (hjf)