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Importing Wikidata short description: "1959 film by Royston Morley" (Shortdesc helper)
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{{short description|1959 film by Royston Morley}}
{{Short description|1959 Australian TV play by Royston Morley}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox television
⚫
| name = Hamlet
| image =
| image = Hamlet_1959_tv_play.png
| image size =
| image_upright =
| caption =
| image_alt =
| caption = Advertisement from [[The Age]] 27 Sep 1961
⚫
| genre =
⚫
| creator =
⚫
| based_on = {{based on|''Hamlet''<br>1599 play|[[William Shakespeare]]}}
| writer = Royston Morley
⚫
| screenplay =
⚫
| story =
| director = [[Royston Morley]]
| director = [[Royston Morley]]
| producer =
| starring =
| writer =
| narrated =
⚫
| based on = ''[[Hamlet]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]]
| starring = William Job
| music =
| music =
⚫
| cinematography =
⚫
| editing =
|studio = ABC
⚫
| distributor = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (Australia)
⚫
| released = 1959
⚫
| runtime =
| country = Australia
| country = Australia
| language = English
| language = English
| num_episodes =
| producer = Royston Morley
| editor =
⚫
| cinematography =
| runtime = 120 mins<ref>{{cite news|title=TV Guide|newspaper=The Age|date=16 July 1959|page=35}}</ref>
| company = ABC
| budget = £2,500<ref name="tv"/>
| budget = £2,500<ref name="tv"/>
| network = [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC]]
| released = {{Start date|1959|06|13|df=y}} (Sydney, live)<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590423&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Shakespeare Dramas ABC TV Project|date=April 23, 1959|page=12}}</ref>
| released2 = {{Start date|1959|07|22|df=y}} (Melbourne, taped)<ref name="two"/>
}}
}}
⚫
'''''Hamlet''''' is a 1959 Australian TV play starring William Job and produced by [[Royston Morley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/len-richardson.htm|title=Interview with Len Richardson|website=ABC TV at Gore Hill|access-date=21 May 2016|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801151608/http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/len-richardson.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19590716&id=HlsRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6858,2549537&hl=en|newspaper=The Age|title=TV Scores with Ghost in Hamletdate=July 16, 1959|page=14}}</ref>


⚫
It was one of the first two productions of Shakespeare transmitted by ABC, the other being ''[[Antony and Cleopatra (1959 film)|Anthony and Cleopatra]]''.<ref name="tv">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43736972 |title=Hamlet on TV |work=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=26 |issue=5[?] |date=27 May 1959 |access-date=21 May 2016 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
⚫
'''''Hamlet''''' is a 1959 Australian TV play starring William Job and produced by [[Royston Morley]].<ref>[http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/assets/contributions/len-richardson.htm]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19590716&id=HlsRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TKsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6858,2549537&hl=en]</ref>


==Plot==
⚫
It was one of two notable productions of Shakespeare transmitted by ABC, the other being ''[[Antony and Cleopatra (1959 film)|Anthony and Cleopatra]]''.<ref name="tv">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43736972 |title=Hamlet on TV |work=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=26 |issue=5[?] |date=27 May 1959 |accessdate=21 May 2016 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
{{no plot|date= March 2024}}


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
⚫
* William Job as [[Hamlet]]
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Henry Gilbert as the King
⚫
*William Job as ''Hamlet'',
*Henry Gilbert as ''the King'',
* [[Georgie Sterling]] as the Queen
*[[Georgie Sterling]] as ''the Queen'',
* [[Owen Weingott]] as [[Laertes (Hamlet)|Laertes]]
⚫
* [[Delia Williams]] as [[Ophelia]]
*Owen Weingott as ''Laertes'',
⚫
* [[Gordon Glenwright]] as the Gravedigger
⚫
*Delia William as ''Ophelia''
* James Lynch as Bernado
⚫
*Gordon Glenwright as the gravedigger
* Grahame Webb as Francisco / Attendant
}}
* Frank Taylor as Horatio
* Vaughan Tracey as Marcellus
* Charles McCallum as [[Voltemand]] / Priest
* Geoffrey King as [[Polonius]]
* John Fegan as Ghost
* Maurice Travers as [[Guildenstern|Rosencrantz]]
* James Elliott as [[Guildenstern]]
* Lou Vernon as the Player King
* Dennis Carroll as Player Queen
* John Hurrell as Lucianus / Osric
* Tony Arpino as Norwegian Captain
* Geoffrey Hill as [[Fortinbras]]
* Douglas Hayes as the Gravedigger
* Ria Sohier as Attendant
* Anne Kelly as Attendant
* Evelyn Kopfer as Attendant
* John Brock as Attendant
* David Bryant as Attendant
* Kevin Williams as Attendant
* Gary Deacon as Attendant

==Production==
William Job had played Hamlet on stage in Adelaide in 1952. He then went to England and Canada and had only recently returned to Australia, appearing in a TV production of ''The Seagull''.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date= April 20, 1959|title=Famous Drama On Channel 2|page=25}}</ref> It was Georgie Sterling's third TV appearance after ''The Multi-Coloured Umbrella'' and ''Sorry Wrong Number''.

The show used some basic special effects to create the ghosts.<ref>{{citation|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590716&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=TV Scores With Ghost Hamlet|date=16 July 1959|page=14}}</ref>

Owen Weingott helped choreograph the fight scene.<ref name="aww"/>

The production had a ten-minute intermission.<ref name="two">{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date =15 June 1959|page=17|title=Two productions of Shakespeare}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
The production was well received.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43598100 |title=Brains and brawn agree-variety best |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=27 |issue=4 |date=1 July 1959 |accessdate=21 May 2016 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The production was well received. The ''Australian Woman's Weekly'' called it "two hours of engrossing TV... It was just pleasure and wonderful entertainment. Even if you didn't like Shakespeare, any televiewer would appreciate the notable production and camera work.... A most satisfying night of TV."<ref name="aww">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43598100 |title=Brains and brawn agree-variety best |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=27 |issue=4 |date=1 July 1959 |access-date=21 May 2016 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


A critic from the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said that it "proved that Shakespeare can be successfully translated to television" with Morley's direction responsible for "much of the credit... he kept the field of action small, relying on _closeups to intensify the drama. I also thought that William Job's portrayal of the young and tragic Dane was outstanding."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 June 1959|title=TV Merry Go Round|first=Val|last=Marshall|page=70}}</ref>
A critic from the Sunday ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said that it "proved that Shakespeare can be successfully translated to television" with Morley's direction responsible for "much of the credit... he kept the field of action small, relying on _closeups to intensify the drama. I also thought that William Job's portrayal of the young and tragic Dane was outstanding... A night to remember"<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 June 1959|title=TV Merry Go Round|first=Val|last=Marshall|page=70}}</ref>


A critic from the daily ''Sydney Morning Herald'' thought the production suffered from "the skimping of preparation time, the skimping of histrionic talent, and the skimping of imagination and subtlety" although it said Job's performance was one of "sensitiveness, vision and skill".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 June 1959|page=8|title=TV Duel with "Hamlet"|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121456207/?terms=%22delia%2Bwilliams%22}}</ref>
⚫
It was repeated in 1964.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104289744 |title=Hamlet On Channel 3 |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=38 |issue=10,828 |date=22 April 1964 |accessdate=23 May 2016 |page=35 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The critic from ''The Age'' thought it was much better than ''Anthony and Cleopatra''.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|last=Janus|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590730&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Hamlet Drama Puts Bard Back on TV|date=30 July 1959|page=13}}</ref>
The ''Bulletin'' thought the tragedy of the play "shrank to middle-class size; Hamlet was a G.P.S. boy angry and hurt by what had been going on at home during term" but felt "the production was sound enough—even, in places, admirable."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Bulletin|title=Shakespeare on Film|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-688016177|page=26|date=June 24, 1959}}</ref>

⚫
It was repeated in 1961 and 1964.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104289744 |title=Hamlet On Channel 3 |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=38 |issue=10,828 |date=22 April 1964 |access-date=23 May 2016 |page=35 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)]]
* [[List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)]]


==References==
==References==
Line 50: Line 95:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|1784462|Hamlet}}
* {{IMDb title|1784462|Hamlet}}


{{Hamlet}}
{{Hamlet}}
{{Royston Morley}}


[[Category:Australian television plays]]
[[Category:1959 Australian television plays]]
[[Category:1959 television plays]]
[[Category:1959 television plays]]
[[Category:Films based on Hamlet]]
[[Category:Films based on Hamlet]]
[[Category:Australian films]]
[[Category:Television shows based on Hamlet]]
[[Category:Australian television plays based on works by William Shakespeare]]

[[Category:Television plays directed by Royston Morley]]
⚫
[[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation television plays]]
[[Category:Television plays filmed in Sydney]]


{{Australia-tv-film-stub}}
{{Australia-tv-film-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:36, 25 October 2024

Hamlet
Advertisement from The Age 27 Sep 1961
Based onHamlet
1599 play
by William Shakespeare
Written byRoyston Morley
Directed byRoyston Morley
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRoyston Morley
Running time120 mins[1]
Production companyABC
Budget£2,500[2]
Original release
NetworkABC
Release13 June 1959 (1959-06-13) (Sydney, live)[3]
Release22 July 1959 (1959-07-22) (Melbourne, taped)[4]

Hamlet is a 1959 Australian TV play starring William Job and produced by Royston Morley.[5][6]

It was one of the first two productions of Shakespeare transmitted by ABC, the other being Anthony and Cleopatra.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Cast

[edit]
  • William Job as Hamlet
  • Henry Gilbert as the King
  • Georgie Sterling as the Queen
  • Owen Weingott as Laertes
  • Delia Williams as Ophelia
  • Gordon Glenwright as the Gravedigger
  • James Lynch as Bernado
  • Grahame Webb as Francisco / Attendant
  • Frank Taylor as Horatio
  • Vaughan Tracey as Marcellus
  • Charles McCallum as Voltemand / Priest
  • Geoffrey King as Polonius
  • John Fegan as Ghost
  • Maurice Travers as Rosencrantz
  • James Elliott as Guildenstern
  • Lou Vernon as the Player King
  • Dennis Carroll as Player Queen
  • John Hurrell as Lucianus / Osric
  • Tony Arpino as Norwegian Captain
  • Geoffrey Hill as Fortinbras
  • Douglas Hayes as the Gravedigger
  • Ria Sohier as Attendant
  • Anne Kelly as Attendant
  • Evelyn Kopfer as Attendant
  • John Brock as Attendant
  • David Bryant as Attendant
  • Kevin Williams as Attendant
  • Gary Deacon as Attendant

Production

[edit]

William Job had played Hamlet on stage in Adelaide in 1952. He then went to England and Canada and had only recently returned to Australia, appearing in a TV production of The Seagull.[7] It was Georgie Sterling's third TV appearance after The Multi-Coloured Umbrella and Sorry Wrong Number.

The show used some basic special effects to create the ghosts.[8]

Owen Weingott helped choreograph the fight scene.[9]

The production had a ten-minute intermission.[4]

Reception

[edit]

The production was well received. The Australian Woman's Weekly called it "two hours of engrossing TV... It was just pleasure and wonderful entertainment. Even if you didn't like Shakespeare, any televiewer would appreciate the notable production and camera work.... A most satisfying night of TV."[9]

A critic from the Sunday Sydney Morning Herald said that it "proved that Shakespeare can be successfully translated to television" with Morley's direction responsible for "much of the credit... he kept the field of action small, relying on _closeups to intensify the drama. I also thought that William Job's portrayal of the young and tragic Dane was outstanding... A night to remember"[10]

A critic from the daily Sydney Morning Herald thought the production suffered from "the skimping of preparation time, the skimping of histrionic talent, and the skimping of imagination and subtlety" although it said Job's performance was one of "sensitiveness, vision and skill".[11]

The critic from The Age thought it was much better than Anthony and Cleopatra.[12]

The Bulletin thought the tragedy of the play "shrank to middle-class size; Hamlet was a G.P.S. boy angry and hurt by what had been going on at home during term" but felt "the production was sound enough—even, in places, admirable."[13]

It was repeated in 1961 and 1964.[14]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 16 July 1959. p. 35.
  2. ^ a b "Hamlet on TV". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 26, no. 5[?]. 27 May 1959. p. 50. Retrieved 21 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Shakespeare Dramas ABC TV Project". The Age. 23 April 1959. p. 12.
  4. ^ a b "Two productions of Shakespeare". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 June 1959. p. 17.
  5. ^ "Interview with Len Richardson". ABC TV at Gore Hill. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  6. ^ "TV Scores with Ghost in Hamletdate=July 16, 1959". The Age. p. 14.
  7. ^ "Famous Drama On Channel 2". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 April 1959. p. 25.
  8. ^ "TV Scores With Ghost Hamlet", Sydney Morning Herald, p. 14, 16 July 1959
  9. ^ a b "Brains and brawn agree-variety best". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 27, no. 4. 1 July 1959. p. 50. Retrieved 21 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ Marshall, Val (14 June 1959). "TV Merry Go Round". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 70.
  11. ^ "TV Duel with "Hamlet"". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 June 1959. p. 8.
  12. ^ Janus (30 July 1959). "Hamlet Drama Puts Bard Back on TV". The Age. p. 13.
  13. ^ "Shakespeare on Film". The Bulletin. 24 June 1959. p. 26.
  14. ^ "Hamlet On Channel 3". The Canberra Times. Vol. 38, no. 10, 828. 22 April 1964. p. 35. Retrieved 23 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
[edit]
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