Hamlet (1959 film)
| Hamlet | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Hamlet by William Shakespeare |
| Directed by | Royston Morley |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production company | ABC |
| Budget | £2,500[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 13 June 1959 (Sydney, live))[2] |
Hamlet is a 1959 Australian TV play starring William Job and produced by Royston Morley.[3][4]
It was one of two notable productions of Shakespeare transmitted by ABC, the other being Anthony and Cleopatra.[1] Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[5]
Cast
- William Job as Hamlet,
- Henry Gilbert as the King,
- Georgie Sterling as the Queen,
- Owen Weingott as Laertes,
- Delia William as Ophelia
- Gordon Glenwright as the gravedigger
- James Lynch as Bernado
- Grahame Webb as Francisco
- Frank Taylor as Horatio
- Vaughan Tracey as Marcellus
- Charles McCallum as Voltemand
- 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
- Tony Arpino as Norwegian Captain
- Geoffrey Hill as Fortinbras
- Douglas Hayes as Gravedigger
- Gordon Glenwright as Gravedigger
- Charles McCallum as Priest
- John Hurrell as Osric
- Ria Sohier as attendant
- Anne Kelly as attendant
- Evelyn Kopfer as attendant
- John Brock as attendant
- David Bryant as attendant
- Kevin Williams as attendant
- Graham Webb as attendant
- Gary Deacon as attendant
Reception
The production was well received.[6]
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."[7]
The critic from The Age thought it was much better than Anthony and Cleopatra.[8]
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."[9]
It was repeated in 1964.[10]
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Shakespeare Dramas ABC TV Project". The Age. 23 April 1959. p. 12.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Interview with Len Richardson". ABC TV at Gore Hill.
- ^ "TV Scores with Ghost in Hamletdate=July 16, 1959". The Age. p. 14.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Marshall, Val (14 June 1959). "TV Merry Go Round". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 70.
- ^ Janus (30 July 1959). "Hamlet Drama Puts Bard Back on TV". The Age. p. 13.
- ^ "Shakespare on Film". The Bulletin. 24 June 1959. p. 26.
- ^ "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.
External links
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