There are over 40 film versions of Hamlet, but this quadruple Oscar winning 1948 Laurence Olivier production is no doubt the most celebrated. Olivier's considerably cropped take on that disaffected and dejected plain Dane (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern may not be dead, but they're nowhere to be found here) has been championed for over a half century, and though in truth it's looking mighty creaky these days, Olivier's reading still stands as the measure of all others. Sadly, however, Criterion dropped the ball big time on this one, with a mastering so lacking in depth and contrast that it looks like line art, not to mention being plagued with aliasing problems and digital artifacts. It's still sine qua non viewing, but this tragedy of a man "who couldn't make up his mind," as Olivier succinctly sums it up at the onset, still awaits its restorative due. Highly recommended, nonetheless. (S. C. Sickles)
Hamlet
Criterion, 153 min., not rated, $29.95 Vol. 16, Issue 1
Hamlet
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