Hamlet (1996)

Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet (1996) is a landmark in Shakespearean cinema. A four-hour epic that adapts the full, unabridged text of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, this version is as ambitious as it is sumptuous. Shot in glorious 70mm and set in a lavish, late 19th-century European milieu, Branagh's Hamlet is both a celebration of theatrical tradition and a bold cinematic experiment. It’s a film that demands patience but rewards viewers with a rare and deeply satisfying theatrical experience brought to the screen with intelligence, passion, and grandeur.

Plot Summary

As one of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays, Hamlet follows the Prince of Denmark (Kenneth Branagh) as he descends into existential crisis following the death of his father and the hasty marriage of his mother Gertrude (Julie Christie) to his uncle Claudius (Derek Jacobi), who has seized the throne. When the ghost of Hamlet’s father reveals that he was murdered by Claudius, Hamlet is thrust into a spiral of grief, madness (both feigned and real), and philosophical introspection, ultimately leading to a bloody and tragic conclusion.

Faithful and Full Text Adaptation

What sets Branagh’s version apart from most others is its commitment to the entire text of the play. While most film adaptations truncate Shakespeare’s dense language for pacing and clarity, Branagh’s film includes every line—resulting in a runtime of just over four hours. For Shakespeare purists, it’s a gift. For casual viewers, it may seem daunting, but the payoff is a deeper, more nuanced understanding of every subplot and motivation.

Branagh keeps the energy high with fluid camera movement, dynamic editing, and stylised flashbacks that bring clarity to the language. Rather than a static recitation of Shakespeare’s words, this Hamlet pulses with cinematic life.

Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet

Branagh’s performance as Hamlet is intelligent, passionate, and commanding. He captures the prince’s shifting emotions—grief, rage, wit, melancholy, and madness—with clarity and force. His delivery of the famous soliloquies (“To be or not to be,” “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I,” etc.) is powerful, with careful modulation and emotional weight. At times, Branagh plays the role with a theatrical intensity that might overwhelm subtler tastes, but it fits the grandiosity of this production.

His interpretation leans toward the political and philosophical—his Hamlet is not just a grieving son, but a cunning mind entangled in a morally decaying court.

Supporting Cast

Branagh surrounds himself with a remarkable ensemble cast:

Derek Jacobi is superb as Claudius, delivering a performance that balances regal authority with ruthless guilt.

Julie Christie brings poise and quiet anguish to Gertrude, capturing the character’s tragic blindness to the rot around her.

Kate Winslet, as Ophelia, is heartbreaking. Her descent into madness is portrayed with raw vulnerability, making her demise feel especially tragic.

Richard Briers (Polonius) is both bumbling and endearing, while Michael Maloney (Laertes) adds youthful energy and fury.

Brian Blessed, as the Ghost, is commanding and spectral, setting a foreboding tone from the outset.

In a curious touch, the film also features numerous cameo appearances by high-profile actors—Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Charlton Heston, Gérard Depardieu, Judi Dench, John Gielgud—which occasionally risk distracting from the drama but also add gravitas and variety to smaller roles.

Visual Style and Cinematography

Visually, the film is spectacular. Cinematographer Alex Thomson shoots in rich, vibrant colours, with striking use of deep focus and sweeping camera moves. The 70mm format enhances the grandeur of the set design, which was inspired by the opulence of 19th-century European palaces—think mirrors, chandeliers, marble halls, and gold filigree.

This aesthetic contrasts sharply with the play’s grim themes of decay, betrayal, and moral corruption, offering a powerful visual irony: a beautiful world slowly crumbling from within.

Pacing and Length

At over four hours, Hamlet (1996) is not for the faint of heart. Yet it never drags, thanks to Branagh’s confident pacing, energetic direction, and the play’s inherently gripping structure. The film keeps moving, shifting between intimate confessions, grand court scenes, and intense action with admirable fluidity.

For those unfamiliar with Shakespearean dialogue, the full text can be a lot to take in. But Branagh's visual storytelling aids comprehension, and his willingness to stage action alongside introspection keeps the audience engaged.

Themes and Interpretation

Branagh's adaptation emphasises the political stakes of the play—the fragility of monarchy, the price of revenge, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Hamlet is not just a man in crisis; he is a symbolic figure in a society on the edge of collapse. The use of mirrors throughout the film reinforces themes of duality, reflection, and deceit.

It also underscores the generational conflict and the impossible burden placed on the young by the sins of their elders. This thematic richness is part of what gives Branagh’s Hamlet its lasting resonance.

Conclusion

Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet is a monumental cinematic achievement: an unabridged Shakespearean epic that is as thrilling to look at as it is intellectually rewarding. It stands as perhaps the definitive film version of Hamlet, both reverent to the Bard and invigorated by the possibilities of cinema. While its length and language may challenge casual viewers, those willing to engage will find it an unforgettable experience.

Rating:

A majestic, full-bodied Shakespeare adaptation—ambitious, dazzling, and performed with conviction. One of the greatest Shakespeare films ever made.