Hamlet
Hamlet is a 1996 British epic historical drama film serving as an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, adapted and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as Prince Hamlet. The film also features Derek Jacobi as King Claudius, Julie Christie as Queen Gertrude, Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Michael Maloney as Laertes, Richard Briers as Polonius, and Nicholas Farrell as Horatio. Other cast members include Robin Williams, Gérard Depardieu, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Rufus Sewell, Charlton Heston, Richard Attenborough, Judi Dench, John Gielgud and Ken Dodd.
Plot
Prince Hamlet of Denmark is the son of the recently deceased King Hamlet and nephew of King Claudius, his father's brother and successor. Claudius hastily married King Hamlet's widow Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and took the throne for himself. Denmark has a longstanding feud with neighbouring Norway, in which King Hamlet slew King Fortinbras of Norway in a battle some years ago. Although Denmark defeated Norway and the Norwegian throne fell to King Fortinbras's infirm brother, Denmark fears that an invasion led by the dead Norwegian king's son, Prince Fortinbras, is imminent.
Cast
- Angela Douglas
- Billy Crystal
- Brian Blessed
- Charlton Heston
- Derek Jacobi
- Gérard Depardieu
- Ian McElhinney
- Jack Lemmon
- Jimi Mistry
- John Gielgud
- John Mills
- Judi Dench
- Julie Christie
- Kate Winslet
- Kenneth Branagh
- Michael Maloney
- Nicholas Farrell
- Perdita Weeks
- Ray Fearon
- Richard Attenborough
- Richard Briers
- Rob Edwards
- Robin Williams
- Rosemary Harris
- Rowena King
- Rufus Sewell
- Simon Russell Beale
- Timothy Spall