http://www.youtube.com/v/xYZHb2xo0OI?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=LVl4S2vlhiNCaplxp_1A1A&showinfo=1&autoplay=1
Olivier's Hamlet film (1948): To Be Or Not To Be soliloquy
http://www.youtube.com/v/5ks-NbCHUns?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=qMJGU8zBwE47bLju2AX5qQ&showinfo=1&feature=share
The “to be or not to be” soliloquy is Hamlet questioning whether he should exist or stop existing. Hamlet throughout the whole speech is constantly comparing the pain of life to the fear of dying.
In David Tennants version of Hamlets to be or not soliloquy, it seems to be a more modern portrayal of the play. At first Hamlet seems very distressed and very sad but later the actors anger begins to grow. Also the actor does not move from the same spot the whole time.
Oliviers version of the Hamlet is a more actual portrayal of what is read in the play. We first seem Hamlet on a rock on the edge of a cliff looking out onto the water. It looks as if Hamlet is about to commit suicide, constantly looking down and constantly pulling out is sword. In addition, Hamlet through out the whole video always looks distressed and never turns to anger.
The portrayal of the two films To not To Be soliloquy are both very different from each other. The two actors who play the part of Hamlet take a different approach on how to reveal Hamlet. In Tennants version, we see Hamlet express is feelings by getting mad and he does an excellent of job this because he stays in the same spot through out the whole soliloquy. In Olivier’s version, we see Hamlet constantly pulling out a sword and he is on an edge of a cliff. This is a more obvious depiction of the soliloquy. I believe in this one that director really wanted the person watching the film to know exactly what Hamlet is feeling; to continue to exist or to not.
Annie! What an extraordinary post!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Prince Hamlet didn't move in David Tennant's version of the play drew my attention too! I found his lack of movement to be quite dull and result in a weak scene. Not only does he stay in one place, but we don't even know where exactly he is since the background is almost blank. As I watched this scene, I felt as if the actor was reading the lines out of the play instead of acting them out.
Furthermore, in Olivier's version of Hamlet, I reached at a similar thought. I, too, thought that Prince Hamlet was going to kill himself when he was drawing his sword/knife. I didn't quite think about the jumping off a cliff idea but I think you make a great print with that as well. Olivier, I think, did a great job with the setting of the scene and Hamlet's hand actions.
Dave