the scene where he confronts his mother is so breathtaking in its heart break. Both actors have great chemistry and I will never get over how well everyone in this production acts together. Every single one of them are a thrill to watch
@@raulbetancourt5795 .75 speed plus subtitles helps, but much of the machine-generated subtitling is poor, mistaken and misleading. I often rewind/review dialogue. There are other great versions ("Haider" 2014 and Branagh's 4hr Hamlet 1996,) but best of all: *Read the Plays.* 😄😩
I have complete works book, sometimes read passages along as I watch or listen to the actors recite. It helps glean the meanings as shakespeare’s language is super dense. A lot of the content in the plays is usually shortened and/or rearranged in productions though!
What a beautiful accent and pronunciation! What a beautiful English speech! It’s a pity that now you won’t hear such a pronunciation and accent anywhere 
I can't think about Hamlet without thinking of Sir Laurence Olivier. What an actor! And not forgetting all the actors of this movie: all of them are sublime!
I struggled to understand so much of Shakespeare. I've seen Hamlet performed on stage a handful of times but I never understood a darn thing. However, this performance was on point! I knew exactly what everyone's motivations were. I didn't get bored and tuned out at any point. This isn't just fine acting, it is acting in a league of its own.
Superb production in every way. We can all very much appreciate the great acting on display here but no one ever mentions the great camerawork by Desmond Dickinson --- it lent a moody, atmospheric and experimental tone to the film, a feeling akin to the work done by Gregg Toland on _Citizen Kane_ seven years earlier --- which, like this film, had a _film noir_ sensibility. Dickinson's moody atmospherics were also memorably on display 12 years later in the cult classic _City of the Dead (aka Horror Hotel)._ In my opinion, this is the best film version of Hamlet --- quite memorable.
One of the greatest pieces of English literature in combination with one of the most sublime dramatic expression by actresses and actors. I cannot help but think Hamlet was a real person.
@@limbsofosiris3187 I believe Olivier and specifically this amazing production is the best Hamlet on film that exists, and I have seen them all. But, his statement about “not making up his mind”, also bothers me. I don’t follow his meaning. I wonder if anyone has done explanatory research on this?
Beat you Im 61 and just beginning to appreciate him . Read him in hi school and college ,but it just stuck me as to pretentious .Only now that im older I can appreciate language that is art in it self . Even more Shakespeare s unworldy understanding of human physcology especially for someone who was untraveled as he .
This 1948 production of "Hamlet" is rightfully the definitive version of the play. "Hamlet" has alot of complex themes that transcend the boundaries of time. Of course, Laurence Olivier's depiction of "Hamlet" is certainly the gold standard for playing this leading role.
Thank God the audio quality is good, the other versions i found had poor audio and no subtitles... this is my first time experiencing hamlet and its so good so far 20ish minutes in so far like ophelias quirks like messing with her brothers dagger and lil pouch lol good visual storytelling about her personality
I'm sure there's much to love about this film, but the Brannagh film is the full text runs just over four hours. I mean no disrespect to Olivier, but the summary at the beginning about Hamlet being merely a person who "could not make up his mind" seems limited to me. And it seems wrong to cut any lines from this glorious play, especially Hamlet's own lines. I guess they used voiceovers to try to make it more "realistic," but I'd much prefer to see the actor speaking the lines. For what it's worth, I was utterly destroyed by Olivier's version of King Lear.
If this is the truest version of Hamlet for you than you obviously haven’t seen any well produced stage adaptations. Olive has cut out major points and characters, not to mention moving key dialogue among different cast. But as to the best Hamlet ever filmed I agree hands down. Thur Olive almost makes it seem the titular character is love with his own mother (yikes). You should checkout the 1969 version to put this one in perspective. Funny Nicole Williams version was hailed at the time but now is all but forgotten.
@@michaelgarza8271 Can't agree with you more about the summary! I think Hamlet was, instead of being unable to make up his mind, very real and very determined!
it's one of Shake Spears best, it's a beautiful setting sun, brilliant Hamlet is court jester, stand up comedian, politician, prince, and of course a poet.
I'm doing a project where I'm trying to watch every version of Hamlet that I can find. Here's my take on Olivier's. What I dig: -Olivier's performance is awesome. He sees Hamlet as a mirror and is exploring everything he can with it -The villains are great. Claudius, Polonius, and Laertes all feel like fully-realized men with understandable motives -The Mousetrap was perfect. The play-within-a-play slows me down on most readings and this movie kept the important parts and made apropriate cuts. I was impressed with the way they incorporated Elizabethan theatre elements -The graveyard scene was wonderful; I love the bit where Hamlet surprises himself by spilling dirt out -The fencing match was AWESOME! Most actors these days couldn't manage those moves -The ghost was appropriately disturbing Rough bits: -Inner monologues; this always seems like cheating to me in Shakespeare movies, I would have rather seen Olivier speak every line. This honestly ruined "To be or not to be" for me -Gertrude. The heavy Oedipal interpretation makes this version famous, but I think they fumbled it. Gertrude being so close to Hamlet's age takes a lot of the strangeness out of the problem and turns it more melodramatic than it should be. I also kind of think the actress playing her isjust a ham in this. -Horatio is entirely forgettable
Thank you for this fabulous upload. To have such an old film preserved so beautifully, is something to be grateful for. While playing a very minor role, it's also the earliest appearance of Patrick Troughton that we have in acceptable viewing quality.
Not sure why Olivier decided to dispense with the "adders fang'd" Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Would have liked to have the "What's he to Hecuba?" speech and "She doth protest too much" remain. Meanwhile Jean Simmons is beautiful and perfectly cast. =
Agreed. I suppose they felt it necessary to edit the play to fit it into a movie. But I think the play should be done completely without cutting anything out, even if takes four hours like Branaugh version did.
I am in my mid 50's & cannot find the 1929 and 1936 versions of the same play, released in England, that I am certain was shown on either BBC or ITV, in the early 1970's.
Shit goes sooooo hard. Tried and failed to watch several awful college productions before landing here and enjoying every forsaken second. Poor guy; lucky us.
I just realized something at 61 years of age: Hamlet should have gone off to college at Wittenberg to escape his parents, just as I did in 1979 from my parents. A lot would have been spared. But then, we would not have this wonderful play had he done so!
He was the Crown Prince and heir to the throne whose father, the king, had been murdered. That's a bit different from a college kid on spring break who comes home to find himself in the midst of a family quarrel.
To make a long story short, "To be or not to be" was the question, "Not to be" was the answer. Yes, 'tis better to take up arms against a sea of troubles, even if you can't possibly win, and die with dignity with your boots on. Don't worry though about "perchance to dream". Death is dreamless. All sane and decent people should be feeling like Hamlet in the world today, such as it is.
Stunning...Absolutely Stunning!!! I'd heard of the famous 'Yoricks skull scene but had never seen it. The movie just absorbs you to the point that I had completely forgotten about it....Then Ophelia dies, the scene fades and next we're in a graveyard...I remember thinking, 'oh yes! The graveyard scene. Let's see how it goes....Brilliant!! Oliver's acting and directing cannot be beaten!! Two bits stand out. When the grave digger says, "who'd you think it was?" And Oliver laughs and says, 'nay, I know not." Just the way he laughs as he says it is perfect! And of course, when Oliver holds the skull with the Classic Lines, "Where be your jibes now? Your songs, your gambles? Your flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar?"...Genius Shakespeare, Brilliant Oliver
So, that performance suggests it's Horatio to take over the Denmark after Hamlet's death? by the way the fact that he remaines there next to his body is just heartwrenching.
the scene where he confronts his mother is so breathtaking in its heart break. Both actors have great chemistry and I will never get over how well everyone in this production acts together. Every single one of them are a thrill to watch
The joy the actor conveys when he shouts "IS IT THE KING?" gets me everytime lol
Leave me alone Mom I'm watching 1948 Hamlet
attaboy
Mommy wants to breastfeed you.. c'mon
Lol
Focused fully!😊
It's bloody good isn't it. That sword fight at the end, man I shat a brick the whole way through. Every bit as gripping as any movie released today.
409 years old, yet we still understand the language, drama, and brilliance.
We still get those from far older texts. Greek or roman
I think I will have to watch It 2 or 3 more times to fully understand the dialogues, It kinda hard for me.
@@raulbetancourt5795 .75 speed plus subtitles helps, but much of the machine-generated subtitling is poor, mistaken and misleading. I often rewind/review dialogue. There are other great versions ("Haider" 2014 and Branagh's 4hr Hamlet 1996,) but best of all: *Read the Plays.* 😄😩
I have complete works book, sometimes read passages along as I watch or listen to the actors recite. It helps glean the meanings as shakespeare’s language is super dense. A lot of the content in the plays is usually shortened and/or rearranged in productions though!
@@Anicius_agreed
Sir Laurence Olivier, playing Hamlet. The complete play. On TH-cam. For free. Dang! ❤️😀
Ikr!!! I’m searching other websites but made a fool out of myself when i released the og adaptations available on utube!!!😭
This is one of the best things to have ever graced TH-cam in such quality.
What a beautiful accent and pronunciation! What a beautiful English speech! It’s a pity that now you won’t hear such a pronunciation and accent anywhere

I have an exam tomorrow 😫and it's all about Hamlet so here I am
Wahh 😂
@@rimpa_126 yes i also got an exam tmrw
same 😫
How did it go?
same
Timestamps
I.1 00:03:00
I.2 00:10:00
I.3 00:19:29
I.4 00:25:00
I.5 00:29:39
II.1 00:34:35
II.2
Polonius accuses Hamlet of Madness 00:46:42
Hamlet toys with Polonius 00:50:50
The Players introduced 01:06:00
III.1
The Soliloquy 01:01:40
To a nunnery 00:53:53
III.2 01:09:10
The Mousetrap 01:15:19
III.3 01:23:44
III.4 01:28:00
IV.1 cut
IV.2 cut
IV.3 01:38:30
IV.4 cut
IV.5
Ophelia's madness 01:42:03
Laertes sees Ophelia's madness 01:49:46
IV.6 01:47:55
IV.7
Letters 01:46:58
Claudius in conference with Laertes 02:04:30
Ophelia's death revealed 01:54:05
V.1 01:55:55
V.2 02:09:45
The duel 02:15:06
thanks man❤
Thank you very much!
GO TO A NUNNERY, My favorite quote to ruin Someones Valentine's Day 😂😂😂😊
Why, didnt they say that women like SHAKESPEARE's verses in courtsmanship?
Thank you sooo much
I miss R & G they always add a lot of flavour so it’s a shame they were cut
I can't think about Hamlet without thinking of Sir Laurence Olivier. What an actor! And not forgetting all the actors of this movie: all of them are sublime!
Lord olivier played the role with his heart
yes, fantastic...and what writing...wow!!!
Wow. Looks Incredible. Thank you for letting us watch these, free of charge.
I struggled to understand so much of Shakespeare. I've seen Hamlet performed on stage a handful of times but I never understood a darn thing. However, this performance was on point! I knew exactly what everyone's motivations were. I didn't get bored and tuned out at any point. This isn't just fine acting, it is acting in a league of its own.
Superb production in every way. We can all very much appreciate the great acting on display here but no one ever mentions the great camerawork by Desmond Dickinson --- it lent a moody, atmospheric and experimental tone to the film, a feeling akin to the work done by Gregg Toland on _Citizen Kane_ seven years earlier --- which, like this film, had a _film noir_ sensibility. Dickinson's moody atmospherics were also memorably on display 12 years later in the cult classic _City of the Dead (aka Horror Hotel)._ In my opinion, this is the best film version of Hamlet --- quite memorable.
Photography, art direction and stage design which no doubt greatly influenced the modern A24 version of Macbeth played by Denzel Washington!
🤓
I agree. It is the best Hamlet on screen. Thank you for the info on the cameraman.
Don't you all respect the actor who plays the king? What a wonderful voice. Pure Shakespeare!
Basil Sydney...until I looked him up, never heard of him .
This was my first time experiencing Hamlet. Maaaan that play scene was INSANE!!!!
Ikr, watching it for the first time this weekend/when I have the time
Sorry which play scene? What's the time stamp?
@@shushanto 1:13:19
One of the greatest pieces of English literature in combination with one of the most sublime dramatic expression by actresses and actors. I cannot help but think Hamlet was a real person.
The best acted Hamlet. Olivier understood how the meaning of Shakespeares dialogue and how it was meant to be delivered
1:02:00 is when the To Be Or Not To Be soliloquy starts in case anyone else wants to rewatch that part.
You’re a hero! Thanks
Just missed a whole extra points question on the word soliloquy too😭😭😭
Thank you.
Wonderfully done! Shakespeare never goes out of style
Agree ❤️
Never.
This is the ultimate level of acting. Great movie. All of them amazing. Love Olivier. He is the God of actors. 🙏♥️🎭
A masterpiece of acting n play. A full salute to the late Olivier the master actor of all time.
Thank you for sharing this.
Olivier’s leap from the balcony at 02:26:09 always amazes me.
Wonderful photography. The depth of focus is amazing.
brilliant, heartbreaking, passionate, yet deliciously delicate. Now I know what it means to be fully human. Shakespeare is the GOAT.
This 1948 version of hamlet will never be surpassed...others since have tried but failed
* Thanks for uploading 👍
The 1996 Version is pretty good too, I recommend giving it a watch although it's much longer of a film
I do like Olivier but I can't stand the simplification of his summary at the beginning (i.e. the tragedy of a man who could not make up his mind)
@@limbsofosiris3187 Yes, I didn't agree with that.
@@limbsofosiris3187 I believe Olivier and specifically this amazing production is the best Hamlet on film that exists, and I have seen them all.
But, his statement about “not making up his mind”, also bothers me.
I don’t follow his meaning. I wonder if anyone has done explanatory research on this?
@@raylicon9525 The Russian version is also good.
Who is watching in 2k24❤
Just me. In Black and white. I have my own fog too...
Me
Me too 😁❤❤
I am seeing here in Brazil ❤
A story of a man's downfall for his mind holds a seed of tortured and darkened thought which deprives him of his good reasons. Marvelous! marvelous!
Am 51 and just got interested in Shakespeare
Beat you Im 61 and just beginning to appreciate him . Read him in hi school and college ,but it just stuck me as to pretentious .Only now that im older I can appreciate language that is art in it self . Even more Shakespeare s unworldy understanding of human physcology especially for someone who was untraveled as he .
You have a wonderful life ahead of you.
This 1948 production of "Hamlet" is rightfully the definitive version of the play. "Hamlet" has alot of complex themes that transcend the boundaries of time. Of course, Laurence Olivier's depiction of "Hamlet" is certainly the gold standard for playing this leading role.
A plethora of quotes thus spoke unto this day.
What an existential masterpiece
My Phd guide suggested me this when I told her I would like to research in Hamlet...... Such a marvellous adaptation though I found it late😍😍😍😍😍😍
Obsessed with this at the sec. Esp John Laurie as Francisco. "...And I am sick at heart". Would have loved to have seen his Hamlet in the 1920s.
Thank God the audio quality is good, the other versions i found had poor audio and no subtitles... this is my first time experiencing hamlet and its so good so far 20ish minutes in so far like ophelias quirks like messing with her brothers dagger and lil pouch lol good visual storytelling about her personality
Masterpiece of a film. Thanks ;) My favorite Shakespeare play.
Truest to the play; interpretation the best I've seen on YT.
I agree. I haven’t come across a better hamlet. BTW - what is the meaning of “this a play about a character who couldn’t make up his mind”?
I'm sure there's much to love about this film, but the Brannagh film is the full text runs just over four hours. I mean no disrespect to Olivier, but the summary at the beginning about Hamlet being merely a person who "could not make up his mind" seems limited to me. And it seems wrong to cut any lines from this glorious play, especially Hamlet's own lines. I guess they used voiceovers to try to make it more "realistic," but I'd much prefer to see the actor speaking the lines. For what it's worth, I was utterly destroyed by Olivier's version of King Lear.
If this is the truest version of Hamlet for you than you obviously haven’t seen any well produced stage adaptations. Olive has cut out major points and characters, not to mention moving key dialogue among different cast. But as to the best Hamlet ever filmed I agree hands down. Thur Olive almost makes it seem the titular character is love with his own mother (yikes). You should checkout the 1969 version to put this one in perspective. Funny Nicole Williams version was hailed at the time but now is all but forgotten.
@@michaelgarza8271 Can't agree with you more about the summary! I think Hamlet was, instead of being unable to make up his mind, very real and very determined!
I just watched the dvd of this movie now. It's so different. Excellent!
It takes me back to 1949 when we went miles to see this film in the next town.
We studied .Sheakspeare in School .
Wonderful. A timeless and brilliant interpretation
The GREATEST actor ever born.. Sir Laurence Olivier
I loved him in the movie " A little Romance". So elegant.
The classic film noir lighting is sublime.
Probably the best film version of Hamlet ever. And that duel at the end is one of the great movie swordfights.
Thank you for uploading this treasure!
Bellissimo ! Il miglior adattamento cinematografico dell'Amleto di Shakespeare.
it's one of Shake Spears best, it's a beautiful setting sun, brilliant Hamlet is court jester, stand up comedian, politician, prince, and of course a poet.
Shake Spear. Hahaha !!!
studying this play for school right now! Thanks
Been watching it many times, such a great movie
I've seen all but Olivier's Hamlet outshines every other
Amazing work ❤love sir Lawrence’s take on Hamlet
I'm doing a project where I'm trying to watch every version of Hamlet that I can find. Here's my take on Olivier's.
What I dig:
-Olivier's performance is awesome. He sees Hamlet as a mirror and is exploring everything he can with it
-The villains are great. Claudius, Polonius, and Laertes all feel like fully-realized men with understandable motives
-The Mousetrap was perfect. The play-within-a-play slows me down on most readings and this movie kept the important parts and made apropriate cuts. I was impressed with the way they incorporated Elizabethan theatre elements
-The graveyard scene was wonderful; I love the bit where Hamlet surprises himself by spilling dirt out
-The fencing match was AWESOME! Most actors these days couldn't manage those moves
-The ghost was appropriately disturbing
Rough bits:
-Inner monologues; this always seems like cheating to me in Shakespeare movies, I would have rather seen Olivier speak every line. This honestly ruined "To be or not to be" for me
-Gertrude. The heavy Oedipal interpretation makes this version famous, but I think they fumbled it. Gertrude being so close to Hamlet's age takes a lot of the strangeness out of the problem and turns it more melodramatic than it should be. I also kind of think the actress playing her isjust a ham in this.
-Horatio is entirely forgettable
Such a generous gift !!!! Thank uuuuuuuuuu ❤❤❤❤❤❤
"Oh true to thee sweet Hamlet, rest in thine sweet repose for thou hast served thy father well in vengeance sweet embrace. " Randy Dorrow.
During powerful snowstorm Hamlet never goes out of style! 😱
This is the best filmed version of Hamlet, period.
Hamlet's mother doesn't look a day older than her son slay
Eileen Herlie was eleven years YOUNGER than Olivier. Very odd. In 1964 she did the same role with Richard Burton - they were both in their forties.
Thanks for uploading
Our pleasure!
Beautiful to watch this restored tragedy
This is the greatest movie I've ever seen.
thanks for helping me with my english homework
Our pleasure! We are glad to hear that.
Thank you so much for uploading this video and I wish many more from you
The best version.
Laurance Olivier o maior ator do século XX !
Lord Olivier had an absolutely HUGE Hamlet! Oh, suits you sir!
My favorite version all time 👏👏👏👏❣️
Superbe! With original subtitles would be perfect...
thank you so much
this is amazing to get to see in entirety
I had to watch this for homework. But honestly the movie is actually good
Thank you for this fabulous upload. To have such an old film preserved so beautifully, is something to be grateful for.
While playing a very minor role, it's also the earliest appearance of Patrick Troughton that we have in acceptable viewing quality.
Jean Simmons (Ophelia) was married to Richard Brooks, who directed the wonderful Western film, 'The Professionals'.
It's been a while since I've watched a play on TH-cam. Well done!
In 1948 I was a 14 Year old schoolgirl and remember watching this very movie in Berlin. Unfortunely I could not understand all of the dialogue
Mr. Terence Morgan took my heart ❤️ away … rip ❤️
ooooooo thank you for posting. Much appreciated.
“Come to bed, stud.” ✨
“Not tonight, bae. I’m watching 1948 Hamlet…”
just brilliant.
Not sure why Olivier decided to dispense with the "adders fang'd" Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Would have liked to have the "What's he to Hecuba?" speech and "She doth protest too much" remain. Meanwhile Jean Simmons is beautiful and perfectly cast. =
Agreed. I suppose they felt it necessary to edit the play to fit it into a movie. But I think the play should be done completely without cutting anything out, even if takes four hours like Branaugh version did.
Thank you. I enjoyed watching it.
1:51:15 "There's rosemary, for remembrance."
thanks for the film
I am in my mid 50's & cannot find the 1929 and 1936 versions of the same play, released in England, that I am certain was shown on either BBC or ITV, in the early 1970's.
Shit goes sooooo hard. Tried and failed to watch several awful college productions before landing here and enjoying every forsaken second. Poor guy; lucky us.
thanks for uploading!
1:47:05 Peter Cushing!
amazed..!! 🖤
Masterpiece ❤
1:02:24 For all those who came for "To be, or not to be" 😉
Il migliore Amleto di tutti quelli portati sullo schermo
He had more chemistry with his mother than with Ophelia ☻
Yes you're absolutely Right.
chemistry is putting it gently, getting close to a French kiss🫦
Ayo!
This understanding of hamlet is based on Freud's Oedipus theory, but the actual play is different. I was know years old when I learnt this.
If you are watching this today Xmas eve don’t worry you will just have to be sent to England…everyone there is a bit like you 😂❤
Norman Wooland was a wonderful and handsome Horatio.
Thank you☺️🕊️🤍
You are so welcome! Cheers!
PATRICK TROUGHTON ALERT 🔥🔥🔥
Brilliant! 👏👏👏👏
I just realized something at 61 years of age: Hamlet should have gone off to college at Wittenberg to escape his parents, just as I did in 1979 from my parents. A lot would have been spared. But then, we would not have this wonderful play had he done so!
He was the Crown Prince and heir to the throne whose father, the king, had been murdered. That's a bit different from a college kid on spring break who comes home to find himself in the midst of a family quarrel.
He suggests that himself, but the king and queen "request" that he stay, so I think he had to stay.
@@jeanettesdaughter Sure, blame the victims
To make a long story short, "To be or not to be" was the question, "Not to be" was the answer. Yes, 'tis better to take up arms against a sea of troubles, even if you can't possibly win, and die with dignity with your boots on. Don't worry though about "perchance to dream". Death is dreamless.
All sane and decent people should be feeling like Hamlet in the world today, such as it is.
1:39:00 Now Hamlet, where is Polonius?
Yorick's skull scene
1:59:10
Stunning...Absolutely Stunning!!! I'd heard of the famous 'Yoricks skull scene but had never seen it. The movie just absorbs you to the point that I had completely forgotten about it....Then Ophelia dies, the scene fades and next we're in a graveyard...I remember thinking, 'oh yes! The graveyard scene. Let's see how it goes....Brilliant!! Oliver's acting and directing cannot be beaten!! Two bits stand out. When the grave digger says, "who'd you think it was?" And Oliver laughs and says, 'nay, I know not." Just the way he laughs as he says it is perfect! And of course, when Oliver holds the skull with the Classic Lines, "Where be your jibes now? Your songs, your gambles? Your flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar?"...Genius Shakespeare, Brilliant Oliver
Thanks!
Better than what people make today
Bravo 👏
So, that performance suggests it's Horatio to take over the Denmark after Hamlet's death?
by the way the fact that he remaines there next to his body is just heartwrenching.