Maurice Robson I saw this performance of Hamlet on TV in the mid 60's. It is the Hamlet that I compare to all others. In 1948 Lawrence Olivier won the Academy Award for his production, but I find it too theatrical and dramatic. Richard Chamberlain played the role in the worst Hamlet production I ever saw - he spat the words out like machine gun bullets. Christopher Plummer's own character has exactly the correct diffidence and uncertainty that is required to play the role of Hamlet. It is a disservice to the public that this production is not available.Robert Shaw played The uncle King Claudius and put on a fine performance, and if I remember correctly, that was Micheal Caine as Horatio, so there was an excellent supporting cast.

David Laird Scott Just finished watching this film/taping of Hamlet (DVD available from Netflix) and found it to be quite interesting on many levels. Of course, Christopher Plummer is a great Hamlet, but I was not as hot on Michael Caine. Really enjoyed Robert Shaw's Claudius and Jo Maxwell Muller (apparently deceased in 2010) as Ophelia. This version focuses the plot by cutting and editing (such as Laertes' overt challenge to Claudius on his return from Paris), but enough of the play is left for an enjoyable visit. All around the performers handled the verse with great clarity and that is very welcome. I have appeared in four productions of Hamlet, and teach it as part of my curriculum at a community college in Los Angeles and so am very familiar with it.

annamarie_bayley I am looking for a copy of Christopher Plummer as Hamlet at Elsinore, my aunt watched it when it was shown on TV in the UK in 1964, and said it was the best version of Hamlet she had seen. I am studying at drama school, and very interested in obtaining a copy for her and myself. It seems the BBC over here has not produced copies, and I suspect they have recorded over it with the pathetic programmes that are shown today. If anyone has any idea of how I might go about getting a copy of this, I would be extremely grateful, I saw on one website it was in a museum in New York. Can you get copies from there?Thanks a lot, Annamarie

skoyles The contrast with Olivier's version was stunning to viewers: a non-bombastic thoughtful Hamlet with none of the perverse undertones of Olivier's Prince of Denmark. Honest indecision oozed from this Hamlet. Further the text was less butchered than in Olivier's movie; here we at least get to see Rozenkrantz and Guildenstern. [Footnote: I am frequently surprised at people who will rave over Olivier's Hamlet and fail to notice the severely edited script.]