DIRECTED BY: Franco Zeffirelli

WRITTEN BY: William Shakespeare (play), Christopher De Vore (screenplay)

MEL GIBSON AS: Hamlet

GENRE: Drama, Romance

TAGLINES:

- The extraordinary adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tale of vengeance and tragedy.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Treachery. Madness. Murder. The story of Hamlet has been told for 400 years…but it’s never been told like this! Mel Gibson (the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon films) takes on his richest part to date, the title role in a dynamic new version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet, Jesus of Nazareth), the location-shot production has a sumptuous look that won Academy Award nominations for Art Direction and Costume Design. Gibson plays the prince of medieval-era Denmark, who senses treachery behind his royal father’s death. Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons) plays Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, all too dangerously entangled in that treachery. A brilliant supporting cast, including Alan Bates as Claudius, Paul Scofield as the ghost of Hamlet’s father, Ian Holm as Polonius and Helena Bonham-Carter as Ophelia, adds its powerful presence to this immortal tale of high adventure and evil deeds. Big, bold and heroic, this is a vivid and virile Hamlet for the modern age and all time. –Amazon

RELEASE DATES:

1990 December 19 (Canada)
1990 December 19 (United States – Los Angeles)
1990 December 19 (United States – New York, New York)
1991 January 18 (United States)
1991 February 22 (Australia)
1991 April 19 (United Kingdom)
1991 August – (Brazil)
1991 August 22 (Argentina)
1991 August 30 (Sweden)
1991 October 10 (Germany)
1992 January 8 (France)
1992 May 22 (Netherlands)
2003 January 18 (United States Palm Springs International Film Festival)

BOX OFFICE GROSS:

United States: $18,218,851

FILMING LOCATIONS:

Kent and Lee International Studios, Shepperton, Middlesex, England Black Ness and Dunnottar, Scotland.

TRIVIA:

- Director Franco Zeffirelli reportedly wanted Mel Gibson for the titular role after seeing his near-suicide scene in Lethal Weapon (1987)

- Mel Gibson’s only previous Shakespearean experience was playing Juliet in an all male production of “Romeo and Juliet” in Australia. By contrast, Alan Bates (who played Claudius) had played Hamlet in London in 1970 and Paul Scofield (who played the Ghost) had played the part in 1948 and 1955 and is considered one of the greatest twentieth century interpreters of the role.

- This was the first Shakespearean role that Glenn Close had ever attempted on either stage or screen.

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