Hamlet, speaking in terms of the text, is not only the most performed of Shakespeare’s works but is also the most filmed. Filmed versions of Hamlet have been made all over the world, including such places as Italy, India, Ghana, Brazil, Poland, and Japan. Because of this fact, each director of each of these filmed versions has a different idea of how the play should be recreated for the camera, both because of their cultural background and taboos and also because of the difference of genre.

Hamlet critic Neil Taylor is quoted as saying, “In order to be

The first issue of Branagh’s authorship will be the adaptation of the text itself. He follows it almost to the word. There is an instance of addition in which a guard yells “Attack!” as Fortinbras’ army is attacking the castle, and in deletion in which “O, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt.” (5.2.3250) is cut out. Branagh also chooses to use alternate words in some cases to replace the text’s verbiage while retaining the original meaning. “She sounds to see them bleed.” (5.2.308) is realized as “She swoons to see them bleed.” In the text (5.2.300) reads, “I am sure you make a wanton of me.” In the movie the line is changed to, “I am afraid you make a wanton of me.” Branagh also chooses to sometimes switch the order of a couple lines in order to give the effect he as the director desires. In the text, “Then, venom, to they work.” (5.2.323) comes directly before “Treason! Treason!” In the film, these two lines are switched in chronology. Each of these tiny digressions from the text is Branagh’s way of rewriting the story through the words themselves; a way for him to get a select point across more effectively.

Constructivist Aleksandr Rodchenko has pointed out that, “The most instructive viewpoints from which to depict modern life are those from above, from below, and from the diagonal.” Branagh employs this theory in his treatment of the text through his choice of camera shots. When Osric appears with the foils for the duel (5.2.260) he is shot on a tilt; the shot begins at his feet and tilts up to capture the foils then his face during the shot. When Fortinbras walks in to see all the royal family lying dead, (5.2.363) the camera pans the room to show the breadth of the destruction.

marketable, it [the text] had to conform to cinematic conventions.” Many actions or ideas that are possible in movies are not possible in a stage setting and vice versa, and the text being adapted is often void of direction for how the actors should be looking, feeling, moving, etcetera. This is where the director takes his place as the auteur.

The most explicit use of camera angle in this scene is after Fortinbras has spoken the last line of the text, “Go, bid the soldiers shoot.�

Some topics in this essay:
Hamlet Horatio’s, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Hamlet Leartes, Branagh’s Hamlet, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Sylvan Barnet, King” Branagh’s, Scenes Fortinbras’, Sound Branagh, Neil Taylor, branagh chooses, aerial shot, filmed versions, poisoned cup, shot camera cuts, 70 mm, shot camera, motion picture, scene fortinbras, branagh’s hamlet, fortinbras’ army,