SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Television production of the play, adapted by John Barton. A romantic conception, lavishly designed in the Regency period. Interpreted with clarity but with no great insights. Richard Chamberlain is Hamlet.

Series

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Language

English

Country

Great Britain; United States

Medium

Television

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Transmission details

17 Nov 1970 at 21:00 (Channel: NBC)

Duration

115 mins

Credits

Director

Peter Wood

Producer

George LeMaire

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

John Addison

Art Direction

Peter Roden

Adaptor for Television

John Barton

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	Hamlet
Richard Johnson	Claudius
Margaret Leighton	Gertrude
Michael Redgrave	Polonius
Ciaran Madden	Ophelia
Alan Adams	Player
Alan Bennett	Osric
David Belcher	Player
Desmond MacNamara	Guildenstern
Donald Barclay	Player
Donald Layne-Smith	Priest
Godfrey James	Marcellus
Helen Bourne	Player
James Laurenson	Rosencrantz
John Gielgud	Ghost
Martin Shaw	Horatio
Nicholas Jones	Laertes
Nigel Stock	Player (1)
Norman Rossington	Gravedigger (1)
Philip Brack	Barnardo
Robert Coleby	Fortinbras
Robert Oates	Francisco

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Historical period

19th Century

Plays

Hamlet

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General

Filmed over six months with much location shooting in England. Hamlet’s castle is Raby Castle in Durham. Chamberlain decided to make the film after a successful performance as Hamlet with Birmingham Rep, forming a production company with George LeMaire to do so.

History

First shown on NBC 17 November 1970; first transmitted in Great Britain on ITV 8 August 1971.

Awards

The production was nominated for thirteen Emmys and won five (for scenery, lighting, sound, costumes and Margaret Leighton for her role as Gertrude).

Reviews

Richard Chamberlain ‘Why Does an Actor Agree to do Hamlet?' New York Times (15 November 1970).

Production Company

Name

Chamberlain-LeMaire

Sponsor

Name

Hallmark Cards

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Name

Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division

Web

http://catalog.loc.gov/ External site opens in new window

Phone

(20) 707-8572

Fax

(20) 707-237’1

Address

Motion Picture & Television Reading Room
James Madison Building, LM 336
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C.
20540-4690
United States