Hamlet

Synopsis
Ambitious two-part televised adaptation of the play produced by George More O’Ferrall, with John Byron as Hamlet.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Transmission details
7 Dec 1947 at 20:30 (Channel: BBC)
Duration
180 mins
Availability
Unavailable

Credits

Director
George More O’Ferrall
Producer
Basil Adams; George More O’Ferrall
Writer
William Shakespeare
Art Direction
Peter Bax
Cast
John ByronHamlet
Sebastian ShawClaudius
Margaret RawlingsGertrude
Arthur WontnerPolonius
Muriel PavlowOphelia
Aubrey DexterVoltemand
Cyril HardinghamGentleman
D. Hay PetrieGravedigger
David DuncanPlayer King
Dudley WilliamsCornelius
Frederick RossDoctor of Divinity (Priest)
Hamilton HumphriesSailor
Hugh ButtCaptain
Jay LaurierGravedigger
John AinsworthPrologue
Julian SomersBarnardo
Julian SomersOsric
Michael CabornPlayer Queen
Patrick MacneeHoratio
Patrick TroughtonHoratio
Richard WarnerGuildenstern
Robert RiettyRosencrantz
Roy DeanLucianus
Stanley LeminFrancisco
W.E. HollowayGhost
William DevlinMarcellus

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Doubling of roles
Related items
Hamlet

Notes

Notes
Hamlet’s ‘inky cloak’ had to be dark green instead of black because of the technical requirements of early television.
General
According to Michael Barry ("Shakespeare on TV, " BBC Quarterly 9.3 [1954]: 146), this production influenced Olivier’s Hamlet, released in 1948.
History
Live broadcast from Alexandra Palace, London. The production was televised in two parts. The second part was shown on 14 December 1947 from 20:30 until 22:10. Each part was ‘repeated’ live two days later.
Awards
Silver Medal awarded for artistic achievement by the British Royal Television Society in 1948.
Reviews
A collection of opinions of critics and viewers ("Do You Agree?") was published in Radio Times, December 26, 1947.

Kenneth Rothwell and Annabelle Henkin Melzer, Shakespeare on Screen: An International Filmography and Videography (London: Mansell, 1990), entry 97, pp. 60-61.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Hamlet". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av36685 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)