HAMLET {IAN MCKELLEN} (TV)
Summary
A television production of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” starring Ian McKellen as the title role. In Denmark, guardsmen patrol the halls of the castle Elsinore at night, wary that the ghost of the recently-deceased former king is about. They bring Horatio, a friend of the prince Hamlet, along to prove that the ghost exists. The ghost makes an appearance and Horatio attempts to speak to it, but receives no answer before it vanishes. They decide they will inform Hamlet of what they have seen. Court is held that morning where Claudius, the deceased king’s brother, makes a speech about his recent marriage to Gertrude, widow of the deceased king. He also talks about the matter of Prince Fortinbras of Norway, who is attempting to reclaim lands taken from his father by the deceased king. Laertes, son of the chamberlain Polonius, requests that he be allowed to return to France to continue his schooling and is permitted to do so. Hamlet does not join in the mirth of the court, as he is still grieving over his dead father. The king and queen request that Hamlet change his plans to go away for schooling and stay in Denmark, and he complies. The court is dismissed, leaving Hamlet alone in the throne room, where he ruminates on his father’s death and his mother’s hasty remarriage to his uncle Claudius, which he views as appalling and “incestuous.” Horatio arrives and tells Hamlet of his encounter with the ghost. Hamlet is distressed and curious about this and decides to keep watch with the guards that night himself so that he might encounter the phantom, and he asks all assembled to keep the matter secret. Laertes bids farewell to his sister Ophelia, and warns her about getting romantically involved with Hamlet, before also saying goodbye to Polonius. Polonius also advises her not to return Hamlet’s affections. That night, Hamlet and Horatio stand out on the battlements waiting for the ghost, until just after midnight it appears and beckons to Hamlet. He follows the ghost against Horatio’s entreaties, and it informs him that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison in his ear while he slept. He demands that Hamlet avenge his death. He makes Horatio swear not to reveal what has transpired that night, and decides to pretend to be insane in order to allay any suspicions from the members of court. Ophelia informs Polonius of her encounter with disheveled and seemingly disturbed Hamlet, much to her distress. Polonius believes that Hamlet is behaving this way due to falling in love with Ophelia, and he decides to inform Claudius of the matter. Hamlet’s odd behavior is noticed by Claudius, and he bids his servants Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to look after him and discover its cause. Claudius’s servants report that Fortinbras’s preparations to invade Denmark are apparently being deferred. Polonius informs Claudius and Gertrude of his thoughts on the source of Hamlet’s “madness.” They decide to have Polonius spy on Hamlet to determine the veracity of his claims. Hamlet, walking the halls, contemplates the nature of life and death. He notices Polonius and plays into his suspicions of his supposed affection for Ophelia. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern encounter Hamlet as Polonius leaves. He gets them to admit that they were sent to watch him by Claudius. A troupe of players arrives at the castle to put on a play for the court, and Hamlet has them demonstrate for him. Hamlet gets the idea to use the players to help prove the ghost’s claim and expose Claudius’s crime, by inserting a scene into their play reenacting the king’s death, hoping to elicit some incriminating response from Claudius. Claudius and Polonius arrange to secretly look in on a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia. He rebukes her claims that he has affection towards her, and he insults her before leaving in a rage. Ophelia breaks down crying, distraught at being rejected so harshly. Claudius, having seen all this, is now convinced that Hamlet is not mad but harbors some other purpose, and plans to send him to England for a time, hoping that it will help Hamlet recover from his trouble. Hamlet finishes his preparations with the players and the audience assembles, including Claudius and Gertrude. Hamlet secretly asks Horatio to closely observe Claudius’s reactions to the scene he inserted into the play. The play begins, and Hamlet interjects his own comments to the audience periodically. During the scene re-enacting the king’s murder, Claudius has an emotional reaction and leaves, breaking up the assembly. This reaction convinces Hamlet that the ghost’s claims are true. Claudius cements his plans to send Hamlet to England. Gertrude calls Hamlet to her room to meet with her alone, and Polonius offers to Claudius to spy on them. Alone, Claudius prays, reflecting on his guilt over his brother’s death. Hamlet happens upon him in the hallway and prepares to kill him, but realizes that if he kills him in prayer he will be sent to heaven, and so relents for the time being. Polonius hides behind a curtain in Gertrude’s room just before Hamlet enters. She accuses him of insulting his father’s memory and he draws his dagger in a rage. Polonius lets out an exclamation and Hamlet stabs him through the curtain, believing it to be Claudius. Thus he murders Polonius, and Gertrude breaks down sobbing as Hamlet lobs accusations at her of being a part of Claudius’s seizure of power. During their argument the ghost appears before Hamlet again, although Gertrude does not see it. He tries to explain his actions to Gertrude, but she is inconsolable. Gertrude becomes further convinced that Hamlet is mad. Hamlet leaves, dragging Polonius’s body with him to hide it. Claudius arrives with his guards and Gertrude tells him what transpired. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find him. Soon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet just after he has hidden Polonius’s body. He does not reveal where he has hid it, and manages to evade capture by them and by the guards. Finally he is apprehended and reveals the location of the body, and Claudius announces that he is to be sent off to England, never to return. On his way out, Hamlet spots the armies of Fortinbras marching against Poland, although the guard notes that the territory being fought over is not worth the great expense and manpower. Hamlet takes the opportunity to take stock of his own situation, and is humbled by the impending death of the vast army. Ophelia, driven mad by grief at her father’s death, speaks with Gertrude and Claudius, singing bawdy songs throughout. Unbeknownst to her, Laertes has returned from France, leading a riot in response to his father’s death and swearing vengeance on Claudius. He confronts Claudius and threatens him until Claudius tells him he is not responsible for Polonius’s death. He also finds Ophelia and is horrified at her state. Claudius convinces Laertes not to kill him. Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet, reporting that at sea his ship was attacked by pirates, and that he will be conveyed back to Denmark shortly. Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet was responsible for Polonius’s death, and explains why he did not kill Hamlet in retaliation. Claudius receives a letter from Hamlet announcing his return. Laertes intends to avenge himself on Hamlet, and Claudius plots with him to kill Hamlet and make it look like an accident. They devise a scheme wherein Laertes will challenge Hamlet to a fencing match with poisoned blades, and if that fails Claudius plots to have Hamlet drink poisoned wine instead. Gertrude arrives to inform them that Ophelia has drowned, magnifying Laertes’s grief. Hamlet returns along with Horatio and comes upon a pair of gravediggers digging Ophelia’s grave. The gravedigger sets aside bones that once belonged to Yorick, the king’s old jester who Hamlet knew from his childhood. Hamlet laments over the dead Yorick until the king and his courtiers come in a procession to bury Ophelia while Hamlet and Horatio look on from hiding. Hamlet reveals himself and Laertes assaults him until the guards restrain him. Hamlet grieves over Ophelia as well and leaves; Claudius tells Laertes to be patient and wait for the right opportunity to kill Hamlet. Hamlet explains to Horatio how he escaped capture and returned to Denmark, in the process tricking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern into getting executed in his stead. A messenger from the king informs Hamlet that Laertes has challenged him to the fencing duel, and Hamlet accepts. The duel takes place before the king and court, and Hamlet scores the first two touches. Gertrude unwittingly drinks the poisoned wine intended for Hamlet. During the duel Laertes scratches Hamlet’s leg, infecting him with the poison. The fight turns more violent and Hamlet mortally wounds Laertes in return. Gertrude succumbs to the poisoned wine and dies. Hamlet forces Claudius to drink the poisoned wine, killing him as well. Fortinbras arrives after his conquest in Poland and Hamlet in his dying breath names Fortinbras as his heir. He orders that Hamlet’s body be carried away in honor.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS Cable
- DATE: August 4, 1982
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:00701
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS Cable - TV, 1982
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Eddie Kulukundis … Executive Producer
- Norma Corney … Coordinating Producer
- Robert Chetwin … Director
- David Giles … Director
- William Shakespeare … Writer
- Marc Wilkinson … Music by
- Patrick Watson … Host
- Ian McKellen … Cast, Hamlet
- Faith Brook … Cast, Gertrude
- John Woodvine … Cast, Claudius
- Susan Fleetwood … Cast, Ophelia
- James Cairncross … Cast, Polonius, First Gravedigger
- Julian Curry … Cast, Horatio
- Tim Pigott-Smith … Cast, Laertes, First Player
- David Ashton … Cast, Francisco
- Robert Grange … Cast, Marcellus
- Eric Carte … Cast, Barnardo, Attendant to Claudius
- Roy Montague … Cast, Ghost
- Duncan Preston … Cast, Reynaldo, Fortinbras's Captain
- Terence Wilton … Cast, Rosencrantz, Fortinbras
- Simon Prebble … Cast, Guildenstern
- Alan Bennion … Cast, Valtemand, Priest
- Colin Kaye … Cast, Cornelius, Gentlemen
- Ian Pigot … Cast, Player Queen, Second Gravedigger, Flower Thrower
- Stephen O'Rourke … Cast, Lucianus, Sailor
- Christopher Morley … Cast, Fourth Player
- Terence Dougherty … Cast, Fifth Player
- Brendan Barry … Cast, Osric
- Marcia Warren … Cast, Lady of the Court
- Meryl Robertson … Cast, Lady of the Court
- Roger Adamson … Cast
- Ian Bamforth … Cast