Hamlet (1959 film)
| Company type | Television play |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television, Drama |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Key people | Royston Morley (producer), William Job (lead actor) |
| Products | Television adaptation of Hamlet |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
Hamlet is a 1959 Australian television adaptation featuring William Job in the lead role and produced by Royston Morley. This production was among the earliest Shakespearean dramas aired by ABC, alongside Anthony and Cleopatra.
Cast
- William Job portraying Hamlet
- Henry Gilbert as the King
- Georgie Sterling in the role of the Queen
- Owen Weingott as Laertes
- Delia Williams taking on Ophelia
- Gordon Glenwright playing the Gravedigger
- Douglas Hayes also as Gravedigger
- James Lynch as Bernado
- Grahame Webb doubling as Francisco / Attendant
- Frank Taylor in the role of Horatio
- Vaughan Tracey as Marcellus
- Charles McCallum as both Voltemand and Priest
- Geoffrey King portraying Polonius
- John Fegan as the Ghost
- Maurice Travers as Rosencrantz
- James Elliott as Guildenstern
- Lou Vernon playing the Player King
- Dennis Carroll as Player Queen
- John Hurrell in the roles of Lucianus / Osric
- Tony Arpino as Norwegian Captain
- Geoffrey Hill portraying Fortinbras
- Ria Sohier, Anne Kelly, Evelyn Kopfer, John Brock, David Bryant, Kevin Williams, and Gary Deacon all serving as Attendants
Production
William Job starred in this television rendition of Hamlet shortly after returning to Australia from his acting work in England and Canada. For Georgie Sterling, this marked her third TV appearance following roles in The Multi-Coloured Umbrella and Sorry Wrong Number. The production incorporated simple special effects to represent ghosts, while Owen Weingott contributed to choreographing the duel sequence. The broadcast featured a ten-minute intermission.
Reception
Critics responded favorably to the production. The Australian Woman's Weekly described it as "two hours of engrossing TV," praising both the production quality and camera work, and deemed it "a most satisfying night of TV." A Sunday edition reviewer from the Sydney Morning Herald commended Morley's direction for successfully adapting Shakespeare's work for television and highlighted William Job's exceptional performance as Hamlet.
Conversely, a daily Sydney Morning Herald critique pointed out constraints related to limited rehearsal time and resources but still recognized Job's nuanced and skilled portrayal. The Age considered this adaptation superior to Anthony and Cleopatra. Meanwhile, The Bulletin noted that while the tragedy was presented within a middle-class context, the overall production was sound and at times impressive.
This version of Hamlet was rebroadcast in both 1961 and 1964.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1959 Australian television plays
- 1959 television plays
- Films based on Hamlet
- Television shows based on Hamlet
- Australian television plays based on works by William Shakespeare
- Television plays directed by Royston Morley
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation television plays
- Television plays filmed in Sydney