Hamlet (1990 film)

Icon Productions

Company type	Private
Industry	Film production
Founded	1989
Founder	Mel Gibson
Area served	International
Parent	None

Hamlet is a 1990 dramatic film adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and featuring Mel Gibson in the lead role. The ensemble cast also includes Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Dillane, and Nathaniel Parker. This production was an international collaboration involving the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and France, marking the inaugural film project from Icon Productions, a company co-founded by Gibson.

Plot

The narrative remains faithful to Shakespeare’s original play, though it streamlines certain dialogues and excludes minor characters to conform to a typical feature film duration, without incorporating contemporary reinterpretations.

Production

In April 1989, Zeffirelli revealed plans for the film at a press event in Los Angeles, confirming Mel Gibson as Hamlet. The director’s vision was to craft a Shakespeare adaptation that would resonate with younger viewers, with Gibson’s involvement intended to draw this audience. Glenn Close was cast following her recent commercial hits such as Jagged Edge and Fatal Attraction, aiming to boost the film’s market appeal.

The budget of around $16 million was financed through loans secured from a Dutch bank via Carolco Pictures, Barry Spikings’ Nelson Entertainment, and Sovereign Pictures. Principal photography commenced on 23 April 1990 and lasted for approximately eleven weeks.

Gibson expressed admiration for his co-star Paul Scofield, comparing acting alongside the seasoned Shakespearean actor to stepping "into the ring with Mike Tyson," underscoring the caliber of talent involved.

Key filming locations included Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Blackness Castle, and Dover Castle, which served as Elsinore Castle’s stand-in. Interior scenes were filmed at London’s Shepperton Studios.

Initially, Norma Moriceau was assigned as costume designer but was later replaced by Maurizio Millenotti; the costumes were crafted by tailors based at Shepperton.

Before post-production completion, major studios showed limited interest; however, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Orion later pursued distribution rights. Nelson Entertainment retained North American rights and licensed theatrical release to Warner Bros. as an incentive for Gibson’s participation in Lethal Weapon 3. Warner Bros. also secured home video distribution rights from Nelson. To engage educational audiences, Warner Bros. distributed study materials and vouchers to secondary schools and produced an educational video titled Mel Gibson Goes Back to School, featuring Gibson teaching Hamlet to students in Los Angeles.

Adaptation and interpretation

Film academic Deborah Cartmell remarks that Zeffirelli’s Shakespeare adaptations are characterized by a "sensual rather than cerebral" approach designed to popularize Shakespeare’s works. Casting Mel Gibson—known for roles in Mad Max and Lethal Weapon—served this purpose. Cartmell also notes that the script is heavily abridged, with female characters receiving expanded focus.

J. Lawrence Guntner points out that Zeffirelli’s cinematographic style incorporates elements typical of action films associated with Gibson, including an average shot duration of less than six seconds. Utilizing Gibson’s established star image encouraged viewers to connect with his familiar persona. Zeffirelli selected Gibson after witnessing his portrayal of a character contemplating suicide in Lethal Weapon. The duel between Hamlet and Laertes showcases Gibson’s action background by portraying Hamlet as an adept swordsman.

Critical response

Early critiques of Zeffirelli's adaptation of Hamlet were varied. Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film three and a half stars, highlighting Gibson's "powerful and thoughtful" interpretation. In The New York Times, Caryn James praised Zeffirelli's direction as "emotionally rich and naturalistic," while also commending Gibson's "intense and physical" performance. On the other hand, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described Gibson’s acting as "sincere but uninspired," and Michael Wilmington from the Los Angeles Times favored performances by actors such as Kenneth Branagh or Daniel Day-Lewis over Gibson’s portrayal. Nevertheless, a subsequent editorial in the same publication regarded Gibson’s Hamlet as "the most genuine and clear in recent memory."

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 76% approval rating from 37 critics, with the general consensus acknowledging that although it lacks some complexity, the collaboration between Mel Gibson and Franco Zeffirelli proves unexpectedly effective. Metacritic assigns a score of 53% based on 18 reviews, reflecting an overall mixed or average response. Audience feedback collected by CinemaScore resulted in an A grade.

Box office

In terms of box office performance, the film earned $20.7 million across the United States and Canada, alongside $1.6 million in the United Kingdom.

Accolades

The production garnered two Academy Award nominations: Best Art Direction for Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, and Best Costume Design for Maurizio Millenotti. Additionally, Sir Alan Bates received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Claudius.

External links

• Shooting script hosted by the University of Birmingham's Virtual Manuscript Room.