Comparing Bennetts Hamlet with Branaghs Hamlet Essay

Comparing Bennetts Hamlet with Branaghs Hamlet Many of Shakespeares works have been transposed from stage to screen, none so more than Hamlet. Two of the most unique film appropriations of the play are to be found in Rodney Bennetts 1980 film and Kenneth Branaghs 1996 blockbuster. The two films share many parallels between them in both interpretation and method, however they also have marked differences in their respective approaches to the text. Perhaps the most obvious difference between these two versions is that Branagh uses the full unabridged text whereas Bennett cuts the play down by an hour or so; Kenneth Branagh justifies his use of the full text on the BBCs website stating: When you cut the†¦show more content†¦the cast includes so many stars that Branagh is one star among many ... the story that each has to tell is important, so that each gets a full characterization, rather than simply a cameo appearance reacting to the leading actors lines (Shakespeare Yearbook vol. 8). A consequence of this is that characters traditionally thought of as minor roles have much deeper characterisation and background in Branaghs Hamlet. One such character is that of Reynaldo who appears in 2.1. In Bennetts version Reynaldo is played as a member of the Danish court, very humble and servant like, a tool for Polonius. However in Branaghs version, Reynaldo is given a back-story that puts him on more equal grounds with Polonius. Russell Jackson states in his film diary of Branaghs Hamlet ... for a moment Dickie [Richard Briers plays Polonius] is saying `Observe his inclination in yourself as if he were warning Reynaldo (who in our version probably runs a chain of whorehouses) not to be naughty. Eventually the scene seems like part of a (lost) Balzac novel. Depardieu [who plays Reynaldo] is able to be evil, amusing, vulnerable all at once. He has Poloniuss number, but also knows who is paying his fees. (Branagh p.188). Other characters such as Osric, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are also given similar treatment in the Branagh version. However, perhaps the most developed character in the Branagh film is that of