The Artistic Conceptions and Presentations In Kenneth Branagh’s Cinematic Adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Abstract

Conveying the spirit of an original literary text into a cinematic image is an important issue in filmic adaptations, particularly when dealing with classical works such as William Shakespeare’s plays. Ever since King John was made into film in 1898, Shakespeare’s plays have remained the most important literary sources for filmic adaptations. This paper argues that, among the numerous Shakespearean filmic adaptations, Kenneth Branagh’s version of Hamlet is the most successful. The acute cuttings of the original plots, the adequate applications of montages and sound effects indicate that Branagh possesses a selective interpretation of Shakespeare’s original text and superb recreation aptitude——all of which makes the cinematic version of Hamlet have an artistic appeal that approximates the bard’s original play. Although commendable in many respects, Branargh’s decision to set the adaptation in the nineteenth century comes at the cost of historical authenticity.