SHAKSPER 1996: Re: Branagh *Hamlet

From: Hardy M. Cook (hmcook@boe00.minc.umd.edu)
Date: 12/23/96


Shakespeare Electronic Conference, SHK 7.0969.  Monday, 23 December 1996.

(1)     From:   Christine Mack Gordon <gordo003@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
        Date:   Thursday, 19 Dec 96 16:19:23 CST
        Subj:   SHK 7.0964  Q: Branagh *Hamlet

(2)     From:   Matthew W Mitchell-Shiner <umitcm00@mcl.ucsb.edu>
        Date:   Thursday, 19 Dec 1996 18:14:09 -0800 (PST)
        Subj:   Hamlet - 2 versions

(3)     From:   Steve Sohmer <DRSOHMER@aol.com>
        Date:   Thursday, 19 Dec 1996 17:58:51 -0500
        Subj:   Re: SHK 7.0964 Qs: Branagh *Hamlet*


(1)----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Christine Mack Gordon <gordo003@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
Date:           Thursday, 19 Dec 96 16:19:23 CST
Subject: Q: Branagh *Hamlet
Comment:        SHK 7.0964  Q: Branagh *Hamlet

The information on the Branagh _Hamlet_ website (http://hamlet-movie.com)
indicates that they shot two versions, one four hours and one two hours,
primarily on the insistence of the producers, who didn't think a mass audience
would watch a four hour Shakespeare film. I'm up for all four myself. The
website has lots of information, of which I've only sampled a small portion.
--Chris Gordon

(2)----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Matthew W Mitchell-Shiner <umitcm00@mcl.ucsb.edu>
Date:           Thursday, 19 Dec 1996 18:14:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject:        Hamlet - 2 versions

Yes, it is true that there will be a four plus hour version and the two and
half hour version for those that are faint of heart.  (read that in a passing
trade paper and heard it on NPR.)

(3)----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Steve Sohmer <DRSOHMER@aol.com>
Date:           Thursday, 19 Dec 1996 17:58:51 -0500
Subject: 7.0964 Qs: Branagh *Hamlet*
Comment:        Re: SHK 7.0964 Qs: Branagh *Hamlet*

I saw the Branagh *Hamlet* at a DGA screening last Sunday. In an imperfect but
generally rewarding film I was particularly struck by episodes of
seasick-inducing camera work, bad and jump cuts, draggy walk-and-talks, and
terribly long and elaborately choreographed scenes shot "in one." When I
enquired, I was told that there were to be two versions of the film: a 260min
master version and a 160min general release. Perhaps this accounts for the long
version's weaker moments.

Steve Sohmer



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