M (26 December 2009 8:22 pm)

Fab! Not a fan of Mariah Gale's 'mad' acting, but was expecting that so went to the loo while she was on. Everything else was wonderful, though. Understand why you cut the Fortinbras ending for screen, plus liked the choppy use of CCTV footage to change it up a bit. Well done!

jayne (26 December 2009 8:27 pm)

Absolutely brilliant!

'To be...' moved me to tears. I loved the setting and the use of CCTV. The extra use of the mirrors added to the whole feel of the play.

John, Seb and everyone else involved in the production of Hamlet - it was wonderful! Many thanks! I look forward to reading comments tomorrow (I better get back to Boxing Day festivities!)
Love it. Fantastic. So many thanks for bringing it from stage to screen#Jayne x

Lisa (26 December 2009 8:29 pm)

I thought Claudius came off as more evil in the film version. I think I was more focused on Hamlet and Laertes in the scene at the graveyard and in the final scene. I missed him grinning evilly like Keyser Soze in the background. In the stage version, I thought that you could make the argument that Claudius is a better leader for the country than Hamlet's father. Claudius is all Obama cool to old Hamlet's Bushlike warmongering and his success at diplomacy seems to suggest that this is a better way forward for the country. You miss those little nuances when you are focused on the main action on the stage.

I loved the 2 little asides that Ryan Gage made, the first at the Lady doth protest too much and the second as Osric, taking his leave of Hamlet and Horatio.

There seemed to be more music used in the film version but that's just my impression.

John Wyver (26 December 2009 8:29 pm)

The Guardian blog is looking for comments too -- I can't post the link but it's not hard to find...

Alex (26 December 2009 8:41 pm)

Loved it on stage, superb on screen. Think the RSC have done an incredible job turning Greg's masterpiece into one of these modern "movie" things... :-)

Amy (26 December 2009 8:43 pm)

Wow, Hamlet completely blew me away. David's acting was tremendous and i enjoyed it thoroughly. I would never have considered watching Hamlet without David but even the parts without him were brilliant.

Although at the beginning, i didn't have a clue what was going on, the more i watched it, the more i became engrossed in the story and starting to understand it.

The final scene was heartbreaking, certainly moved me to tears but that's how powerful Davids acting is. I will certainly be buying the DVD when it comes out.

M (26 December 2009 8:46 pm)

Was loling at all the people on Twitter going 'I CAN'T UNDERSTAND A WORD'. Sigh, the youth of today.

Sooze (26 December 2009 8:52 pm)

Having seen it 8 times on stage (5 in Stratford, 3 in London) all I'd like to say is you've done a fantastic job. Taken advantage of the film medium compared to stage and given a different perspective. The acting was brilliant, as usual, and the use of CCTV inspired. Only down side - the cast didn't come out for the applause!

summer (26 December 2009 8:54 pm)

Truly amazing. A wonder to all how one man can show so many belivable emotions as David can. David and Patrick make the whole idea of this kind of theatre popular to everyone. Well done and I can't wait to watch it again!

Lisa (26 December 2009 9:00 pm)

I think Ophelia's an almost impossible job to act - she's wet- her boyfriend messes her around and then kills her dad but I think Mariah did a good job.

Karen M (26 December 2009 9:02 pm)

Utterly brilliant, amazing performances from all the cast especially David and Patrick.

I was lucky enough to attend the screening but I really enjoyed watching it again. I just loved the To Be speech so beautifully shot and very emotional. That scene was even better than on stage.

I've said it before but I'll say it again, thank you so much for bringing this production to the small screen (and DVD!) for us all to enjoy over and over.

Nicola (26 December 2009 9:09 pm)

Ah finally I dont have to hold my tongue anymore!

As I mentioned before; I loved it. There are one or two points I want to raise, things I liked... things I didnt.

I loved the use of the video camera and I loved the security footage during the first half, a nice way of highlighting the level of observation going on in Elsinore, but I confess I hated it during the fight. I dont felt it had it's place anymore, since ones he's pulled the camera down I wasn't sure what the need was anymore. It seemed to stunt the action.

The eggshell scene was done well, though as I feared after seeing the preview, my eyes are drawn to the fact that the soldiers are clearly walking in a circle. It's a small thing... but it bugs me. Another small thing, when Laertes and Ophelia exchange the hankercheif for the money, this lovely moment is missed on screen. It's too small an action and goes unnoticed (unless, like me, you're watching for it). It could have been bigger.

"To be or not to be" is still my favourite scene, it's exquisitely shot. I mourned a little for the loss of the letters scene & Patrick's "naked?!" (among others) but the cuts made are actually not really noticed (unless again, you are very familiar with the production) and I felt it was handled very well.

I too loved Ryan Gage as Osric and the Player Queen, though I always have. Osric never fails to make me laugh with just a flash of his grin! I'm curious, why was Zoe Thorne given the role of a lady in waiting, rather than her original page? Was there a worry that she could not pass as a boy, so close up?

I wonder, once the mirror in the closet has been smashed, the smashed mirror appears everywhere. Are they really there or are we just seeing their cracked and crumbling world reflected in the mirrors? Or is it just subject to individual interpretation?

I could go on. I should stop.

Ruth (26 December 2009 9:09 pm)

I loved it!

Little changes I really noticed and enjoyed included the CCTV thing, especially at "now I am alone", the use of mirrors in the closet scene, and the two-way mirror when C and P are spying on H and O. I'm sure there will be many more when I've had time to watch it again.

"To be or not to be" was amazing, and it was a huge relief to realise it wasn't just fond memories of last year which made me so keen to see this; it really was an amazing production.

Once again, congratualtions and thanks to all concerned.

Victoria (26 December 2009 9:15 pm)

Glad I can finally comment on this, after holding back since BFI! I thought the film adaptation was superb, just as tense, funny, exciting, dramatic and heartbreaking.

I absolutely loved the way "To Be" was shot, incredibly powerful. I also loved Hamlet breaking the CCTV and going "Now I'm alone." Very cleverly done for screen to convey his emotions. All the company was just as brilliant here as on stage. I think the Ghost is more frightening here. I am aso pleased Fortinbras does not appear at the end as all focus should remain on David and Peter's heartbeaking performance. I cry every time!

I did think less behind the mirror during the nunnery scene would have been nice, as David and Mariah play that so well. Some of the comedy of the chair scene is lost on screen, but that is to be expected and it is still woderfully done.

All in all a brilliant 3 hours, which I am so pleased was aired on television for more people to see. I hope it brings more people to the RSC and Shakespeare in general. Thank you again to the RSC, the company of superb actors and everyone there at Illuminations (especially you John for this blog!). I hope this receives the ratings it deserves!

Nicola (26 December 2009 9:15 pm)

Oh, one more thing. I liked the Yorick scene & the closeup of Andre & the other skulls during the fight. Very nice having another reference to the fact that they all end up dead and buried anyway. But I missed Keith's excellent singing, Ophelia's Lament was lovely. Any particular reason this wasn't included?

CeCe (26 December 2009 9:20 pm)

Just as brilliant second time around !

Have lots to say, but I'll try to restrain myself : Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius - all excellent. Glad that R&G weren't played as idiots.

Once more (as with all Hamlets I have seen) I feel Ophelia is the weak link - still not convinced of the character and like M, was not impressed by Mariah - sorry ! Does Ophelia really go mad? Why do most productions have her singing? The delivery of "Oh what a noble mind" (a beautiful description of the Hamlet character which gives us an insight of what he was like before) was awful, made worse with being shot up her nose the whole time....

Loved the use of CCTV and the camcorder. Beautiful photography throughout (except see above) - congrats to DoP. Especially loved the camera work for the "What a rogue and peasant slave" speech - fantastic!

Didn't like the face pulling for "Except my life" but loved the expression during the "comical historical"etc.
Didn't like the delivery of "country matters" - made a subtle pun an obviously crude comment.

Still got distracted slightly by the disappearing & appearing tray in the Court Scene ! :-) and by the fake snow over the shiny black floor... and by Hamlet leaving the same way as he entered for "Now might I do it pat" ... and the bad beard make up on Hamlet as he returns from England....

Given the location, I was a tad disappointed that more use of it wasn't made, although I appreiate Greg's comments at the Q&A regarding time etc.

Would have loved to see how the shot mirror was achieved on stage !
"The readiness is all" shot should have been directly liifted for the DVD cover...

Can't wait for the DVD to arrive !!

Caroline (26 December 2009 9:32 pm)

Only managed to watch about half of this tonight, before family commitments ( they still want food?) forced me away from the TV (I did see the preview though).
It is just as fantastic on a small non-HD screen as on the large BFI one.
Like Nicola I miss the handover of money/handkerchief between Laertes and Ophelia. Knowing it's there, I could see it was happening, but I doubt anyone new to this production would have picked up on it first time through.

Having said that, I loved many of the things that one could see in intimate close up that one missed from the back of the stalls. We have mentioned Polonius mouthing Laertes first speech at Court before as an example.

I will be watching it more than once over the next few days, and will be following comments here.
Well done all concerned!

Victoria (26 December 2009 9:43 pm)

I mised the money exchange too and it was a shame that patrick's "naked" line didn't make it, but I think it was great that very little was cut. I do miss the hand holding of Hamlet and Ophelia in the opening court scene too but you can't have everything!

CeCe, when you see appearing and disappearing tray is that because you don't see it being caught on screen?

Nicola, I agree about the CCTV in the fight scene being a bit unnecessary, but I think I always expected this to be one of the scenes which will always be better when you are seeing it unfold before you on stage.

Should repeat how incredible the closet scene is. Some of the finest acting I have ever seen. Penny and David are sensational.

Lisa (26 December 2009 9:47 pm)

I read a book about schizophrenia once. It was a case study of a girl who parents had basically driven her to it. If she said the sky was blue, they would say it was black. Everything she thought was true, they tried to undermine it. It wasn't done as a conscious malicious act on their part, they just thought that she couldn't do anything for herself, they were very overprotective and were afraid of her thinking for herself. But, as a result, she couldn't trust herself or her own judgement. I always think that this is what happens to Ophelia. Hamlet loves her then he doesn't. Her father and her brother tell her that she's just a trifle to him. Hamlet runs to her in her greatest need. Then Polonius is telling her that he must be in love with her. Then he abuses her in front of them. He's all over her at the play. Then he kills her dad. They drive her to it, they really do. It's a really hard part to play though.

CeCe (26 December 2009 9:47 pm)

I thought it was due to the size of my TV that I couldn't see the money/hankerchief exchange, so 'glad' to know that everyone else missed it ! :-)

Still curious as to why "To be" was cut so much and why Gertrude would knowingly drink from a poisoned cup and the strange pronounciation of the word "commendable" (which has happened in most productions I have seen)....

Answers on a postcard ! :-)

John Wyver (26 December 2009 9:52 pm)

Many thanks for all your great comments (and tweets) - please don't stop, although after Aladdin (utterly strange and totally enjoyable) and Hamlet today, I'm off to bed soon. I'll post some responses here tomorrow.

Also, like with CeCe's question about the cuts in To be or not to be, I'm going to save up a list of these and (I hope) put them to Greg for a blog post in the new year (he's in South Africa at the moment).

I also want to build a thread about your reactions to the bts videos on the BBC site, but there's time enough for that over the next few days.

Petra (26 December 2009 9:56 pm)

As said before, loved it at the BFI and loved it today. Having been mildly ridiculed by friends for going to see the stage production 5 times I now feel slightly vindicated, esp after a text from one friend saying she was Very Impressed. Well done all

CeCe (26 December 2009 10:04 pm)

@ Victoria : I was referring to the tray being carried (sometimes!) by the girl in the silver dress in the first Court Scene ("Though yet of Hamlet"), not the recorder scene tray which Hamlet throws and which is then caught. :-)

Lisa (26 December 2009 10:10 pm)

I love how they did the final scene - I like it when Gertrude is aware of what's she's doing at that point - otherwise she's just a dupe.

Patrick and Penny have said that Claudius and Gertrude were carrying on behind old Hamlet's back and so when Hamlet tells her that Claudius killed her husband that makes her complicit in his murder.

I think she doesn't entirely believe him at that point because the ghost appears and ruins his credibility but there's a worm of doubt there. It's the beginning of her decline and it poisons everything between her and Claudius. When he asks her not to drink, she knows it's all true. She's quite envious of Ophelia, I think, when she kills herself and I think that in the end, it's almost not even a choice for her.

I love the way Patrick shrugs before taking his drink - it's like oh well Gertrude's dead, I'm going to hell anyway might as well!

Nicola (26 December 2009 10:21 pm)

@Lisa and also, he's been poisoned by the sword too, he might as well end it quickly cause he's screwed anyway!

Lisa (26 December 2009 10:21 pm)

I liked the cut to the skull too in the graveyard scene. It's acceptance of death, isn't it? He knows he's coming back to Denmark to die and it's a little memento mori of that. It's foreshadowing how he's going to die.

chatterbox (26 December 2009 10:22 pm)

Loved the stage production, and loved this too, although of course, it was very different. Liked the CCTV bit, and the opportunity for more close-ups than you can get in a theatre. I often find filmed versions of stage productions a bit frustrating as you lose the sense of the whole action on the stage, and have the focus chosen for you, but this was very well managed so that there were very few occasions where I wanted to know what was going on out of shot.

The mirror motif was briliant in the stage production and I liked the way it was brought across. Although it couldn't glower across the whole remainder of the play in the same way, it was very well used.

Beautifully put together - I hadn't ordered the DVD but will be doing so now!

Lisa (26 December 2009 10:25 pm)

yeah but I like the what the hell of it fatalism of that shrug

I loved how they did the mirror scene in the play wasn't entirely successful in the film but I did like the reflection of Horatio in a shard when he was talking to Gertrude.

Caroline (26 December 2009 10:28 pm)

Just popped back to say I made the mistake of starting to watch the videos on the website. They are a great resource, and I must come back and go through them in some sort of logical order, rather than falling randomly on one after another as I have been tonight. I WAS going to bed about an hour ago......

Lisa (26 December 2009 10:29 pm)

oh bugger also meant to say that I love the way she fusses over him when she knows she's going to die and he just brushes her off - that's so sad!

Jam (26 December 2009 10:43 pm)

Excellent, what a joy to see the production again. I feel that very little was lost in the filming and any changes were minimal. The use of the cctv camera and shots on the hand camera added to those scenes. Once again the acting was amazing. If anything I felt even more emotional with the close ups on each actor during their various speechs. A big thank you to everyone who made this film possible. Looking forward to Macbeth and any future projects.

Margot (26 December 2009 10:45 pm)

Just a quick comment while husband is busy watching Match of the Day! Hamlet was perfect. A truly excellent production that was far more 'stage' than 'film', the music was kept to a minimum and unobtrusive, the close-ups were at just the right times, the acting by all was wonderful. I even managed to watch Ophelia's 'mad' scene without flinching - such a tricky part to play, but the camera cuts to Gertrude and Claudius to note their reactions made it 'real'. Oh, wow, what a treat that was - thank you John et al. I cried at the end - and what fantastic acting by David. He made Hamlet so tortured in life but he looked so young and peaceful in death. Brilliant.

Ruth (26 December 2009 10:57 pm)

A first reaction to the website stuff - it seems to be great - fascinating and full of detail, but I do wish I'd been able to record the three programmes on the learning zone the other nights, because the website stuff is very broken up and hard to follow coherently. The links change after watching each snippet, so it can be hard to find a sensible order.

Lisa (26 December 2009 10:58 pm)

I thought they did a good job of transferring it to film - there were elements that I missed - the opening scene, the shattered mirror which overshadowed the action of the second half, etc but there were moments that I thought were improved like Hamlet's and Polonius' asides to the audience in the Player's scene. Of course they did that in the theatre but it worked better on screen. On stage, they're just talking to themselves but in the film, it's like they're both directly trying to get you, the viewer, on their side! Also they got rid of Fortinbras at the end too.

Three hours of my life flew by again! Thanks again to Illuminations, the RSC, the cast and crew and the BBC for showing it today. I hope it gets really good ratings.

jayne (26 December 2009 11:02 pm)

@ John
I have left a comment on the Guardian website - and made mention of you and Seb!

stella (26 December 2009 11:11 pm)

I can't wait to get the DVD and see the To be or not to be scene again. Well I will probably watch it again on i-player before that. The only comment I want to make before i watch it all again on my own (without family interuppting from time to time) is that I did find the dialogue a little difficult to hear because of the slight echo effect. I understand why you wanted to you this as it is atmospheric, but Shakespeare is hard enough to follow without even a slight handicap. I gained a lot more from Horatio, R & G, Osric and Ophelia this time round (cf the play) probably because I was only really watching David last time!

craig (26 December 2009 11:58 pm)

This comment from the guardian site

Ophelia went for the second option. I wish we could have more televised versions of hard-to-see productions; I would particularly like to see Enron.

forward this to the beeb....

Lisa (27 December 2009 1:13 am)

They got away with doing things in the film that they couldn't have done on stage. It reminded me a little bit of that film the Red Shoes - you know the bit where suddenly she's dancing in the shoes but there would have no chance of her putting the shoes on that fast on the stage - they just cut to the shot of her in them? It's like magic. So I liked the parts where some of the characters could see the ghost, for example, the opening scene with the guards, but then he didn't show up on the cctv. Or when Hamlet's father is sitting beside Gertrude and we see it from both her and Hamlet's perspective. Now he's there and now he's not. That was clever and effective.

I missed Tennant running away from the court's guards just after he's killed Polonius. That was funny every which way he did it on stage!

Iney (27 December 2009 2:16 am)

It's really late, so I wont go into much detail now; just to say: I lured some people in with promises of cheesecake and dinner, if they come and watch Hamlet. 10 hours later and not all of them have gone yet. We were a small Hamlet viewing group of 6 people, made up of 3 nationalities (german, british, irish); 2 of us had seen the stage production -which we loved-, one person hates Theatre in general, another hates Doctor Who, and another one was not at all impressed by the Kenneth Branagh version, and some didn't know anything about Hamlet at all. A little bit of a tough crowd you'd think. But all 6 of us were very impressed by what we saw this afternoon and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew there wasn't any reason to feel that this wouldn't live up to peoples expectations! There was only one negative comment today: the cheescake didnt taste as good as german cheesecake! I can live with that! Knowing that they were honest enough to tell me what they really think means they weren't just pretending to like the film. I was quite ready to defend Hamlet should there have been any negative comments! But of course there was no need. So, many thanks to all involved for a wonderful production- a true masterpiece!

foxyhlc (27 December 2009 4:27 am)

I utterly enjoyed Hamlet from beginning to end. My heart reaches out to him from the very early scenes 'O that this too too solid flesh would melt? when the film allows me to see tears that I couldn't see in the theatre.

I was entranced by the stage version of Hamlet and I'm still intrigued by some of the choices, Patrick Stewart's portrayal of Claudius' acceptance as he drinks from the poisoned cup (final scene). Gertrude's clear understanding of her actions as she drinks from the same cup. The characters in this Hamlet are more conscious of their fate than I have seen portrayed before.

David Tennant, Penny Downie, Patrick Stewart and Oliver Ford Davies are all truly excellent and well supported by the brilliant RSC ensemble. The intimacy of film allows us to see details that I did not see from the dress circle of the theatre. Polonius mouthing Laertes speech as he says it is one brilliant example of this but throughout this production they are complex emotions portrayed and Laertes and Ophelia?s relationship is illuminated by close up. The nature of film means that your gaze is directed exactly rather than roaming over the stage.

Hamlet's affectation/exaggeration (?) of madness is more defined between when he knows he is being watched and when he believes he is alone. The film shows us so clearly that even when he believes that he is alone Hamllet is surveilled by cameras and spies and haunted by the Ghost of the King.

Thank you for making this possible and given us all this wonderful production to treasure.

Michele (27 December 2009 6:36 am)

I'm completely hacked off as I ended up missing it owing to 'family dinner' time. There was no way the rest of the family was going to give me even 3 minutes peace, let alone three hours!, to watch it. I know I've got the DVD on pre-order (part of my Xmas presents) but that's not the point! I wanted to watch it live!

Anna (27 December 2009 7:21 am)

I loved the way it kept so much of the stage production. The only cut that puzzled me was the letter from Hamlet explaining the circumstance of his return, but I'll need to find someone who doesn't know the play to see if they were confused by that. The CCTV and hand-held camera worked well, and I love the way the broken mirror theme was maintained in the second half. Penny Downie is by far the best Gertrude I've seen, and her relationship with Hamlet was captured so beautifully in the closet scene. Well done to everyone involved.

John Wyver (27 December 2009 10:16 am)

Some responses to your comments above. Apart from these reactions, I'm not going to post separately today, Sunday, but will be back with more tomorrow. Once again, many thanks for all your thoughts.

@ Lisa: the music is used differently in the film than on stage, where much of it is to cover scene changes -- in the film it has a more expressive function, underlining certain key points, but in fact its use is relatively restrained, certainly when you compare it to the through-scoring of so much contemporary television drama.

@ Nicola: I'm not sure we really got the eggshell scene right; we shot it twice, and we very much wanted to keep the text, but it does stand out a bit.

@ Victoria: I think one of the things this has taught me is that comedy is harder on TV than in the theatre, where it can play better with an audience.

Liz (27 December 2009 10:47 am)

I missed the broadcast as I was in work and also a slight dvr malfunction (read other half recorded wrong channel)

I had to wait for it to appear on red button iplayer. I adored this production on stage, and this version does echo the stage production.
I really liked the use of CCTV and the Hamlet video diaries.
I did not like the cuts that were made to the text but I am a "if you are going to do it,then do it properley" kind of knit-picker.

The performances were incredible from just about all the cast. Penny Downie has finally given Gertrude a voice. Patrick Stewart seemed to make his Claudius more devious than on stage.
David Tennant moved me so much.A superb Hamlet!
I did get a little fixated that the soldiers were just trudging around in a little circle lol!

The best accolade I can give is that my husband stayed awake until 2am and watched it with me. He always says he hates Shakespeare, but Hamlet at the RSC blew him away.

His last words to me before bed was "When is the dvd out?"

Lisa (27 December 2009 3:23 pm)

Unconfirmed reports say it got 0.9 million with a 4.5 share not bad at all although I was hoping for a million

Jacinta (27 December 2009 7:15 pm)

@John: And to think you were afraid it would disappoint us John! Sounds like everyone enjoyed it on the whole!

Unfortunitly I didn't get to see it but my DVD copy is on the way so I'm hoping I'll have it fro new years. Typical of best laid plans isn't it but I guess family will always be family! I'm definitly going to come back here once I've seen it and properily read everyones comments. Don't want to read too much until I've formed my own opinions.

Sabrina (27 December 2009 7:36 pm)

Amazing. Didn't get to see it on stage, being geographically impaired. The three hours flew by, I was captivated all throughout. It really showed off what a genius Shakespeare was and what a great story and character Hamlet is. The language was so clear with the actor's deliveries, especially David Tennant's, who's phenomenal performance was full of nice, original touches.
Gregory Doran did a great job. Such a clever interpretation of the play. Loved the modern slant, loved the texture added by the CCTV and Hamlet's video camera.
The "to be or not to be" soliloquy was gorgeous. Other highlights for me were the scene that followed "Now I'm alone" and the scene with Gertrude and Hamlet in her room. The actress playing Gertrude was wonderful, she makes her an incredible character even when she's not saying much.
I laughed out loud quite a few times, too. It was just thrilling all round.

Hilary (28 December 2009 12:00 am)

Utterly, utterly loved it! It looked absolutely sumptuous - I was a bit worried about how the whole mirror thing would translate to TV, but it really did capture the essence of the original set. The acting, of course, was fabulous. I was a little disappointed at the cuts made, although I do understand that this is inevitable and they were done in fairly sympathetic places.

I'll watch it again and digest further before commenting more. And possible watch it again, again.
Hilary

Gail (28 December 2009 12:04 am)

@John: I watched 'our' Hamlet at 7 o'clock this morning, and it was magnificent. It was so similar to and yet so very different from the stage version, that I now love them both equally. I was worried that I'd prefer one over the other, but your treatment of it is perfect for the screen and the end result is sublime. I was absolutely enthralled for the full three hours and that's saying something, considering that I'd had less than five hours' sleep!

My husband laughed at me for giving a standing ovation at the end, but truly you all deserve it and more. I hope this is just the beginning, and that this production - and the much anticipated Macbeth - will lead to a new series of Shakespeare's work in this medium (with you at the helm).

I have been collecting comments and reviews on Live Journal and will provide links, if you would like them

Jill (28 December 2009 6:48 pm)

I was rivetted during the BFI screening and I was rivetted when watching the film again on TV. It is just superb. The three hours flew by and I could have sat there for longer, although I did have a problem un-seizing myself after the BFI screening - I apparently hadn't moved a muscle whilst entranced!

I had a little concern about how 'Hamlet' would change in moving from stage to screen, because I loved the stage version so much, but the way this has been done - not overblown movie-style nor stilted straight record - is perfect. We get plenty of wider views to show all that is happening, like the view we get in the theatre. Also, those telling close ups draw us in and are great compensation for not being there in a live audience. Hamlet looking directly into my eyes was spinechilling. I do think it would be difficult to find a better approach than this for future projects transferring established stage productions to the screen.

I wasn't sorry to see Fortinbras go at the end and retaining the other political aspects helped set up Denmark as an uneasy place requiring a wily ruler. I loved the introduction of the CCTV cameras and the cine-camera, and the way the ghost was shown - all things that would have been difficult to do on stage or impossible. The cracked mirrors were great also, given that it was impracticable to have that broken mirror looming over all as on stage.

I did notice that the soldiers started to move on a circle instead of appearing to march in a straight line, but this was less apparent on the TV than on the BFI big screen, so even though I thought to look out for it, it wasn't as obvious to me second time around.

The performances were excellent **throughout**. I am so pleased that everyone from the stage cast was able to return.

David Tennant was stunning, particularly in the soliloquys and in the closet scene. I saw Hamlet early in its run in Stratford and then in London on David's return. I had noticed that in London there was a little less humour than in Stratford - although there were still plenty of funny moments. I think this may have been because the emotional weight of his performance had increased in places where it just wasn't possible to simultaneously play the humorous aspect.

This is a wonderful work. Thank you so much to everyone involved.

Caroline (28 December 2009 7:28 pm)

I have been considering the 'soldiers walking in a circle' issue in the 'eggshell' scene.
On stage, it was obvious that a small number of people were doubling up to create a lrge force - but that simply didn't matter, as one knew there was a cast of a certain size who had to show all the characters between them. In the theatre that is always a given.
It seems to matter more on film, as one is more used to 'armies' of extras (or supporting artistes) being used in crowd scenes. One just doesn't expect the same level of doubling up for numbers ( as opposed to PS's deliberate doubliing of Ghost/Claudius).
But in the grand scheme of things, this little moment doesn't really distract from a great film.

Jill (28 December 2009 7:45 pm)

@Caroline - I agree it is an extremely minor, tiny thing. I mention it only because of the earlier comments and because - surprisingly - I really don't think I would have picked up on it on TV if I hadn't noticed at the large screen viewing. Also, even if noticed, I think that the way this film is done - not a movie and not an excessively static theatre piece but somewhere wonderfully in-between - means that a viewer is more willing to accept the theatrical limitations on numbers if necessary.

I forgot to add above that I thought it was fantastic to look at. Just gorgeous.

John Wyver (29 December 2009 4:27 pm)

Thanks once again -- and apologies for silence over the past two days. Nothing more than difficulties with access, temporarily resolved -- not sure quite how much I'll be able to post for the rest of the week.

Margot (29 December 2009 8:22 pm)

@John: do you know the audience figures for Hamlet? Are the BBC pleased?

Personally, I think it could have been given a better date and time slot - many people are busy visiting on Boxing Day and to devote 3 hours from 5pm on any day is difficult if you have a family to feed, children to get to bed, etc. I do hope the Beeb repeat Hamlet and also give any such repeat due publicity. Perhaps a Sunday afternoon slot would be good? I'd watch it again, even though I hope to have that DVD in my possession very soon!

Buzz (29 December 2009 8:24 pm)

A little slow off the mark, but I've only just watched it, i-Player to the rescue!

It was Brilliant! Amazing performances by everyone! Yeah the atmosphere is different because there is no audience, and certain nuances are missed because the camera can only focus on a certain area, on a couple of occasions I was thinking, "Wider, wider!"

But other than that I absolutely loved it! Loved the use of CCTV cameras especially when he ripped it off the wall "Now I am alone!" Just Brilliant! All the soliloquies were Amazing!

I've got a feeling I could go on for quite a while, so I'll just say, I think you have managed to capture something Really special on film (or hard drive! Doesn't quite have the same ring does it!)

Oh and think you made a really good choice with the end, it was much better to leave it there than having Fortinbras intrude. Peter and David broke my heart!

One thing, is my memory dodgy or am I right in thinking that the stage version steered clear of the oedipal thing (which I was very happy about, I always think that ruins the play a bit) Hamlet didn't kiss his mother on the lips, just curious why the change?

Jill (29 December 2009 10:06 pm)

@Buzz - I don't remember that kiss on the lips on stage, but it is quite quick so perhaps I just missed it. I think this scene works brilliantly in this production and holds together without any Oedipal hints being necessary.

I watched the broadcast with someone who doesn't go to the theatre and isn't into Shakespeare. He isn't against it but it's never really impinged on him. He watched without reaching for any distracting reading material (good sign!) At the end, he said how amaing it is that something could be written so long ago and yet be understandable! I do think that this is remarkably accessible and clear so it was nice to have that confirmed.

I've written to the BBC with my thanks and hopes for more of the same in future. I imagine viewing figures will improve with time shifting and iPlayer. The DVD seems to be holding its own in the amazon lists.

Nicola (29 December 2009 11:57 pm)

@Jill & Buzz: The kiss was there, from beginning of the run to the end :) iI confess, we were quite jealous of Penny by the end.

Even with the kiss, I never felt it had Oedipal conotations. In fact I think I recall David saying they didn't play towards it. It was such a quick kiss, like kissing her goodnight. Perhaps many men wouldnt kiss their mother's that way, but others might. It was hardly anything sexual.

Sheila (30 December 2009 2:26 pm)

I have watched it twice now, once on Boxing Day and then again on I-player and if anything it was even better the second time around, possibly because I wasn?t looking for the differences between the film and the stage production the second time. I also hope the BBC repeat it as the scheduling must have been challenging for many who would otherwise have watched without the holiday distractions.

The performances from all were excellent and as has been said before David?s delivery of the soliloquies was mesmerising. I think that having the close ups captured a lot of the subtly of Penny Downie?s performance which may have been missed when viewed from the back of the theatre. The whole production was beautifully lit with the music acting as a complement to the production not as distractions as can sometimes happen.

All in all this has to be an award winning production and we need more television programmes of this calibre. This proves that it can be done and there is an audience for it.
Congratulations to all involved.

craig melson (30 December 2009 5:15 pm)

Well, the ratings are in, and it seems 900,000 people watched
Hamlet, which is 4.5% audience share. For a Shakespeare competing with a cliffhanger Eastenders, Ant & Dec, this seems very good going

I can't post the link but type in 'TV ratings' into the Guardian website and its one of the top features on the page.

Anne C (30 December 2009 11:39 pm)

Finally got three hours to myself to settle down and watch Hamlet. And even after all this build up - it did not disappoint.

I think you've achieved something extraordinary with this film - everything I loved about the stage production has been retained, the performances were all as brilliant as I remember, but it also works superbly as a film, and the additions such as the CCTV footage work really well. Inevitably, there are gains and losses in the transfer - as someone said above, some of the humour worked better on stage, but on the other hand the soliloquies really lend themselves to the intimacy of a close up.

'To be or not to be' in particular was beautifully staged, and David's delivery was fantastic. I *am* really disappointed that this was cut, however - mainly because it was such a near-perfect rendition of that speech, it just deserved to be there in its entirety. I'm curious as to why it was cut (and someone put me out of my misery: was it cut on stage? Because if it was, I didn't notice, though that's entirely possible!)

And I missed Fortinbras at the end, but I seem to be in the minority on that one...

That's about all I can find to criticise! John, I really want to congratulate you and everyone involved on a truly superb achievement - I really think this will survive as one of the great Hamlets. And once again, thanks for allowing us all to feel part of this process.

And happy new year to everyone when it comes!

Nicola (31 December 2009 1:19 am)

@Anne C: The soliloquy was cut down for the pay too :)

Anne C (31 December 2009 1:54 pm)

@Nicola - OK, thanks for that - I obviously wasn't paying attention at the time then!! *hangs head in shame*.

Buzz (31 December 2009 5:02 pm)

@Nicola - Thanks for clearing that up, that makes much more sence! He does say he kissed Yorick on the lips, so why not his mum. Cheers!

Annette (02 January 2010 6:02 pm)

Just watched Hamlet, hastily and with many interruptions; almost exactly a year after seeing the production at the Novello. I know I shouldn't be - but I am surprised how theatrical it is, how similar in feeling to the stage version.

This makes it an unusual, bold and brilliant experience but also one in which the audience reactions, especially to the comedic deliveries, are almost painfully absent; like CeCe I felt the rendition of 'country matters' was too crude for the screen and didn't quite work without the gasps from the audience - and the grimacing at 'except my life' seemed out of place.

To my mind, literally all other readings were perfect - so subtle and contained, so complex; completely compelling performances all round (and I did find Mariah Gale's lament very affecting!) with the most emotive deliveries coming from Pennie Downie and David Tennant. Of course. Heart-breaking. Tissues were used.

Not quite as beautifully shot or framed as the Roundhouse Macbeth, I thought, on the whole, as a whole...

Can I let this stand? Too many exceptions already pipe up to justify the claim - the very clever and beautiful framing of 'To be or not to be'; basically all corridor and staircase scenes but particularly the one where Hamlet is captured and seen from above - great angles; speaking of above - the eggshell scene which I liked despite circling soldiers and fake snow because the shiny floor looked like black ice - snow falling onto a deep, dark, frozen lake. Again, very beautiful. I'm busy undermining myself.

My very favourite images were the shots from Hamlet's camera; all of them; they were gorgeous, with their very distinct aesthetic but also just the camera's particular purpose and handling - a great parallel to the indiscriminate unpersonal cctv camera (which itself was a great idea but slightly overused; I'm with Nicola when she says it stunts the action; it also distances the viewer).

The backlit hellishly smoking ghost was a great picture (reminding me of Constantine). Very good. (I think it was a mistake though to let Hamlet touch the ghost. He needs to remain distant, aloof, elusive...)

It might just be my aversion to the 'main stage' that started this really tiny quibble. It could have looked like a mausoleum but - with the carpeted apse and the little round windows - it reminded me more of a funeral parlour. It was really just the carpet, I'm sure. The black shiny floor was wonderful and used to great effect in so many scenes.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing it again, and again, and... you get the idea.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible! It was a brave and bold undertaking. May it be followed by many more similarly daring ventures!!!

Carla (07 January 2010 7:14 am)

I have a small question. Living in the US, I haven't seen this in its entirety yet, only the few clips that are available online. They are mesmerizing and I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of DVD in a few days to play on my universal DVD player. I'm having a Hamlet party as soon as it arrives. But here's my question:

What's up with the gravedigger? I can't figure out how his clothing or behavior makes sense. He's dressed too nicely for shoveling and he doesn't have a shovel anyway, only a trowel. And he's got his lunch down in the hole. But he hasn't eaten it, apparently. Unless I've misunderstood the entire thing. But what's he doing? I can imagine he's finished digging the hole and now he's prying out stray skulls stuck in the sides or bottom of it with something less damaging than a spade. But if he's deliberately being careful, why toss them around? I can imagine he's been eating his lunch, having finished with the digging. I can imagine he's gotten dressed up for the burial to come. But if he was lunching surely he'd be sitting on the boards beside the grave not down in it.

Who cares, right? Except it's distracting. These are not the thoughts one wants to to be thinking during this brilliant scene. Wow, the extraordinary handlilng of the skull. And wow, we the audience not only gazing into Yorick's empty eye sockets but seeing the bit of Hamlet's head that tells us he's gazing with us. And, wow, David Tennant, the finest voice actor in the world. Try turning away from the visual and listening, just listening.

I'm glad I"m watching this as a stand-alone clip before seeing the play as a whole. I'd hate to see it for the first time and spend the graveyard scene wondering what's up with the gravedigger. But what's up with the gravedigger?

John Wyver (07 January 2010 10:10 am)

@ Carla: thanks for the comments, and I'm really pleased that you like some of the graveyard scene. As for the grave-digger, it hasn't occurred to me that there's an issue here -- and just maybe this is a UK-US thing. Maybe. I think the actual digging would probably have been done by his assistant and he's just checking it all out and making sure stuff like the boards at the bottom of the grave are OK. He's dressed - or at least this is what I've always imagined - like a northern working man who has slight pretensions above his station, and he's someone who would have his cup of tea and sarnie as he was working. But I'm not sure there's more too it than that. Sorry again that he was a distraction to you. Enjoy the rest!

Carla (07 January 2010 5:22 pm)

These are the parts of the graveyard scene I like: everything that matters. I've watched it twenty times and counting, as you might guess from the number of speculations about the gravedigger. It's wonderful.

Thank you so much for the explanaton. This may not be a US/UK thing. It may be the result of watching too many versions of the same scene just days before watching this one. It was a stupid thing to do.

The Internet can be useful for watching Shakespeare. If any of the language is confusing it's great to be able to flip away from the scene and read the text while the audio pours in my ears. And comparing and contrasting isn't a terrible idea, really. It certainly makes me appreciate how amazing this is. But it should have waited until I'd seen the whole thing. Those kinds of explorations would have been better left to a second or third viewing of the entire play.

Carla (18 January 2010 5:34 pm)

I gathered a group of friends to watch the DVD over the weekend. We all found it astonishing. Afterward someone said, "Man, that was well written. Who wrote that?" He meant it was so beautifully designed, wonderfully filmed and fantastically performed that he could appreciate as if for the first time how well written it is. Everyone loved the gravedigger scene and very much liked the gravedigger. What a difference it makes to watch it from the beginning and see it with an audience. I shouldn't have commented until I'd seen it in its entirety.