Differences in Zefirelli´s and Branagh´s Hamlet

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Franco Zeffirelli and Kenneth Branagh both created a movie portrayal of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Each screenwriter used various methods of cinematography to convey their interpretation of this famous work. Both movies were produced in the same decade. While the theme remained the same throughout both movies, there were significant differences in the portrayal of the various significant characters. Zeffirelli and Branagh each possessed their own personal interpretation of the text of the play which resulted in two movies that utilized different imagery to portray the main characters.

The movie begins with the two guards seeing the apparition of old king Hamlet. Zeffirelli portrays Hamlet as confused and scared as he follows the voice and shadow of the ghost. The setting is dark with mysterious shadows and Hamlet appears to be uncertain about his own sanity as he follows the voice of the ghost. Zeffirelli's use of imagery is evident when Hamlet expresses raw emotions on seeing the ghost of his father and hearing of the corruption within his family (Hamlet). Branagh uses symbolism to depict the ghost as the statue of old king Hamlet. Hamlet chases the ghost but is somewhat uncertain about the validity of this figure. Branagh's use of the setting and imagery sets the stage for Hamlet's future mental decay. The emotions that are expressed by Hamlet in Branagh's version are somewhat guarded and cautious, giving evidence of his unwillingness to fully accept the message from the spirit (Hamlet William Shakespeare).

The main setting for both movies is a castle located in Denmark. Zeffirelli uses a medieval European style fortress that includes dark hallways and corridors. The lighting effects are dark throughout the movie giving...

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...ere unique. Zeffirelli's version of Hamlet was more emotional and intimate. He tried to make the old story more appealing to the modern crowd with his cast of characters. “Certainly Zeffirelli's casting of a popular, young action-movie star like Mel Gibson as the prince, which earned his film in some circles the dubious title of the "Mad Max Hamlet," attests to his desire to reach modern audiences (Sloboda).” In contrast, Branagh portrayed Hamlet as aggressive yet capable of keeping his emotions in check. Each movie ended the same, with the death of all the major characters, but the plot leading up to these deaths were interpreted very uniquely.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print

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