- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: KENNETH BRANAGH'S 'HAMLET' PREMIERES IN LONDON
- Date: 16th January 1996
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 16, 1997) (RTV) EXTERIOR OF THEATRE HALEY MILLS ARRIVING PHOTOGRAPHERS SIR JOHN MILLS ARRIVNG DEREK JACOBI WHO PLAYS CLAUDIUS ARRIVING JACOBI SAYING (OF KENNETH BRANAGH) HE HAS ENORMOUS ENERGY AND COMMITMENT AND LOVE NOT ONLY OF SHAKESPEARE BUT HIS FELLOW ACTORS. HE'S A WONDERFUL LEADER AND I THINK HE'S CREATED THE MOST SENSATIONAL FILM. IT'S A VERY BRAVE THING TO DO THE ENTIRE PLAY FOURS HOUR ON FILM (ENGLISH) BRANAGH ARRIVING WITH JULIE CHRISTIE / PAIR POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ENTER CINEMA
- Embargoed: 31st January 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAAMEGDU5I0UWGAXRSZJ61HYAC
- Story Text: Film star Kenneth Branagh arrived hand in hand with his co-star Julie Christie at the London premiere of his long-awaited version of Hamlet.
The four-hour epic, which premiered in the United Kindgom on Thursday (January 16), was the weekend box office king in the United States after opening there last month.
But not every critic has been pleased with Branagh's marathon interpretation of the Great Dane epic.
When the film premiered in New York and Los Angeles in December, some filmgoers complained about its sheer length. Others criticised its "sappy" music and odd camera techniques.
The 17 million-dollar movie comes in the wake of renewed interest in Shakespeare after Ian McKellen's Richard III.
But Mel Gibson's 1991 version of the Dane's downfall, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, is seen by many as a more than adequate modern adaptation.
At 135 minutes, it is about 90 minutes shorter than Branagh's version.
Branagh's Hamlet contains a host of British stars including Julie Christie as scheming Queen Gertrude, Derek Jacobi as her husband Claudius, Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Richard Briers as Polonius and Brian Blessed as Hamlet's father.
Veteran thespians Sir John Gielgud and Sir John Mills appear in two minor roles.
Describing Hamlet's appeal, Branagh said it was one of the greatest straight parts ever written.
"No limps, no hunchbacks, no things to hide behind .. just a lot of his personality as a frail human being full of contrary, contradictory human emotions that we all can recognise and empathise," Branagh said.
"There's a bit of all of us in Hamlet. I think that's one of the reasons it's survived so spectacularly over the last 400 years." "Hamlet" opens throughout Britain on Valentine's Day (February 14). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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