Product Description

This volume features Kenneth Branagh's screenplay of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and includes Branagh's film diary of the production.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #775417 in Books
• Published on: 1996-11-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 42 pages

Customer Reviews

A must buy book!
Along with the full text of the Shakespeare play, this book also includes an introduction, film diary and about 30 pages of absolutely beautiful stills from the film.

In the Introduction (written by Branagh) he explains the process by which he, as an actor, grew into the role of Hamlet, giving readers a kind of verbal framework on which the film was mounted. The Film Diary (written by Russell Jackson) covers the period of time when rehearsals began up to the final shoot and is full of interesting intimate details.

Branagh's comments are extremely interesting and Jackson’s diary is both engaging and witty. This version of "Hamlet" is really insightful and great fun to read! Anyone interested in Shakespeare, Branagh or good films in general should have this illustrated screenplay of Hamlet at hand.

Pictures worth it alone
This screen play, introduction and film diary of Hamlet, Kenneth Branagh is like having several books in one. The screen play its self is based on the text of 'Hamlet' as it appears in the 'First Folio'.

You probably have several copies of Hamlet and maybe a few film versions. The advantage in this book is that it tells you what you are looking at. It goes beyond the inferences of Shakespeare's words and explains what they were trying to portray in the movie.

The introduction, only a few pages long is packed with information on how the movie came about.

The Film Diary (Rehearsal to Wrap) is written by Russell Jackson. This section also contains monochrome pictures of the film being made.

The section designated as "The Film" has several breath taking pictures that you probably did not notice while watching the film. It starts with The Ghost and ends with Fortinbras.