Hamlet (1948)

 Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet"


After the rousing success of his first Shakespearian adaptation, 1944's "Henry V," Laurence Olivier garnished even greater success with his 1948 adaption of the iconic "Hamlet." Although his directorial debut with "Henry V" was done fully with technicolor, "Hamlet" was a return to black and white cinematography. Perhaps this allowed Olivier far more freedom with his visual imagery, as he takes very gothic inspirations from German Expressionism and the current American film noir movement. The result was a rapturous welcoming by audiences and the film community, as "Hamlet" became the greatest success of Olivier's directorial career.



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