Laurence Olivier

 Laurence Olivier







RANKED:

2. Hamlet (1948)


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.



1. Henry V (1944)


Partially commissioned by the British government, Laurence Olivier's adaption of the William Shakespeare play "Henry V" was meant to be used a morale boost and an encouragement for the collective hope in defeating the Nazis in World War II. The story, of course, centers on Henry V in 1415, as he prepares his English army for the Battle of Agincourt. The adaption of this classic British play was "dedicated to the Commandos and Airborne Troops of Great Britain in the spirit of whose ancestors it has been humbly attempted to recapture." Olivier's "Henry V" would go on to rousing success in Britain as well as America, as it smashed box offices and made Olivier, who was already one of the best Shakespearian stage actors on the planet, a director in his own right as well.

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