Word: rosencrantz
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...loses much of the depth and complexity which it might have had. Hamlet is a sublime tragedy, but it is also the most delightful and dangerous of tragicomedies. Some of the tragicomedy remains and is the best thing in the film. But some of the best went out with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern...
Some of the critics objected that Olivier had been too cavalier with the text. He had cut the 4½-hour play to 2½ hours, eliminated such roles as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, transposed speeches or even whole scenes as he found necessary. He called the result an "essay on Hamlet" The Manchester Guardian called it "a film which is much more closely knit and, indeed, much more dramatic than any stage Hamlet...
John Simon '46, Polonius; Edward Franklin '47, Laertes; Miss June Philbin, Radcliffe '46, Ophelia; Miss Anna Prince, Radcliffe '47, Gertrude; Charles Van Doren '46, Rosencrantz; Alexander Stewart '46 Gildenstern; Edward Benedict '46, Horatio; Michael Kahn '46, Osrich, and William Murray '47, Voltimand. The cast will double-up on minor roles. The performance will be open to the public, and is expected to run almost three hours...
...however, cannot escape the inexperienced troupe's inevitable handicap of poor playing in the walk-on parts and even in several of the principals. Guards and messengers border on the amateurish, and Helen Stone's portrayal of Queen Gertrude adds nothing to the play but disappointment. A badly-spoken Rosencrantz also serves to brand the performance as experimental and Bostonian...