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Critic Reviews

Sir Laurence Olivier's masterful version of the classic.

-Full Review

This is picture-making at its best, and its showing must be done with the dignity it deserves.

-Variety StaffFull Review

The matter is settled; the filmed Hamlet of Laurence Olivier gives absolute proof that these classics are magnificiently suited to the screen.

-Bosley CrowtherFull Review

Laurence Olivier's famous 1948 interpretation of Shakespeare's play suffers slightly from his pop-Freud approach to the character and from some excessively flashy, wrongheaded camera work.

-Dave KehrFull Review

This Hamlet, a Best Picture winner, unfortunately stands as one of the stagier productions of the famous play.

-Christopher NullFull Review

Olivier's classic and personalised version of the troubled Prince of Denmark is still highly atmospheric and intriguing.

-David ParkinsonFull Review

Hamlet has been filmed many times, but few can hold a candle to Olivier's portrayal of the Danish prince in 1948.

-Full Review

Despite winning several Oscars, Olivier's (condensed) version of Shakespeare's masterpiece makes for frustrating viewing.

-Geoff AndrewFull Review

One of the best versions of the Bard's.

-Dennis SchwartzFull Review

Olivier always felt that each different Hamlet is an essay, subject to the individual's interpretation.

-Full Review

Olivier's Hamlet is terrific to watch and his performance is great but, like the play, the film is somewhat tedious.

-Wesley LovellFull Review

Done in different style than Henry V, based on Olivier's metaphor that Hamlet is more like an engraving than a painting, the play was hauntingly shot in b/w, dwelling on the Castle and its massive and gloomy corridors where the action takes place.

-Emanuel LevyFull Review

A valuable classic.

-Jules Brenner

Of the four versions of Hamlet that I've seen, this one is the most psychological, the one that truly delves into Hamlet's mind and psyche.

-Matt Easterbrook

The best ever adaptation of Shakespeare's best ever play. Olivier is mesmerising.

-Shannon J. Harvey

For its time, one of the best Shakespearean adaptations, even though a lot of the text has been omitted. Olivier's psychological take on Hamlet could be debated today.

-Bob Bloom

If you want to study Shakespeare, and how it should really be done, then watch Laurence Olivier.

-Michael SzymanskiFull Review

It is everything that it should be: beautiful and haunting, powerful and ultimately tragic.

-Michael W. Phillips, Jr.Full Review

The feature is certain to live forever as a screen classic.

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a bold, well-paced tragedy that helped expand audience notions of what Shakespeare on screen could be like

-James Kendrick

Olivier's direction of the film is inspired.

-Jeffrey M. AndersonFull Review

While I don't know if Olivier's is the best (I'm inclined to go with Branagh's), it certainly bears the indelible stamp of its director/star's personality.

-MaryAnn JohansonFull Review


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