Hamlet (1964): cast, story & where to watch
1964 · Film · ★ 7.7
Released in 1964, Hamlet is a drama film directed by Grigori Kozintsev, running about 140 minutes.
What it’s about. Shakespeare's 17th century masterpiece about the "Melancholy Dane" was given one of its best screen treatments by Soviet director Grigori Kozintsev. Kozintsev's Elsinore was a real castle in Estonia, utilized metaphorically as the "stone prison" of the mind wherein Hamlet must confine himself in order to avenge his father's death. Hamlet himself is portrayed (by Innokenti Smoktunovsky) as the sole sensitive intellectual in a world made up of debauchers and revellers. Several of Kozintsev directorial choices seem deliberately calculated to inflame the purists: Hamlet's delivers his "To be or not to be" soliloquy with his back to the camera, allowing the audience to fill in its own interpretations.
Who’s in it. Hamlet stars Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy as Hamlet, Anastasiya Vertinskaya as Ophelia, Mikhail Nazvanov as Claudius and Elza Radzina as Gertrude, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.7/10, Hamlet has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Hamlet page.
If you liked it. Fans of Hamlet tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Hamlet (1964)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Hamlet change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Hamlet worth watching?
- Hamlet holds an audience score of 7.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Hamlet?
- Hamlet stars Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Anastasiya Vertinskaya, Mikhail Nazvanov, Elza Radzina and Yuriy Tolubeev.
- When was Hamlet released?
- Hamlet was released in 1964, with a runtime of about 140 minutes.