A previous reviewer misleadingly said, "Because of the fact it was filmed during a dress rehearsal, it does not have the lavish period sets, costumes, etc. of other versions." This special Electonicvision tape was recorded during a live performance not a rehearsal. The play had been running many weeks when this recording was made. The play was staged as if it were done during a rehearsal, but not during a dress rehearsal, because a dress rehearsal would have had elaborate period costumes and not actors casual rehearsal clothes. Of course the actors "casual rehearsal clothes" were carefully selected to enhance and emphasize aspects of the character. Hamelet for example dressed in gloomy black.
The director John Gielgud saw this film and expressed disappointment that Burton had slipped back into his sloppy little boy egotistic expressions at the expense of subtlety. Many critics a the time said that Burton performed self indulgently, emphasizing every moment, ignoring the chances for subtle variation the role allowed;that Burton gave a reading, an indulgence of his virtuoso voice rather than nuanced acting. I saw this when it was first shown to the public in 1964 and I thought it was reading indulging his virtuoso voice and I loved it. Because I think that is exactly as Shakespeare wrote it, indulging his virtuoso voice as a writer. I love this Burton Hamlet more than I can say.
The director John Gielgud saw this film and expressed disappointment that Burton had slipped back into his sloppy little boy egotistic expressions at the expense of subtlety. Many critics a the time said that Burton performed self indulgently, emphasizing every moment, ignoring the chances for subtle variation the role allowed;that Burton gave a reading, an indulgence of his virtuoso voice rather than nuanced acting. I saw this when it was first shown to the public in 1964 and I thought it was reading indulging his virtuoso voice and I loved it. Because I think that is exactly as Shakespeare wrote it, indulging his virtuoso voice as a writer. I love this Burton Hamlet more than I can say.