Good morrow Otterites!
Here goes old Martin again with an unfocused post on something. Let’s talk the 1969 Hamlet starring Nicol Williamson. Now American audiences likely know Nicol mostly from his turn as Merlin in John Boorman’s Excaliber. In fact, watching the film I kept expecting him to break into The Charm of Making, that’s how familiar his voice is after a dozen (at least) viewings of Excaliber.
But let’s focus on the Shakespeare. Williamson’s Hamlet was a touch low key, and he doesn’t sell the crazy quite as well as say Branaugh. Yet the friction with Claudius (eye-poppingly portrayed by none other than Anthony Freaking Hopkins, that’s his official middle name) came through from just a glance from Williamson, and Hopkins was just outstanding as Claudius, guilt at his sins percolating just beneath the surface. Marianne Faithful portrayed Ophelia and was also outstanding.
It was a minimalist stab at Hamlet, no extravagant sets, low key costuming and dark backgrounds. Avant Garde I’d guess one would say. I guess also fairly hip for 1969 it portrayed Laertes and Ophelia as a little cozier than they should be. That happens with various interpretations of the play, sometimes directors imply such with Hamlet and Gertrude. Unnecessary in my opinion, there’s enough going on with the main story that adding in prurient weirdness artificially is more of a distraction than an addition.
Anyway, not quite Branagh, but pretty damn good, and of course Nicol Williamson’s extraordinary voice intoning
But if, indeed, you find him not
within this month, you shall nose him as you go up
the stairs into the lobby.
about the body of foolish Polonius is worth the price of admission. And a bonus, here he is reciting the Charm of Making, which Francis and I can repeat from memory as well.
