Gabby Every

2nd Hour
Hamlet Paper II

Hamlet starring Mel Gibson and Hamlet starring David Tennant are two film adaptations
of Shakespeare's classic tragedy Hamlet. The original play tells of the protagonist Hamlet and
his struggle to exact revenge on his Uncle who murdered his father, married his mother and
took the throne. Each of the films follow the original play fairly closely, with some slight
differences in places, but they do each present different interpretations of the Hamlet character
and his qualities. The two portrayals posses distinct similarities and differences, both of which
add to the interesting dynamic of the character.

The first, and most distinct point of comparison between Mel Gibsons Hamlet ( Gibson)
and David Tennants Hamlet (Tennant) is their productions interpretation and their portrayal of
Hamlets type of crazy. In Gibsons production, when Hamlet begins to go crazy, or say that he
puts an antic disposition on, it is a more natural crazy. This means that he is still fairly stoic in
his emotions, he does not run around, talk strangely or otherwise act goofy, but what he does is
perform subtle strange acts. For example, in the fishmonger scene, he is ripping out pages of
the book that he looks displeased with, but when he talks to Polonius he uses a normal register
and tone of voice. One important note is that Gibson does not say these tedious old fools at
the end of the fishmonger scene, which leads the audience to believe that perhaps his madness
is real and not faked. Gibsons Hamlet also acts fairly consistently with or without people in
scenes with him, he still has outbursts of anger when he is alone. This is a further indication that
his madness is sincere and not an act he is putting on, because he acts this way even when he
is alone. Tennants portrayal of Hamlet's madness on the other hand is very different from
Gibsons. In Tennants production, after the ghost visits him, the crazy that Tennant portrays is
very obvious, goofy, and almost childish. Tennant, when acting crazy, would run around, flail his
arms, make strange voices, his hair would be all askew, he would not have shoes on, and his
outfit would not fit others around him. For example, in the fishmonger scene, Tennant lays on
the ground, puts the book on his face, says words in a strange goofy voice, and to top it off
makes a very weird face when he says accept my life to Polonius. However, Tennant does say
these tedious old fools at the end of the scene. This along with other hints leads the audience
to believe, more than with Gibson, that Tennants Hamlets madness is an act. In Tennants
production, it is very obvious the difference in Hamlet's behavior when speaking to different
people. When Hamlet is talking to Horatio, he is always fairly normal, most certainly not a goofy
crazy. However, when he is with other people, Polonius especially, he is always acting
differently with his goofy outright madness. This change in his behavior is pretty obvious in the
production and would lead one to believe he is faking his madness.

There are some similarities however between how the two productions had the actors
portray Hamlets madness. Each production chose to display his madness partially through his
costume. Each actor had at least one shoe off at one point. Also, on a more subtle note, each
actor, when portraying craziness often used wide eyes to show his state of being. This was a
common gesture in both of the films, and was an indication of instability and intensity. Overall,
the two different types of crazy were very different from film to film, each going a different route
to display Hamlets character.

Another interesting point of comparison between the films is how they placed Hamlet on
screen and how that staging reflected on his character. In the Gibson version, Hamlet most
always entered the scene, or was at some point in the scene at a higher level than the rest of
the actors and the camera. On many occasions he would appear on a ledge above the camera
so it had to look up to him. This was an interesting choice because it could symbolize the status,
or high place a tragic hero must fall from in order to qualify as a tragic hero. Contrastly, Hamlet
in Tennants version would often sit or lay on the floor, so go to a lower level than everyone
else. Almost childlike, Tennent would often sit with his knees pulled in or lay on the ground,
especially whenever he saw his father's ghost. This characterizes him has more submissive.
This is a very distinct contrast, from the high up, powerful, noble prince, to the lowly, submissive,
childish prince. However, despite these differences, there were also similarities in the staging
and actions of the two Hamlets. One staging device that both utilized was grabbing and
directing the movements of other people (often women). In both productions Hamlet would grab
the arms or shoulders of other characters like Ophelia and Gertrude and move them from one
spot to another in a kind of controlling way. Additionally, in both productions Hamlet was very
mobile in his scenes. There was rarely a time when either of them were not moving or using the
space on the set. They were both often moving from place to place even for emphasis, but they
were nearly never still. This also shows more characterization and how on edge Hamlet was
with his state of responsibility.

These two productions portrayed Hamlet in very distinct and different ways. Though there were
some similarities, there were more contrasting points to the two actors performances. One
Hamlet was more manly, stoic, and natural in his madness, while the other was childish, goofy,
and submissive. Each role was played very well, and seeing the very different interpretations
was interesting. Both were effective in their own way by affecting the relationships between the
characters on screen as well as the audience's emotions.

____________________________________________________________________________

How Hamlet is Portrayed

How they are similar - what worked here and what worked there
Mel Gibson PBS

Emotion More stoic in his emotions, he seemed More timid and pouty in his
more manly in his presence because upsetness. He does not have
he did not show as much sad cry/ as good of a relationship with
weepy emotion- he did cry but he mother, in this way he seems
 more got mad and very very angry
Action Has more mad/ angry fits and then
goes back to being stoic
He is much more aggressive- grabs
Ophelia and mother often, dragging or
pulling them
Had a very weird scene with mother in
her bed and was very much grabby
and on her and kissed more.
He placed the skull on the ground and
went down to it ( symbolizing his
descent?)
More intense fight scene.
Dies in Horatio's Arms
Staging Hamlet is often above people, on a
higher level than the camera
Type of Crazy Not obnoxious- he just does subtle
strange things like throwing book
pages away.
One shoe in fishmonger scene
More of a Natural crazy - like not being
goofy but the words are what they are His is a more goofy -
in the book- he does not give direct
answers and is just sort of comes off
as strange
He does not say tedious old fools so it scene he acts more childish
may be more real than the other one
Mostly put together- not outbursts
less mature ( overall seems
less mature and manly). Not
as aggressive towards
Ophelia.
Whenever he is upset he sits
on the ground and brings his
knees in ( like a child). He
also always sits or lays down
when he sees his father's
ghost- he is more submissive.
He used more of his body to
express his emotions ( arms,
mouth, face)
He actually holds the skull at
the end.
This Hamlet appears to be
portrayed as more intellectual
- he has several of those wit-
offs still included and is
shown to outsmart Polonius
Has more of a relationship
with Horatio
This Hamlet is often on the
ground
He ruffles his hair after the
funeral/ wedding scene ( is
messy from then on)
Has no shoes and is not
wearing formal clothing
jumping- making faces- goofy
voices - wide eyed- flaily
Not subtle at all - fishmonger
and is more absurd in his
crazy - but he does say
these tedious old fools
 most of the time- and even so he gets
most upset when he is alone - so real?
Acts like he doesn't know things -
withholds information - same in both
Acts strange in fencing scene
He does not act crazy at all
with Horatio- is most crazy
with Polonius - leading to
believe that is is not real
crazy
He only talks funny and does
the really goofy crazy stuff
when it is not important
(talking to Polonius or Roz
and Guil)

Viewing Notes:

Mel Gibson

Very timely- costumes and everything is all olden - full set

No Ghost scene in the beginning

Hamlet Gurtrude Claudius Ophelia

Emotion Emotion Emotion Emotion

Hamlet is very stoic She seems kinda
and not even angry airheady and is giddy Does appear drunk in Crazy after father's
but just sad and in some scenes some scenes - death
especially in play
unemotional
Sad when talking scene
about Hamlet and
Kissed mom on lips Ophelia but smiley a
lot of other places
Got real shook when
he heard about his
father ( not happy per
say but shook)

Shows disgust
towards Claudius

When he say Father-

Eyes wide open and
timid as he walks
over, then gets more
confident- threatens
friends with a sword
in order to follow dad
(already seems
crazier) - wide eyed
the whole time and
quieter- and starts
crying ( more focused
on father)

Gets very very angry

after and throws a fit
after seeing ghost
(starts to be crazy?)

When they swear on

the sword it is not as
dramatic- just once

Gets real upset at

Ophelia during break
up scene

To be or not to be s:
talking in the place
where dad is buried
is very calm about it
all- keeps distance
from the actual bones

Gets very mad when

he sees Roz and Gil
go to king

Type of Crazy

Not obnoxious-
strange actions like
throwing pages of
books away
One shoe

Natural crazy (almost

like he is not trying)-
doesn't say tedious
old fools in
fishmonger scene
(makes it seem like a
real crazy)

Mostly put together-

not outbursty most of
the time

Acts like he doesn't

know things -
withholding
information

Acts very strange

during fencing scene

Costume Costume Costume Costume

Wears black at Starts all white, very
Traditional clothing - funeral innocent
starts off black
Wears bright colors Continues to wear
No shoes and a white light colors
shirt after seeing
father After dad dies she is
all dirty and clothing
Has a white shirt is torn - no shoes
under black normal
clothing

Bright red for fake

play- takes it off acter
play

Wears Poloniuss hat

after he killed him

Dies in a white shirt

Actions Action Actions Action
Follows and watches
from above while Slaps Hamlet and he Convinces Laertes to Little reaction during
Polonius is giving gets real mad - she is kill Hamlet play scene - looks a
Ophelia advice more mad and little shook
scared of him
After seeing father Is very crazy after
just goes and looks Looks like she knows dad dies - very
and breaths at before death suggestive towards a
Ophelia guard
Convulsions before
Knows he is being death She talks to herself
watched by Roz and and makes gestures -
Gil and is very mad screemy and
groaning and crying
Touches everyone
and is very goal She is crazy with the
driven looking flowers- and she has
bones as well
Kisses Ophelia after
play and tells her to
go to a nunnery and
then says goodbye

Get REAL mad at

mother once she
slaps him before he
kills polonius - yelling
and mad each other

Aggressive towards
mother in that scene

Looked like he was

kinda having ish sex
when he is
confronting his mom
or at leasts makes it
look like it - and she
kisses him- its weird

Finds the letters on

the Boat

Places skull on
ground and goes
down to it -
symbolizing his
descent?

Says he loves hamlet

and Laertes confronts
him at funeral

Still acts for

forgiveness - and
Laertes does not
seem that satisfied
with the offering of
forgiveness

Stabs him before

death

Walks around then

falls by Horatio

Dies in Horatio's
arms

Staging Staging
Hamlet is often on an
above level as others

Camera is looking up
at him

Other Other
Camera shots are We do not see
often below looking Claudius talk to Roz
up at Hamlet and Gil

He cannot use a
sword correctly

Switched order or
soliloques

Raining when he
goes off to england

Looks at Sunset
 before the last scene

Look down at hamlet

in the very last shot

OH! He starts from above when he enters scenes because in these plays they have to start
from high/ noble places and fall/ come down

THey show Roz and Gil being killed

Good night - says Horatio

Puts hamlet Up, makes him seem tougher and stuff - even the actor was more buff and macho

David Tennant
Hamlet Gurtrude Claudius Ophelia

Emotion Emotion Emotion Emotion

Noticeably upset at Notices Hamlets Does not look as Looks like she does
announcement of upsetness at shooken when there not want to listen to
anouncement is the play- he is still her brothers advice
funeral and marriage
calm and collected
Not as giddy as the Sad and scared after
More timid and other one Looks almost smug hamlet came to her
teen/angsty than when saying he was right after seeing
tough Touched Hamlet but not cincere in his father
he didn't like it prayers
Does not seem to like Does not seem as
his mother as much Appears to have Pretty calm and scared of Hamlet -
as the other one more power- not a collected throughout breakup
powerless women
(strayed away from
Shrugs before Is very mad/crazy
her touch)
She looks like she drinking the poison after her father's
knows the cup is willingly- like it does death
Weepy to mad poisened not matter as much -
hamlet did not force it
Very Happy to see down his throat
Horatio

More timid when the

breakup with Phelia -
not as aggressive
towards her - and he
grabs her once but
then is almost
blocking her from him
hands up

Often sits on the

ground when upset
with his knees in like
a child

Is very upset and

startled to find it is
ophelia - really shows
his emotion towards
her

Type of Crazy

Ruffles his hair right

after meeting with
father - and looks a
little crazier

Is crazy right after

meeting before telling
anyone he would be
crazy

More goofy crazy -

jumping, goofy voice

Wide eyed - flaily

Fishmonger scene-
wide eyed, flaily, lays
upside down- acting
more childish and
absurd - not subtle at
all ( funny faces) - but
then says the tedious
old fools part
Does act more crazy
around Polonius

His crazy is more

childish

Takes off camera-

schizophrenia

Not crazy with

Horatio- but then is
crazy when king and
queen come

Only acts normal with

Horatio really

He does not provide

a direct answer

Is not really crazy

when talking to the
grave digger with
Horatio

Costume Costume Costume Costume

Suit and tie at Wore white when Wearing Black with Wearing floral shirts
Father's Funeral greeting Gil and Roz greeting Roz and Gil and dresses
(more modern) very
Same later - white Same later- black
put together

Next costume is a red

graphic tee and jeans
and no shoes- more
drastic costume
change - and hair all
messy- no longer put
together
Puts on a tux for the
play but hair still
messy - still not
wearing shoes

Action Action Action Action

Pulls out Condom
Cries in a crouced Was drinking and Makes several when talking to
position - little kid like smoking before mistakes and looks to brother
hamlet came to his queen - or she
room corrects him She grabs at Hamlet
The ghost came to
during the breakup
him and he was She does not want to Coughs after telling
scared and hear what hamlet has to send Hamlet off to She lets hamlet lay
submissive - but still to say England and his on her during play,
wants to go after it conscious is shown and she is still
- Still uses affectionate towards
sword him - grab hims
On the ground when
She gets mad, when
father talks to him -
the queen tries to
submissive - multiple
grab her she lashed
times out and does weird
things - skipping
Ruffles his hair after around - and tries to
meeting with father take the king's coat of

When he speaks long

talks he kind of Then she takes her
own clothes off
wonders and speaks
to nothing in
Then screams and
particular throws off the clothes
the queen tries to put
He is weird with on her
Ophelia at play,
grabs her and is like
biting her arm, and
remains in her lap

Threw his mother

down on the bed

Shot Polonius with a

gun
Does not look
attracted to mom, he
is more angry and
controlling

Talks more with the

gravedigger

He actual holds the

skull but he is sitting
down

Shows more of
Hamlet manipulating
people ( Polonius and
the messenger guy )
with the difference in
opinion

Horatio wants to die

but Hamlet does not
let him - dies in
Horatios arms -
Horatio keeps holding
him and has the last
word

Staging Staging Staging Staging

He sits on the ground

a lot- opposite of the
other one where he
was up

He is often below- he
is below the king and
Claudius when he
speaks
 Other Other Other Other
Uses Security Played by the same
camera shot format After the death of guy as Hamlet sr
polonius, both the
king and the queen <-----
Speaks directly to
are filmed through
Camera
broken mirrors

A little bit of
homosextual
suggestive-ness -
hugging and asking
them to play upon a
pipe
Has part long time ago stuff then modern things
Polonius is a bigger role it feels like - makes him seem less smart/ wise- really drives the point
that he is old and rambly and others are kind of annoyed with him because of how wordy or
wrong he kind of is - not respected - more annoying

His crazy is more obvious - and when he is alone he is not the same crazy as when he is with
people- leads to believe it is fake

Laertes comes in and points a gun at the Kind

Much more is the camera over Hamlet, opposite in the other one

This one does not take things as seriously it feels like- more emotional less serious