Hamlet (1948 Film) - Production

Production

Casting and filming

Eileen Herlie, who plays Hamlet's mother, was 28 years old when the movie was filmed. Olivier, who plays her son, was 40.

Olivier played the voice of the Ghost himself by recording the dialogue and playing it back at a reduced speed, giving it a haunted, other-worldly quality. However, for many years it was assumed, even in film reference books, that John Gielgud had played the voice of the Ghost. Gielgud would go on to play this role in three later productions - the 1964 film and stage versions of Richard Burton's Hamlet, the 1970 telecast of the Hallmark Hall of Fame production starring Richard Chamberlain, and a 1994 radio production starring Kenneth Branagh.

The film marked the only screen appearance of Jean Simmons in a Shakespearean role.

Cinematography

The cinematography, by Desmond Dickinson, makes use of the deep focus photography previously popularized in films directed by William Wyler and Orson Welles.

Music

The music was composed by William Walton and, next to his score for Olivier's 1944 film Henry V, has become his most celebrated film score.

Editor

The movie was edited by Helga Cranston.