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MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1990 DVD Release: 02/24/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 16 Genres: Drama, Tragedy

Franco Zeffirelli directs his third Shakespeare adaptation (after Romeo and Juliet and Otello) with this film version of the tragedy Hamlet. The titular prince of Denmark (Mel Gibson), returns home to his family's castle of Elsinore after years of attending school in Germany to find out his father has died and his uncle Claudius (Alan Bates) is the new king. To make matters worse, Claudius has married Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude (Glenn Close), whom he has unusually strong feelings for. Hamlet is visited by his father's ghost (Paul Scofield), who asks him to seek revenge for his murder. In order to find out who the real killer is, Hamlet stages a theatrical scene resembling his father's death. Claudius is upset by the production and leaves to arrange for Hamlet's murder. In the ensuing confusion, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonious (Ian Holm) instead of Claudius; Hamlet's lover, Ophelia (Helena Bonham Carter), goes mad and commits suicide; and eventually Hamlet and Claudius both meet their fate. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Mel Gibson - Hamlet
Glenn Close - Gertrude
Alan Bates - Claudius
Paul Scofield - The Ghost
Ian Holm - Polonius

The third Shakespearean adaptation for renowned filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli, Hamlet earned two Academy Award nominations in 1991 and allowed star Mel Gibson to flex some of his more dramatic acting chops. On this DVD release from Warner Home Video, the film is presented in the widescreen format with an anamorphic transfer. The original English soundtrack has been rendered in Dolby Digital 2.0 sound with English, Spanish, and French subtitles available. Along with an introduction by Gibson, the film is supplemented by a pair of featurettes: "Hamlet: An Actor's Journey" delves into the process of performing the bard from a thespians point of view, while "Mel Gibson: To Be or Not to Be" takes viewers behind the scenes for glimpses at the making of the film. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide