Director\'s Presentation of the Ghost

¶ … Director's presentation of the Ghost in the three Hamlet films

The adaptation of a Shakespeare play to film is always another director's interpretation of the characters and the text. Numerous Shakespeare plays have been adapted by filmmakers across the globe, who tweak the screenplay slightly or more in accordance to the culture, context and language that they are presenting to. Hamlet is one of the more popular plays of Shakespeare. It has been adapted to film by many directors over the years since it was first enacted (Heroajax, 2008). There are over fifty film adaptations of Hamlet. The full text of Hamlet can run up to four hours in performance. The most important character, after the title character of Hamlet, is that of his father's ghost. Referred to as just "ghost" in the stage play as well as the film adaptations, it is pivotal to the story, and so is its adaptation from stage to screen. The essence of the ghost remains the same in each movie; however, other factors vary from film to film, director to director. The ghost essentially sets the plot into motion by demanding revenge from Hamlet for his murder by Claudius, his brother and Hamlet's uncle (Goldman, 2001). It appears in the play script four times, and is often viewed as a figment of Hamlet's imagination. But it is the appearance of the ghost that leads to Hamlet questioning his sanity. Eventually, Hamlet does manage to avenge his father's death but dies in course of fighting for it. The comparison of different interpretations of the ghost in these films can be made in order to analyze each director's take on the character, as well as the effect that it has on the respective Hamlet character in the given film.

Analysis of Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of the Ghost in Hamlet 1996:

This version of Hamlet is a full text, uncut version of the play. Like the play, the film duration is around over four hours long. This version received much critical acclaim, with Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) and Best Art Direction for the 69th Academy Awards (Ebert, 1997).

The timeline for the play has been updated for this film and the film has been set in the 19th century. The Branagh version of the play is darker and more dramatic than previous versions before it. Hence, the ghost in that version is depicted as just a dark character than it is. The setting in which Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of his father is much more dramatic. The ghost in the Branagh version fetches similarities to that of a devil. The interpretation is that of a demon-like creature manifesting itself in such a form, while taking the identity of Hamlet's father's spirit. The ghost is dressed in armor, and has the appearance of Hamlet's father. His eyes are filled with fury and anger, and it behaves in a ruthless and asserting manner. The ghost speaks in a deep, penetrating voice which sends chills down the spine, and has demon-like qualities to it. Hamlet's encounter with the ghost takes place in a dark, eerie forest, making it more frightening by increasing the drama in the scene, with the ground moving, the winds blowing while the threatening screams of the ghosts echoing through the clearing. The ghost coaxes Hamlet in to swearing that he is not to speak of this encounter to anyone.

The depiction however, is a true to the text as possible. The original text of the play describes the Ghost as a warrior in life, which is why the Ghost appears in the film in the forest clearing, dressed in his armor. The attire of the Ghost changes throughout the film, following the text in each aspect, with the text of the play. The anger and fury that is displayed by the Ghost in the film, is reminiscent of the character in its life, a ruthless warrior that conquered Norway, and was betrayed by his own greedy brother.

Analysis of Michael Almereyda's interpretation of the Ghost in Hamlet 2000:

The Micheal Almereyda version of Hamlet, released in the year 2000, has a contemporary setting. The story takes place in New York City with a modern and corporate twist. Hamlet in this film, is depicted as a lonely, twenty-something aspiring artist, who father was the head of the "Denmark Corporation," had passed away some time ago.

The ghost first visits Hamlet in this version, in his apartment, where he appears on the television screen. The film being set in the modern technological era, with cell phones and credit cards, this seemed appropriate. The ghost in the film appears as a specter. As in life, the Ghost is high up in the corporate ladder at the Denmark Corporation, he is dressed to fit. He commands his son in the same manner in his death as in his life. The level of drama is notched down, and it has an element of thrill in it. The ghost continues to meet Hamlet in an abandoned warehouse, being adapted to the modern day world as a place no one would go to (Burnett, 2003). However, the character of the Ghost lacks the driver and anger that has been displayed by the character in the play script and the version of the film made by Branagh in 1996. The Ghost wasn't convincing in his role as a spirit pursuing vengeance for his murder. It was timid compared to the Ghost depiction in Branagh's Hamlet (1996).

Analysis of Gregory Doran's interpretation of the Ghost in Hamlet 2009: