Hamlet (1921)





Asta Nielsen, a Danish silent film star, established her own production company to create this movie that blends new elements with Shakespeare's legendary story. The most significant deviation is the gender-switch of the lead character, transforming Hamlet into a princess who is compelled to disguise herself as a man by her conniving mother. As a result, Hamlet's secret love for Horatio and her competition with Ophelia for his affection are introduced. The film depicts Queen Gertrude as a co-conspirator in her first husband's murder, and omits the ghost of the old king - instead, Hamlet hears a voice from the grave and dreams of him. Furthermore, upon returning from Norway with an army led by her old friend Fortinbras, Hamlet immediately kills Claudius (in a fire), with Gertrude engineering both Hamlet's death in the fencing match and her own demise by inadvertently drinking the poisoned wine.


Books with substantial mentioning of Hamlet

Hans Helmut Prinzler
Licht und Schatten, Die grossen Stumm- und Tonfilme der Weimarer Republik
München; Berlin, 2012

Douglas Brode
Shakespeare in the Movies, From the Silent Era to Shakespeare in Love
Oxford, 2000

Günther Dahlke
Deutsche Spielfilme von dem Anfängen bis 1933, Ein Filmführer
Berlin, 1988


Year: 1921
Country: Germany
 
IMDb: 0012249