Denmark has a long-standing feud with neighbouring Norway, in which King Hamlet slew King Fortinbras of Norway in a battle some years ago. Claudius hastily married King Hamlet's widow, Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and took the throne for himself.

Prince Hamlet of Denmark, is the son of the recently deceased King Hamlet, and nephew of King Claudius, his father's brother and successor. The film received four Oscar nominations for the 69th Academy Awards for Best Art Direction ( Tim Harvey), Best Costume Design ( Alexandra Byrne), Best Original Score ( Patrick Doyle), and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Kenneth Branagh). However, it was not a box office success, mostly due to its limited release, grossing just under $5 million on a budget of $18 million. Hamlet has been regarded as one of the best Shakespeare film adaptations ever made. Hamlet was also the last major dramatic motion picture to be filmed entirely on 70 mm film until 2011, with the release of the documentary Samsara. Blenheim Palace is the setting used for the exterior grounds of Elsinore Castle and interiors were all photographed at Shepperton Studios. The setting is updated to the 19th century, but its Elizabethan English text remains the same.

The film is the first unabridged theatrical film version of Hamlet, running just over four hours. Other cast members include Robin Williams, Gérard Depardieu, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Rufus Sewell, Charlton Heston, Richard Attenborough, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, and Ken Dodd. The film also features Derek Jacobi as King Claudius, Julie Christie as Queen Gertrude, Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Michael Maloney as Laertes, Richard Briers as Polonius, and Nicholas Farrell as Horatio. Hamlet is a 1996 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, adapted and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as Prince Hamlet.

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