This Week's Assignment

This week we are finishing Hamlet and watching the 1990 film adaptation starring Mel Gibson.

Not pictured: Hamlet, sanity.

Despite any misgivings I may have concerning the star, the Zeffirelli version is by far my favorite cinematic interpretation of Hamlet.

Onto your assignment for this week (10/7-10/11):

Part 1: Morricone

Zeffirelli's Hamlet features an Ennio Morricone score. He is an Italian composer most famous for his contributions to Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy. He is the man responsible for creating the signature sound of "Spaghetti Westerns."

Clint Eastwood's portrayal of the "Man With No Name"  revolutionized westerns in the 1960's.

My favorite Morricone theme comes from the comedy/western, Two Mules For Sister Sara, starring Clint Eastwood and Shiley Maclaine. You may recognize this theme as it was used again by Quentin Tarantino in Django Unchained.

• Your task: listen to some of Morricone's work on YouTube and select your favorite composition.
• Post a link to the video in the comment section of this post and explain why the song is appealing to you.

Part 2: Shakespearean Pronounciation 

A father-son team of linguists have determined what actors performing Shakespearean dialogue actually sounded like when the plays were originally performed. Check out the video below.

• In your comment, leave your thoughts regarding the video and what Shakespeare "actually" sounded like. You may wish to compare it to the more modern pronounciation, such as that used by Mel Gibson.

Your comment must be at least two paragraphs in length.

Comments are due by midnight, Friday the 11th.

To Be, Or Not To Be

There are many film adaptations of Hamlet. Wikipedia estimates that since 1900, over 50 different film and tv adapations of the play have been produced. In fact, you have all likely seen one particular version.

In 1948, Sir Laurence Olivier directed and starred in a big screen adaptation of the play. It won best picture, despite the fact that Olivier, who himself portrayed Hamlet, was 40 years of age during the production. Olivier's approach at the time was groundbreaking: this was a film adaptation; not simply a recording of a stage production. Olivier uses narration to imply that Hamlet's soliloquies are internal monologue. Check out his version of the famous "To be, or not to be" speech, and just listen to that dramatic score.

In 1990, Franco Zeffirelli, an Italian film director, released his version of Hamlet. His 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet is an English class staple. You may well remember it as the version where you briefly caught a glimpse of Romeo's bare backside.

Isn't he dreamy?

But I digress. Zeffirelli's version of Hamlet features my favorite Hamlet: Mel Gibson. Here is his take on the "To be, or not to be" speech. Check out how smoothly Gibson delivers the lines in an emotional but conversational manner.

And here is yet another take on the speech. This one is from The Royal Shakespeare Company's 2009 TV adaptation starring David Tennant.

Yes, Kerwin. Dr. Who is also Hamlet. I know, mind blown.

Your Assignment: After viewing these clips, which version do you feel best captures the meaning of the speech? Post a comment and explain your rationale.

Your response is due by midnight, October 3rd. That is this Thursday.