Hamlet is a British drama film of 2003 starring William Houston in the title role, with Gareth Thomas, Christopher Timothy, Iain Cuthbertson, Paul Curran, Lucy Cockram, and Jilly Bond.
Production This adaptation keeps the Shakespearean dialogue, while leaving much out to shorten the overall length. It presents the action in a 17th-century setting, with costumes and props hired from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 1997, Houston had been understudy to Alex Jennings when he played the part of Hamlet in a RSC production of the play."William Houston", Official London Theatre, 17 April 2008
The film was released on DVD in 2013.Robert Diamond, "Shakespeare's Hamlet, the film starring Will Houston, available on DVD July 30", Broadway World, 4 July 2013, accessed 1 December 2025
Cast William Houston as Prince Hamlet Gareth Thomas as King Claudius Iain Cuthbertson as Ghost Christopher Timothy as Gravedigger Richard Brimblecombe as Rosencrantz Richard Hansell as Guildenstern Lucy Cockram as Ophelia Jilly Bond as Gertrude Paul Curran as Laertes David Powell-Davies as Polonius Bryan Harrison as Murderer Jason Harris as Horatio Alistair Wilson as Osric Guy Adams as Soldier Mark Griffin as Servant Harriet Caruthers as Wedding Guest David Eldridge as Wedding Guest Sofia Price as Wedding Guest John Corvin as First Player Nikolas Hall as Soldier Roger Green as Play Guest Jane Dean as Play Guest David Dean as Play Guest
Reception Small-Screen Shakespeare says of Houston that he offers "a dangerous, unbalanced-looking Hamlet". Of Iain Cuthbertson's Ghost, it notes that Cuthbertson may indeed be playing the part, but "the weird photography makes it impossible to tell".
Notes
External links
Hamlet, 2003 at Rotten Tomatoes Hamlet 13 at Scholars Online