Laurence Olivier's great film of the Shakespeare tragedy (cut by some two hours from the original's four and a half hours running time) was the first of his three screen adaptations of the Bard's plays and the first wholly British picture to win the Best Film Oscar. The star's fascinating interpretation of the role of the moody Dane was controversially received but always compelling, earning him the Oscar for Best Actor. There were Oscars, too, for the art direction and costumes. As director, Olivier made dramatic use of Desmond Dickinson's atmospheric monochrome cinematography and his generosity towards his fellow players resulted in attractive performances from, in particular, Jean Simmons (Ophelia), Eileen Herlie and Basil Sydney as the Queen and King, Felix Aylmer (Polonius) and Stanley Holloway as the Gravedigger. There was an enjoyably fey performance from Peter Cushing as Osric and the film marked the first time in which he and his later companion in terror, Christopher Lee, appeared in the same film.

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