John Gielgud's Hamlet (Dramatized)

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: John Gielgud

This outstanding historical recording made in 1941 for radio is widely regarded as one of the finest Hamlet performances ever, and one of John Gielgud's greatest moments. Though he went on to record it for commercial release, nothing matched this recording in the BBC studios, made before the days of editing.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2006 Naxos AudioBooks

AWESOME!

I must've listened to this a hundred times and never tire of it. Gielgud's performance is phenomenal. Surely the best Shakespeare recording available on audible.

This puts to shame all other recordings of Hamlet!

A truly living recording. EVERY actor does their part perfectly, with 10/10 emotional and/or humorous intonation. I love this recording with all my heart. The lines are rendered so memorable and powerful, i cannot credit it enough. The ultimate Hamlet, this recording NEEDS to be kept alive and never be buried, without a doubt it can make the haters realize why shakespeare is amazing.

Elite

There is nothing I can say that hasn't been said already about this remarkable performance. Top Shelf.

Funny, Awful, Moving, Lovely, Amazing!

I agree 100% with the other reviewers--even though it is an old recording and you can kind of hear a little static type noise in the background sometimes, the voices come through clear and loud and the occasional sound effects (martial drumming, ghostly wind blowing, fanfare trumpeting, grave digging, etc.) sound just right.

The cast is exceptional, everyone perfect for his/her role with, perhaps, two exceptions. I don't care for Ophelia's voice or manner somehow, for she sounds a bit too old and nasal, though when she sings her sad, mad songs, she's great. And Laertes is a little too nasal for my likings, too, though when he becomes enraged at Hamlet and out for his blood, he's great, too.

And John Gielgud! What a beautiful, liquid, bell-like, refined, flexible, measured, emotional, intelligent voice! Every word he says is honed perfection that at the same time feels like impromptu passion, as if he is saying the lines for the first tine instead of for the thousandth (as he must have done over the course of his many rehearsal performances of Hamlet). And the other actors are superb, Claudius, Gertrude, Horatio, King Hamlet, the grave diggers, R & G, the players, all perfect.

And of course the play itself is magnificent in its oddity and power and philosophy and raw emotion and spying and sneaking and acting and all...

Yes, it is a powerful pleasure listening to this audiobook, and I'm sure I'll come back to it repeatedly over the years

Wonderful!!!

Even though an old recording, the vocals are clear and understandable. I have listened to it at least 20 times over.