Hamlet "Frailty thy name is woman"- Richard Burton (1964)

Richard Burton's "Hamlet", directed by John Gielgud, produced by Alexander H. Cohen. Filmed live on Broadway in 1964 and released to theaters in Electronovision. It was the longest running "Hamlet" in Broadway history. Act I, Scene 2. Richard Burton Soliloquy: "O, That this too, too solid flesh would melt"

[@brynjarhoff-lr6hw]

This I will be listening to again and again. Geat artistry are nothing you find many times in life…

[@bethfiori4708]

His voice plumbs the depths, soars the heights. Magnificent.

[@maria-christinamigone-benf5541]

He was - will always be- the best Hamlet. Ever. RIP, RB!

[@pickupartistwannabe]

r.i.p. to such a great performer.

[@CryDevil93]

People don't understand that this is a theatrical play and when you film it, it takes away the true nature of the play. When you watch it in a theater , you connect with the actor and the lines. But when you watch a movie you can't feel the real passion and true emotion of the actors. In this case especially Hamlet is made as a play not a movie! And it's supposed to be acted differently than today's TV shows and movies with so called "actors" . .

[@alydon2]

I have seen many Hamlets, but will never forget the first time heard RB on an LP of Hamlet - there remains none better. He was an actor of his time but rest assured you will hear none as great as him.

[@Br1an.J]

That LP is the ultimate, for sure

[@brianrussel6012]

(guest) No-one sleeps while Richard Burton is on....😊🌟🇬🇧🏛️ His Hamlet was very compelling... All those years of study and shouting up the mountain to strengthen the voice paid off... He does do melancholy and rage SO well... But there's also a sense of humour : look on KZbin for " Lucy Meets The Burtons".... See the chilling glare when Lucy thinks R.B. ( as " Sam the plumber") is English...whoops!😊. And see Lucy " jump" when R.B. suddenly whacks a chair... there's a pause, then " wham!" The volcano erupts !🔥⚡🔥💥🌟 Going now to hear that wonderful voice reading poems... ❤️😚🇬🇧🌟🇬🇧❤

[@timothypoulter8285]

Strange watching this knowing this actor smoked five packs of cigarettes a day and drank a wagon full of alcohol. Can't imagine any actor today who would be capable of that and still manage to play Hamlet. How times have changed.

[@arnoldstollar5375]

Kool

[@drabgabby]

For everyone commenting that he has a gravely voice... he is supposed to be a grizzled thirty year old, not a 16 emo kid who sounds like a beaver. Yeesh.

[@unwindzen]

To thee who comment-let's see thee be on Broadway as Hamlet and then thy comments shall have gravitas.

[@janel342]

Don’t be a silly billy

[@brit1066]

Several commentators have said some vile things about RB, those remarks speak only to the character of the person uttering them. RB was not always at his best, when he was at his best he was awesome, this particular performance was not flattering. I think that his best performance was in the marvelous film of The Taming of The Shrew with Liz Taylor. The character of Petruchio was a perfect fit for RB and he performed it magnificently even Liz, who was never a great actress, was brilliant as Kate. It was perhaps the finest performance of her career.

[@ruteparedes]

@JuanMacready it is one thing to have an opinion on Mr. Burton's acting based on his talent or lack thereof. Quite another to just invoke age as a reason for Mr. Burton to be playing this particular part or not, as you did in your first comment. I maintain that Hamlet is first and foremost a portrait of the human condition. True, the character was written as a young Danish prince but youth is more than an an unwrinkled brow, it's to do with vitality and strength.

[@Elanel]

You have to consider the time he was in. Back then, if you weren't hamming it up, you were underacting.

[@romanpopyk]

This a theatre, you have to speak loud

[@SandySaunders9142]

@0:05....lemme guess....Elizabeth was just backstage left.

[@puppylove422]

hehe, not a bad guess. 😊Hi, I’m Brittney Hill :D . I really enjoyed your upload! I’m living in Los Angeles county, where Hollywood is! I am homeless and currently looking for a overnight, only, shelter or a place to live… Yay, me ! My whole life, I’ve always done everything by myself, literally, so that’s why I’m super proud that I figured out my, Destiny. My Destiny is to get married to, Thomas John Ellis (he is a, famous, British, actor, on a T.V. show, in America, called, Lucifer.). I will become his Wife and a Mother (for the first time), to his 3 daughters. Then, I am also going to, finally, become a, famous, American, method, actress. The second thing in my Destiny is to be a real, live, Princess, for the United Kingdom. I was born to do all of these things :D, so it is in my blood. I’m Middle class, and I AM social climbing so I will marry the first rich man I come in to contact with, of course. HAHA! Either way my story plays out, I will end up married to, Tom Ellis. That is a promise. I’m 31 years old, I’m not just any Millennial, I’m, THAT, Millennial! You can join me wherever you see me in person :D ! See you on the big screen :D ! Family. Love. Love. Love. signed, Brittney Hill, Saturday, October the 26th, 2019.

[@katycoyote]

@rem2267 O DEAR JEALOUS???? agreat actor..what have you done lately

[@caramullen9186]

break my heart? !,,,,...or I must HOLD my tongue... ..?

[@ruteparedes]

1 second ago @JuanMacready Hamlet is a nervous wreck. He is a distraught, broken man and the sweet gilded ease of youth has all but been driven out of him by his father's death, his mother's duplicitousness which he knows sees in all women, the suspicion of foul play and crime, the overriding anguish of feeling himself surrounded by traitors where he once saw friends and family. To play Hamlet is to run the gamut of human emotions, not pandering to a certain"look".

[@chriseccplataforma]

🐰

[@drabgabby]

@JuanMacready You could say that, but you'd be wrong.

[@7Millersshadow]

@rem2267 thank you. There will always be vile trolls under the bridge. Of course, they have nothing for credentials accept bitter and wicked pronouncements. As if this guy is the arbiter of what constitutes a soulful dramatic reading. Just another hater, with nothing impressive or intelligent to share. It is called "PROJECTION"

[@sevenoeightful]

Nothing. What have you done lately.

[@rem2267]

@katycoyote Sorry, but I gotta callem like I seezum.

[@PathosDistanz]

@JuanMacready Olivier is the most overrated actor of the 20th century. His Hamlet is melodramatic, like a mannered hairdresser. Nothing beats the Russian version of Hamlet. Now there's fire. Smoktunovsky.

[@jamesrooza5665]

I have the greatest respect for Richard Burton as an actor, but if he gave this performance today, it would be seen as self indulgent and excessive, but for his time, this is a beautiful piece of work.

[@operalament]

this is an attrocious reading.