Hamlet "To be or not to be" - Richard Burton (1964)

[@stevevandien310]

At its best, Burton's voice was as a serrated sword wrapped in black silk, buttressed by a fine poet's sensitivity to and love of the magnificent English language.

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

What he said.

[@HerAeolianHarp]

Nice turn of phrase! So well said.

[@colleencupido5125]

I have a ton of recorded poetry spoken by the English acting greats of the 20th century, and I think Burton's voice was the absolute best

[@colleencupido5125]

For all you Richard Burton fans out there who might not be aware: Burton recorded poetry by John Donne (I think his best performance), also Thomas Hardy, War poet Wilfred Owen, Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Shakespeare's poem The Rape of Lucrece. He also recorded Coriolanus for Caedmon and the audio-only 4 LP set of John Gielgud's production of Hamlet. Also online there's a 50 minute abridgement of Henry V. I hope this helps someone out there, and you'd be doing me a big favor to tell something I missed and don't know about! :)

[@chtulubarnes9045]

@@colleencupido5125 Marlowe's Dr. Faustus LP. Under Milk Wood. He narrated all of the Wars of the Roses radio adaption. Some children books, War of the Worlds. And played a role in the recording of 'The Lady's Not for Burning'.

[@williamgregory1848]

There’s something tragic yet beautiful about this man 😢

[@rerite2]

My brother saw this production. He was a teenager then and had a front row seat. He says that when Burton spoke his lines motes of dust drifted down from the rafters, his voice so strong and resonant.

[@beverleywaterbury2834]

I too heard this way back when..never forgotten

[@Nintendo_fanboy87]

That's a powerful imagery.

[@flicker162]

I saw this phenomenon of sound, and although hearing impaired, heard every word. I was young and pretty sitting in the center, third row perhaps, leaning forward to hear my favorite actor in my favorite play. I was leaning forward, absorbed. In a biography, it's said that Burton often focused on a pretty girl and more or less gave his performance to her. I believe that I was the lucky one that night.

[@rerite2]

@@flicker162 -- Thank you for sharing. Very interesting and what a great memory.

[@flicker162]

@@rerite2 Your brother's memory put me right back in the small theater. Yes, the theater thrill of my life!

[@nurselibby96]

Burton is the best of the six fine actors I have watched who have played Hamlet, The Dane. His strong Welsh voice was truly mesmerizing. I wish I could have seen him perform this live. We will not see his like again.

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Burton plays Hamlet as a repressed hysteric. I've seen this speech done many ways, but it's like Hamlet's on speed. Brilliant performance.

[@maestroclassico5801]

Which makes To sleep....perchance to DREAM....even more meaning.

[@mariazarzhytskahome]

@@maestroclassico5801, you've got my mind. That's manifestated classique "giacommian madness", finely shown by Mr.Burton. Great play!

[@essertpitay]

You can't beat that voice.

[@snowysnowyriver]

Bottom line.......Richard Burton was a genius. The films he made did not do him justice. He had to be seen on stage to appreciate his power.

[@Jfk3434]

It was where he belonged before bewitched by a violet eyed vixen stole him away to ugly CA

[@Jfk3434]

He belonged to the theater

[@cydonian0417]

Greatest speaker of the English language in all of human history. No less.

[@neilevans4352]

And not his first language.

[@sportszone8680]

This is one of many voices no one will ever replace

[@JaneEasterbrook-bn3ux]

There's still nobody like Richard Burton... I miss him.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

I have only one thing to say about this cruel brilliance: It is the most shattering experience of a young man's life when he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself: "I will never play The Dane". When that moment comes, ones ambition ceases. Damn you, Burton. For your beauty and your genius, damn you.

[@JustAnotherGamertag]

I honestly think this is the perfect representation of this soliloquy. The moment of "ay, there's the rub" is absolutely perfect, couldn't have anyone done that moment even better.

[@anaussie213]

Agreed. Also he goes "to sleep... perchance... to dream.." as opposed to "to sleep, perchance to dream" as I always hear it done. Works better his way.

[@Dalfay]

"I did love you once!" with a deep tremble in his voice BRAVO!!!

[@carolhanlon1444]

I was in college and a group of us got cheap seats and saw this production.he was nothing less than mesmerizing.

[@thebrainkw]

Richard Burton is great and he has an incredible voice

[@ChrisComstock612]

This is my favorite thing ever

[@matthewgarry1643]

Same

[@hanno21664]

this is raw talent right here, Richard Burton is in the pantheon of Great actors and actresses. i highly doubt we shall see his like again. i know there are some who might like Mr. Burton and that is ok that is their opinion. Burton is passed on and we have the honour to see his talent and study from him. a great man all around. later all. have a good day

[@jay1beaux]

A very great Hamlet, by a great actor

[@theresadevine4415]

What a wonderful voice and beautiful English. Perfectly performed in true RB style.

[@mitchroushart]

Brilliant on so many levels!

[@Cowpunkgirl2]

The madness; most excellent!!!

[@Lundahlium]

Jesus he is so good.

[@qui_etes_vous]

yes, this man's voice does SAVE LIVES.😊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.

[@brynjarhoff-lr6hw]

The one and only Richard Burton…..the greatesr among the best greats!!!! Burton gives me great moments when I listen to him….

[@llewellynhamiltoniiim.d.1057]

Great Performance.

[@jackcoleman1222]

Wow, this is some of the most impressive phrasing I've seen for this soliloquy. If I ever play this, my dream role, I hope to do a fraction as well as Mr. Burton.

[@rclevy3]

I saw this performance in Toronto and Burton was wonderful. That is a huge theatre and he performed as a great stage actor so everyone could see what he was doing. Unless you have seen Burton on the stage you cannot be critical of his stage acting. One can't judge it by a film. It doesn't translate.

[@iggitube18]

After having compared a number of versions on youtube, i think this is by far the best. Richard Burton had an amazing voice and I would rather listen to him than any of the others.

[@johntechwriter]

Yes, Burton had a great voice and an athletic physical presence to match. What won Liz Taylor over to him when they were filming Cleopatra was the sight of his powerful legs as revealed by his Roman tunic. Until quite recent times, European men have been especially vain about their legs. And with good reason. While a pair of burly arms came with every blacksmith, only a very few men had naturally muscular legs - then and now. As his bodybuilding career got to the professional level and he was perfecting his form, Arnold Swartzenegger devoted the better part of a year to developing his calves. Really!

[@chipsnorice]

Mortal coil...slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes...perchance to dream...There's the rub.....such words, such beauty, such poignance.....no better to say them than 'Our Rich' - Kenneth Tynan said the first time he saw Burton it was like a cathedral was within his eyes.. or something similar. RIP Richard you gave us so much with your voice, your life and your charisma. Such the like we will never see again.

[@richardcroteau3977]

What needs to be said? He is the best! Fantastic!!

[@moonlight007speed]

Best Hamlet adaptation ever, Sir Burton is an unmatchable talent.

[@ashleighjaimaosborne3966]

I first knew of my admiration for RB’s voice in the rock opera “War of the Worlds”. RIP and thank you for the magical performances 🇨🇦

[@HoLd_My_Beer_Thanks]

A juggernaut of an actor! - A joy to watch, and bliss to hear him utter the bards words! - He’ll NEVER bested! ❤

[@linadjokic270]

Welsh wizard of the voice! Never shall there be another of his like!

[@operaoaf]

This is truly an inspiration to watch! Richard just shows how great he is as a stage actor. It's a sure contrast with the bland and monotonous so called acting we have these days. Unfortunately, people who are too used to modern films just dont get the acting required to fill an entire theater and the tradition of theatrical acting. You have to be bigger than life because you are but a small being onstage. People seating near the back need to feel all the nuances and emotions.

[@Linda-pg3so]

👍🏻

[@brianrussel6012]

(guest) Wow. 😊🌠. As John Gielgud once said" that's acting, dear boy..." Such intensity, such light and shade, rise and fall of that wonderful voice, such energy, such concentration , such ability to portray suppressed rage / inner conflict.... Wow and double wow ! So glad he did all that for British /English theatre... Going back to watch it again : what a treat !😊🇬🇧😊 🔥🇬🇧😊🌟🔥🇬🇧🔥

[@stephenroberts3398]

Welsh wizard Richard Burton is powerful on the stage.. Bottle of vodka before the matinee and another bottle of vodka for the evening performance.Stupendous memory and gifted actor.

[@janel342]

The vodka is in your imagination.

[@Taoistdavid]

I was .istening to Adam Gopnik on a CBC podcast (Massey forum at Stratford) and he said this was the absolutely best rendering of this speech. Burton rendered 'sleep' in several ways and landed all the stops. I think it was very good.

[@GeorgiaTryfona]

Beautiful, such a pity that theater actors have moved away from this way of using the voice. There is nothing more exciting for the ear than this power of an acting voice. After watching all the modern actors no one I think could release the tone like he does on 4:52 as well as use the light falsetto register earlier at 4:36. Beautiful really😍 I studied singing and ancient Greek theater and use this way to train voices in opera and public speaking. Thank you for uploading!

[@RonaldoSilvaOliveira-m1k]

40 Anos Sem Richard Burton

[@jansumi]

I saw this when it came out. Never forgot. Waited for years for it to show up somewhere again. The simple black & white minimal costumes and sets. So powerful. That voice - oh, I miss him. He & Olivier definitely win for Voice.

[@beverleywaterbury2834]

Me too

[@jamesbwaterman]

Watching this scene it hits me: why didn’t I get this before? Ophelia is inexperienced at being two faced and gives away that she is performing for hidden figures. This actress and Burton play this wonderfully, the two-sidedness between whispering the truth to one another and declaiming the performance for those watching. When Burton figures it out, he looks back to where Ophelia has glanced, the scene becomes electrified. I’ve played this scene before, many times, and never figured this out. “It hath made me mad” is interpreted as madness by Polonius (and Ophelia) but it’s merely a result of realizing he’s being played and manipulated by the ones he trusts the most. Denmark is a funhouse of horror!

[@musikafossora]

He had such a rich and beautiful voice. Like velvet.

[@naaveenmahadeshwar7889]

My god! Perfection of English diction staRted and ended with Burton 🙏🙏🙏

[@aclark903]

Hardly. #Tynan called him ‘the natural successor to #Olivier’.

[@barbarastevens4054]

Sorry, my vote is for James MasonHello.

[@jonnbwright]

this is the best, and i have seen at least 10...

[@laurabarzaghi1770]

Ho letto dei commenti su Burton e Sono tutti concordi nel dire che BURTON ERA UN ATTORE CON UN TALENTO ECCEZIONALE E CON UNA VOCE MERAVIGLIOSA E CON UNA VASTISSIMA CULTURA TEATRALE NATURALMENTE E ANCHE IL MIO GIUDIZIO ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@cjcheri]

Are you kidding me? Any leading actor who plays Hamlet is a GREAT actor. This is really the hardest dialogue there is, it's Shakespeare after all.

[@tuxguys]

Burton in his prime, directed by Gielgud, declaiming Shakespeare... Does it get any better than this? I've been watching a lot of great performances of this speech (thank you, KZbin) this evening, but not until this performance did I draw a parallel between Hamlet and Capt. Ahab in their respective, self-destructive obsessions. Thank you, whoever posted this.

[@carmencollor1224]

Excellent comparison!!!

[@juliejones717]

The best interpretation of this famous speech 💔

[@chobogamer]

finally a Real performance!

[@danesgch]

Thank's God i found this video. I have to recite this poem in some weeks, now I can practice :)

[@manuelarimoli8]

Impecable .

[@LPJack02]

RIP and long live Richard Burton (November 10, 1925 - August 5, 1984), aged 58 You will always be remembered as a legend.

[@martintalbot875]

Mesmerizing performance..it left you haunted and in awe

[@Tazzy123949]

Thank you I'm doing a project on shakespeare this will be my wow factor

[@dearmalika]

Amazing performance!

[@anaussie213]

All but ONE! I love how he yells out like that at the end, such a rage.

[@beatscatmommy1735]

Such an amazing artist. Just watched Cleopatra again, he is so god you forget it’s a movie. He gets into the character and makes it his

[@anaussie213]

I love him in my cousin Rachel.

[@keeponbleeding]

I love this excerpt!

[@89217724042]

The greatest moment ever :-)

[@jembreern1]

I wish I had been mature enough when he was in his prime to have appreciated this great talent while he was alive. Such a performer! Makes everything come together as real to me, even when he's speaking Elizabethan English to me, a poor dumb Southerner!

[@actorscrib5932]

The modern crop can’t compare ! That voice , intelligence and poetry . Bravura

[@bodieofci5418]

By far my favourite version of this. Richard Burton had a fantastic voice. And to think he went from this to shooting Nazis with Clint Eastwood a couple of years later.

[@mmmmitch3073]

bodie of ci5 Movies did not interest Richard Burton. He made “Where Eagles Dare” for his kids. They wanted to see him in something they could understand and enjoy so he had Alistair write the screenplay for him.

[@MrRinderRupinder]

I don't understand how anyone can say that this is bad... Shakespearean plays are ubiquitous but it's truly rare that I see one with actors who really understand the contents of the play and apply the right tone to the speeches...like this one for example LOL

[@CoolJuleofAces]

that was fuckin brilliant. damn, the vocal muscularity and range, the coloring and scoring of the soliloquy, the moment-to-moment discoveries, the way he moved in the space, emotional connection and objective- freakin exquisite.

[@alydon2]

Burton, O'Toole and all the other from that era were proper men and proper actors. Today's offerings are pale beside them and Burton in Hamlet was held in very high esteem, greater than anything else seen before.

[@johntechwriter]

How tiresome are those who belittle everything modern as pale imitation of what something was when THEY were young.

[@dianethebowiefan9914]

I love his voice

[@suzieqtruth6377]

Thank you so much for all these posts. They are invaluable.

[@garkogako7989]

looks good even on tv.

[@dweir2584]

Just seen Motive and The Cue at the London National Theatre, and so happy to find this clip!

[@edwardkarlson8192]

Don't call me, I'll call you. Great demonstration of voice and diction.

[@garrison6863]

I liked Burton's Hamlet. I think its one of the best on film.

[@mariazarzhytskahome]

Scorpacitos never mind. He looks like one of the first 60`s extirpates #forbidthem

[@emerybayblues]

I've watched Scofield, Oliver and Burton. They all bring something to it. I can't decide.

[@njohnca]

thanks for the post it is great

[@MacHeath699]

Wonderful to see this!

[@beatscatmommy1735]

Spectacular. And that voice.

[@DavidMiramontes1]

Awesome!

[@matttilley9093]

Judging a soliloquay from Hamlet out of context is not fair. This is wonderful, passionate Burton at his best. That voice , cut from Welsh slate, that seething rage. Yes Hamlet is noble, yes Hamlet is forlorn, yes he is conflicted , boyish and melancholic, but he is also in a rage that "could drown the stage with tears" That anger is missing in most (one dimensional) portrayals of the young prince. Burton is melancholic and flippant in many of the scenes with other characters. He deliberately chose to use the soliloquays as an opportunity to free that anger, that rage. So even tho i concede this and "o what a rogue" seem over acted and shouted, it was deliberate and in the context of an entire rounded performance it work....and he did understand what he was saying, don't be that naive....

[@flicker162]

He said on Dick Cavett Show that To be or not to be was not the great pondering about suicide. He was always talking to Ophelia. The student prince talking, thinking aloud, as students do.

[@howardsmith9342]

Mel Gibson conveys some of that anger in his performance. Hamlet acts crazy to fool people, but there is a rage that comes through.

[@flicker162]

I think it was in a Cavett interview Burton said that "To be or not to be" was spoken to Ophelia, who is still on stage. He is ruminating, not reciting, thinking as teenagers do.

[@stephenroberts3398]

A coal miners son from South Wales who conquered London and Hollywood..He had to change his accent and name to escape the poverty of the valleys..That voice was his most commanding feature.. Powerful performance and mesmeric.. Merry Christmas from Swansea South Wales 2019..Diolch.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

Some of the comments here are disgusting. Burton was a truly brilliant actor. he was so popular that they filmed a live performance of his Hamlet and broadcast it directly into cinemas across the UK. Regarding the opinion of "JuanMacready". This is a man that has favourited videos by Chris de Burgh and David Cameron - need I say more.

[@kalypsopurple]

Oh my. Gotta love Burton. Don't care if he's going with his quintessential style for what is probably ultimate Shakespeare (and a role I consider to be the hardest and most complex ever), he's still aces it and does it like no one else ;p

[@rawdonqueen]

Knocking Burton seems to be a popular sport. I thought that he was superb as Hamlet when I saw the original production, and this video confirms my memory. Remember that he was picked for the part and directed by John Gielgud, probably the greatest Hamlet of the last century.

[@Beaufallow]

Best version I’ve ever heard

[@rmp7400]

Stunning! Stunning... Every surprising movement of his very body leaves me quite breathless, motionless... THIS Hamlet is very powerfully frightening - completely unpredictable... I would not be his Queen, his handmaid, nor a sister confidante... No, I had no idea what Burton could do on stage. At all. Much has been made of his photographic memory, his unforgettable voice, and his Lotharic powers of magnetism - but this Star ...had an unrivallable, naturally mesmerizing intellect that could transfigure a character on paper into a breathing, bleeding Fantasma. Clearly, he never won an Oscar because he was never seriously considered for any nomination. For Hollywood to have recognized him... would have put every other actor out of a job. The entire unfortunate Elizabeth Taylor episode ...apparently was used to discredit his very evident & towering talent. Olivier's earlier interpretation of Hamlet gained more lasting approval because - and ONLY because: Hamlet was a DANE... and Olivier primarily focused on presenting an ancient DANISH personality (he even dyed his hair blonde, [as if all Danes were blonde!])- not necessarily a passionately conflicted, powerful MAN.

[@Emiliano533]

Richard Burton, siempre memorable; su participación en el teatro como en el cine, ¡SIEMPRE UN ACONTECIMIENTO!

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

Happy 456 to the Bard! He was born this week (no one knows the exact date), but celebrated 23 April 1564. Richard Burton is my favorite Hamlet. Kenneth Branagh did a good one too.

[@TheStockwell]

The real significance of the Gielgud/Burton "Hamlet" - no matter how much one is angered or baffled by it nearly half a century later - was its effect on subsequent Hamlets. This version pushed aside the classical Hamlet; the mopey, indecisive, blonde little prince in tights. Like it or not, this interpretation made Hamlet less of a museum piece and more open to different, less hermetically sealed approaches.

[@ZephyrsSong]

ahhhh, gets me every time :)

[@culturehorse]

One aspect of some of the extraordinary venomous commentary below goes unnoted along with the then current technologies monotone acoustics: this while filmed was but effectively ONE single performance (albeit a composite) of that engagement that lasted FOUR months and 137 performances. Perspective. RIP.

[@markharrison2544]

People went to see the play because he had just married Elizabeth.

[@patrickmorgan4006]

@@markharrison2544 Yeah, that must have been the only reason (eye roll).

[@markharrison2544]

He only became a star in Hollywood after his marriage in 1964.

[@patrickmorgan4006]

@@markharrison2544 You don't have a clue, do you? How about "The Robe" in 1953 and go from there. "The Longest Day" was also a huge movie for him in 1962. To name two that came before 1964.

[@markharrison2544]

He was only in Hollywood very briefly in 1953 and left because he had a terrible time. He was just one of a hundred stars in "The Longest Day".

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

I kept expecting him to ask if DannyBoy was on the frequency. In all seriousness, this is sublime.

[@joanienoeldechen4133]

My father's fav actor...

[@runestone0]

Juan: You crack me up! I'm reminded of a stray cat that comes meowing to one's door; feed her, and you'll never get rid of her. Ignore her, and she'll skulk away and bother someone else.

[@hummarstra]

I don't know if this is a good Hamlet or not, but I love Richard Burton. My fav performance of his is in Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolfe? Just love him.

[@anaussie213]

If it's Burton it's good.

[@larsnilsson8949]

This IS Hamlet, Burton is Hamlet. No one played Shakespeare like Richard Burton. Here is an actor! REAL actor!

[@caroldunn4799]

Best acting ever! Second only to Glenda Jackson, they put ACTING in the dictionary 🥰

[@05maccaj]

I understand how revolutionary Burton was in his day, but I always find that when he reads, his technical mastery of the verse is wonderful, but I can't always get the sense of what he's saying.

[@gatocat3336]

You and me both. I think you already need to know what he is saying off by heart in order to hear it. In my opinion he speaks too fast. I have listened to Sir John Gielgud and was able to hear every syllable and every word. In my opinion that makes him the better speaker.

[@anaussie213]

While Burton speaks perfect dramatic Received Pronunciation Shakespeare wrote in Middle English, which is quite different. A fair amount of meaning is lost by the modern recreations (just see how many Shakespearean sonnets don't rhyme in modern English). Also in as you like it "and so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe, and then from hour to hour we rot and rot". Hour used to sound like whore and ripe like rape so the double meaning (of whoremongers getting std's) has been lost. Even hearing every syllable doesn't quite convey the original meaning.

[@mashamaybe]

ya'll are crazy. this was filmed in the sixties...it was a completely different style of acting then. and filmed performances of live theater can never translate what its really like to be in the space. older actors still talk about how amazing Burton's Hamlet was.

[@PhilSymes-p6k]

The pain of a genius. Phil.

[@sayusayme7729]

Fantastic!

[@ScottHallFalls]

mm Yes such rage and sorrow

[@marcmorrissey3058]

Burtons magnificent voice was “the deep dark answer from the valleys to the bloody lot of you” (The English) as he said himself!