Paul Scofield's Hamlet: To Be or Not To Be

For whatever reason Scofield's version of this penultimate Shakespeare Soliloquy isn't on KZbin. Until now, as it should be.

[@phwbooth]

Paul Scofield, one of the greatest actors of the twentieth century, refused a knighthood three times. That's quality....

[@Pugovitsa46]

And by all accounts Paul Scofield was a good and decent man.

[@michaeldoyle6702]

Genius, in Shakespeare and Scofield. Ought not this be spoken from one depressed, exhausted, hoping for a possible escape? The audible nervous breaths of Scofield take me in to this man's awful struggle. Brilliant. Thanks J.F.

[@garrison968]

Beautifully done. Quiet, but his voice is so well modulated at all times that you get a really broad range of expression and phrasing and timbre. Scofield is the only man i know who could match Gielgud in this role in English.

[@MagistraMom1]

Thank you so much. Paul Scofield had the best voice for all characters, audiobooks, and seasons. I'd give most anything to have had the privilege of seeing him on stage.

Join the club

[@domainofthesun4400]

You and me both.

[@dianas-v8418]

I saw Scofield onstage as Lear. I remember his posture, the timbre of his voice. Nothing in my theater-going life has equaled that performance.

[@Amethyst_Friend]

Have you listened to his reading of 'Great Expectations'?

[@edoardocippitelli4158]

Thank you for very much indeed for honouring him and thus delighting us so.

[@AltenburgEagles]

What sincerity...what humanity. He was one of the few true greats!

[@pandulagodawatta7398]

Amazing! His Hamlet is much more inward looking and contemplative? Brilliant how he infuse a touch of cynicism to the first part of the soliloquy.

[@elizari3]

Fantastic in his vulnerability yet flacidly brilliant at desperation’s corner

[@alexkatsanos8475]

Wow. The trembling in every syllable the torment. So evident. I’ve heard it rushed through too many times. One of the greatest but not known by many.

[@markthomas3851]

What a beautiful man.

[@edoardocippitelli4158]

Thank you for very much indeed for honouring him and thus delighting us so.

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

Horrible reading. I'm very much surprised. He was a great actor - but not this time. Far better than Richard B - Liz's sex toy.

[@bonnieduke557]

Yes...Mesmerizing! Yes...Thank you

[@mizofan]

Oh yes, superb.

[@lunarmodule9915]

God gifted this man with the greatest voice I've ever heard.

[@Dizinii]

It's still powerful

[@RonRicho]

Thanks for posting this. I was fortunate enough to see Mr Scofield in Heartbreak House in London. Need I say he was magnificent.

[@anyasmith3114]

Lucky fellow! It must have been the performance of a lifetime.

I am jealous

[@millertheory7935]

Pretty cool

[@RonRicho]

@@anyasmith3114 It was! Also in the cast Vanessa Redgrave and Felicity Kendal and directed by Trevor Nunn.

[@modernisti]

thank you, thank you! This isn't from the 1965 recording....? (That one I own).

[@finch45lear]

He wonderful in ‘ A Man For All Seasons’.

[@Eudora74]

Thank you very, very much!!!

[@boabswife9285]

Soft, yet powerful. Confidently performed but Hamlet's frustration clear. Scofield had genius running through him like Blackpool rock. One of the greatest actors ever to tread the boards, but where was his knighthood?

[@Jon1Flanders]

He refused it.

[@boabswife9285]

Thanks Jonathan. Good to know he was deemed worthy by the establishment. 😀

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Not to be. That's the answer to the question. At least as far as I'm concerned.

[@Jon1Flanders]

I believe it is actually. I have it on tape, transferred it to dvd and mp3.

[@kawippel8256]

I can listen to him all day.

[@christopherthorkon3997]

Extraordinary.

[@markrichardson6381]

Well said.

[@dbeans63]

Sir Laurence Olivier said that Paul scofield and himself held a mutual respect for each others work.

[@Yoni123]

Where is this from? Radio play or what?

[@katievince7085]

What a powerful performance.

[@forgogeorge9806]

Very good indeed ! But to me Gilgud was still irreplaceable to Hamlet nobody comes close to Gilgud ever maybe today Kenneth Branagh with His acting can get close to this piece!

[@_rob_.]

Thank you. 🤝

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

One of the greatest ever to do it

[@johnheart6890]

One of the best!

[@MarlboroughBlenheim1]

Too much focus on Schofield and his fine oration: not enough in the comments on the genius of the language and the beauty of it.