Hamlet (1920): Shakespeare On The Global Silver Screen

Wednesday, February 24th, 6:30 PM Collins Cinema, Wellesley College

Asta Nielsen, born in Denmark in 1881, was the first diva of European silent film. To realize her artistic vision she founded her own company, Art-Film, in 1920. Her production of Hamlet, produced that same year, features a female Hamlet character and initially survived only in a black-and-white US export version. A colored vintage print of the lost German original version of 1921 was discovered in 2005. The restored film had its premiere at the Berlinale in 2007, with new musical accompaniment composed by Michael Riessler (Source: Edition Filmmuseum).

Special presentation in 35mm

About Shakespeare on the Global Silver Screen:

Presented to expand upon themes in the special exhibition Shakespeare Pictured: Art and Books from Wellesley Collections, this selection of six films demonstrates the sustained and diverse engagement with Shakespeare that has inspired filmmakers around the world for nearly a century.

Additional Shakespeare on the Global Silver Screen films:

March 9: Throne of Blood

April 13: Chimes at Midnight

May 4: Omkara

Generously supported by the Davis Museum Film Program Gift, and co-hosted by the Cinema and Media Studies and English departments.

Learn more here.