Hamlet...1948

First off, the lighting and the black and white helped to create a dreary mode for the whole movie, giving it the appearance of a tragedy.  Also, the kissing scenes between Hamlet and his mother were quite awkward.....

"Frailty, thy name is woman."  The 1948 version of adaptation of Hamlet stayed close to the text.  However, I disagree that frailty is always a feminine attribute.  Ophelia is physically presented as a little girl with braids in the movie adaptation, going along with the presentations of many of her a good little girl, always obedient to the will of the men in her life.  When her father tells her not to spend time with Hamlet or to think of Hamlet, she simply listens to her father and obliges to follow his command.  This is only because her father does not give her a chance to choose.  Right after getting the command, she goes off and begins to think upon the wonderful Hamlet who has written her a love note, but her dad immediately appears and tells her to stop.

Hamlet visits Ophelia.  He is obviously flustered.  Hamlet grabs Ophelia and holds her hard, but then he holds her at arm's length.  Hamlet attacks her emotions for him, sending her mixed messages of his own love.  He tells her that he has never loved her.  Any person who was so emotionally tossed around by men her whole life would certainly have issues with her own feelings.  People rely on their family and friends as a constant for them of love and support.  Instead, Ophelia's father tells Hamlet's parents that Hamlet is mad and shows Hamlet's love letter for Ophelia.  They concoct a plan to show Hamlet at his worst, displaying his contrast of feelings for Ophelia.  She returns a favor he gave her.  Hamlet then begins to say that he loved her once, but that she should not have believed him.  He commands her to go to a nunnery.  The way Hamlet talks to her is violent and commanding.  He pushes Ophelia roughly, says that there should be no more marriages, and leaves her crying on the floor after kissing her hand.  Then Hamlet's uncle and Ophelia's dad appear from behind the curtain.  Not even caring about her feelings, they go on with their plans to destroy Hamlet.  The end of part 1 has Ophelia lying on the the stairs, looking up into the distance while sobbing.  The camera ascends up the stairs like Ophelia is watching it.

Part 2 begins with a distressed Hamlet on the ground in a similar position.  He is looking up too, but Hamlet is looking at the camera, his father's ghost.  It was very interesting how the camera sometimes played the part of the ghost.  This effect made it seem like the father was watching the action of the characters unfold.

In one scene, you see some water, and then you suddenly hear Ophelia screaming.  The sound of her scream was used effectively to catch the viewer's attention.  The camera then comes to her, and you see her freaking out.  Ophelia has reached her limit of pressure, and see begins to show signs of madness.  They do a good job portraying her instability.  Ophelia begins to ramble, randomly sings, and wanders the halls, asking others to sing with her.  She then gives flowers of remembrance to Hamlet's mother and uncle and to her brother.  Ophelia keeps a few flowers for herself, says "God be with you." as she leaves, and leaves Hamlet's place.  You can see her trying to make that final connection that those close to suicide tend to make, remember me.  Even that last cry for help does not solicit a reaction from those she reached out to.  The next thing you see is Ophelia singing as she floats down the river, and then she drowns.  Singing is a source of comfort.  Ophelia uses this to allow her to follow through with the decision she has made.  Ophelia was not frail, but she was pushed to the point where only her frail persona remained.  She could no longer keep up the facade to keep everyone happy but herself.