Hamlet fragment, Sir Derek Jacobi

this is one of my favourite parts from the play. a fragment from Act V scene 2. while talking to his servant and friend, Horatio, prince Hamlet receives the news about the duel that should take place between him and Leartes.
the fragment is a very good example of Shakespeare's satirical speech.
the news bearer, poor Osric is disarmed by Hamlet's biting irony. no need to mention DJ's great performance even in this small episode.

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[catharinacameron]

Just to correct a small mistake.

Hamlet IS based on a real person. A prince of Denmark, but Shakespeare changed the name a little. The real prince's name was Amled.

[naly202]

what you're saying is very interesting. where did you get this info from?

thks for he comment. very useful.

[catharinacameron]

I have the danish verison of Shakespeare's collected dramas, and the information before the play (Hamlet), tells how Skaespeare got hold of a book where there was a telling of a danish prince called Amled. This story is from a book about Danish history that a danish publishing company (Saxo) wrote around the year 1200.

So it's based on a real person :)

[naly202]

ok. thanks so much.

[tuxguys]

I saw this on PBS almost 30 years ago, and was stunned. I'd never seen Shakespeare played as tif the actors were saying the lines as though they were just occurring to them, on the spot; since this production, I have never settled for anything less. (Jacobi is, for my money, one of the dozen or so best actors alive.)

[rosapurpurea]

He's so beautiful and passionate...I love this scene...a clear proof of how he can mould his voice to every purpose, fantastic!

[msm2you]

Sir Derek is a the one man who would make me wish I was male and gay. Dear G-D the man is 72 and is still as handsome as ever.

[parisad]

I really like the guy paying Horatio: strong and submissive at the same time. Very good job in a part often underrated, maye the best Horation I've ever seen on a Hamlet movie. But all the movie is great: jacobi is absolutely perfect.

[rem2267]

@Jennytheshipper -- agreed. In high school, I once made the mistake of calling him (something along the lines of) "such a toady, that I can't believe he's not a green high-jumper with warts about to spring up any day now, and a long, sticky tongue." The class laughed, but my teacher remained unmoved. Oh well. I still got an "A" for the class, and was exempt from having to take the English final exam. Long live The Bard! Huzzah!

[tuxguys]

Actually, there was a real Prince Amleth (look it up) in the history fo Denmark, who inspired much of this play. ("Amleth" is not a missplelling.)

[metteholm75]

Osric is not really a "Yes-man". He is ambitious and wants to get along with his betters, probably in order to be able to howl with the big dogs one day, - and he is clearly irritated an uncomfortable with the way Hamlet is mocking him.

[metteholm75]

Amled really means "a man from Jutland", I have been told.

[Jennytheshipper]

Act V, Scene 2

Osric is the ultimate "yes-man."