By no means should this be a Shakespeare-lover's favourite adaptation of Hamlet. Perhaps most notable is the lack of dialogue (or many intertitles) in what seemingly appears a relatively static film which may be off-putting for modern audiences (the artistic ambitions of the 1921 version might possibly account for that silent version's comparative popularity?). Furthermore, the acting is melodramatic even for the silent era, and the pacing would be wrong in any era.
Despite this, it must be remembered that this was one of the first feature length British films, and one of the first feature length film adaptations of Shakespeare. Viewed in context, this contains ambitious set pieces, cinematography, and special effects which can only be admired given the lack of experience of the British film industry at that time. It still does not stand up entirely well when compared with the more confident British film A Message from Mars (1913), or Italian epics L'Inferno (1911) and Cabiria (1914), all other underrated entries of the early 1910's. Nevertheless, it shows a similar level of determination to provide something which at the time would have been genuinely innovative and exciting, and, for the most part, that still shows.
As an adaptation of Shakespeare, it is lacking. As a piece of film history, however, it has been criminally overlooked.
Despite this, it must be remembered that this was one of the first feature length British films, and one of the first feature length film adaptations of Shakespeare. Viewed in context, this contains ambitious set pieces, cinematography, and special effects which can only be admired given the lack of experience of the British film industry at that time. It still does not stand up entirely well when compared with the more confident British film A Message from Mars (1913), or Italian epics L'Inferno (1911) and Cabiria (1914), all other underrated entries of the early 1910's. Nevertheless, it shows a similar level of determination to provide something which at the time would have been genuinely innovative and exciting, and, for the most part, that still shows.
As an adaptation of Shakespeare, it is lacking. As a piece of film history, however, it has been criminally overlooked.