Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1990)
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Two minor characters from Hamlet find themselves navigating the surreal hazards of fate and existence while traveling to Elsinore Castle.
The story
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, travel on horseback to Elsinore Castle at the behest of the King of Denmark. Along the way, they encounter a traveling troupe of tragedians and begin to ponder the meaning of their existence and the nature of reality. Upon arriving at the castle, they are tasked by the royal couple to discern the cause of Prince Hamlet's gloomy state. The two men find themselves wandering the castle, attempting to understand the unfolding drama by eavesdropping on the action and navigating the futile hazards of daily life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they travel to Elsinore, contemplating fate and language. After meeting a troupe of tragedians, they are transported into the action of Hamlet. They are asked by the Danish royal couple to help find a cure for Prince Hamlet's gloomy state. They spend their time wandering the castle, eavesdropping on the play's events. The narrative alternates between the Shakespearean drama when the two are 'on stage' and their own futile daily lives elsewhere. They even interact with events like the death of Polonius from 'behind the scenes.' Later, the theatre troupe returns to perform at court, and the lead Player explains the logic of plot-staging. Ultimately, the duo is sent to England. On the ship, they discover a letter ordering Hamlet's death but decide to pretend they never saw it. Hamlet overhears them, steals the letter, and escapes on a pirate ship. Unaware that Hamlet replaced the letter, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are eventually sentenced to death by the Player. Guildenstern tries to fight destiny by stabbing the Player, only to realize the weapon is a theatrical prop. After the deaths of Ophelia, Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are hanged. The film ends with the English Ambassador announcing their deaths.
- First release year
- 1990
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tom Stoppard
- Writers
- Tom Stoppard · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Gary Oldman · Rosencrantz; Tim Roth · Guildenstern; Richard Dreyfuss · the leading player; Iain Glen · Hamlet; Ian Richardson · Polonius; Joanna Miles · Gertrude; Donald Sumpter · King Claudius
- Genres
- period; black comedy
- Themes
- Fate; Existence; Reality vs. Fiction; Memory; Language
- Tone and mood
- Black comedy; Period; Metafictional
- Premise and plot tags
- Based on a play; Hamlet adaptation; Metafiction; Comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard (based on Hamlet by William Shakespeare)
- Reception
- Critical reaction tended towards the positive, though some critics felt the material was better suited to the stage than the screen. It received a 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 45/100 on Metacritic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 61% · review count: 31
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Lion · Venice International Film Festival · 47th · Won
- Production trivia
- Daniel Day-Lewis was originally cast as Guildenstern but declined due to stress.; The film was Tom Stoppard's only film as a director.; The film was filmed around Zagreb, Croatia, and in Brežice Castle, Slovenia.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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