Product Description

Dubbed the greatest actor of the twentieth century, Sir Laurence Olivier, the classically trained and majestically handsome English theater veteran, first transplanted his passion for Shakespeare to the big screen in the 1940s, and in so doing, allowed Elizabethan verse to break free of its stage-bound origins. Olivier directed only five films in his sixty-year career, yet his three Shakespeare adaptations (Henry V, Hamlet, Richard III), presented here together on DVD for the first time, are still widely considered the definitive film adaptations. Faithful to the playwright’s words yet open to the unique possibilities of the cinema, these works transcend both screen and stage with timeless passion. Criterion is proud to present this unprecedented filmmaking legacy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41275 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2006-08-01
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 448 minutes

Customer Reviews

THREE GREAT MOMENTS... OLIVIER... SHAKESPEARE... CRITERION...
Basically, these are three great Criterion Editions boxed together - which gives it a nice sense of continuity between these films.

HAMLET is, perhaps, Shakespeare most widely known and popular work. And Olivier gives it the film performance to which all others are compared. Period. And it is a great film with a striking cinematography and (naturaly) a great cast. A classic. Criterion, as always, does a fine job in terms of image and sound... although this disc has no extras.

RICHARD III tells the story of the evil duke of gloucester and his murderous machinations to get the throne of England. Another great performance. Great Technicolor cinematography. Here, Criterion gives us a two-disc edition full of nice extras: an Olivier interview, a featurette, etc.

HENRY V is another tour de force as the king who must battle all odds in order to achieve the greatest victory. The Agincourt battle scenes are a wow!!! Another Tecnicolor triumph.

So, here you have three great Shakespeare adaptation at a better price (you can buy the separately) by Criterion.

I say look no further.

Classic, Criterion, Olivier, brilliance.
1. Criterion; enough said. 2. Five stars for shelling these three classics together. 3. Laurence Olivier is one of the most captivating and most talented actors to ever grace the craft. His honing and mastering of timing, process and realism is bar none compared to the actors of this day and age as a whole. He was masterfully involved in every facet of a production. 4. Clearly 'Henry V' is his shining tour de force, although the majority will say it was 'Hamlet'. A Classics teacher I had once freshman year, a true inspiration of a hero, said "Olivier is the crowning jewel of a lost empty space." Olivier's Henry V unchains Shakespeare from most Elizabethan limits. He commands the performance with mobility and tenderness, yet brings Shakespeares poetry into a new light. He masterfully illuminates the complete package. I remember seeing Olivier play Master Nikodemus in Zeff's potrayal of the life of Christ in 'Jesus of Nazereth', (I am forever the agnostic, but Zeff's film was mesmorizing) and even there, even there in that simple tiny, forgotten role, we see that illumination at first hand. A gentle hovering spirit that soared to the very upper echelon of his profession. Thank you Criterion for understanding majestic raw talent, pinnacle acting and directing from a superstar, in which the likes of will surely not be matched for some time, if ever. Thanks Ken

The best of Olivier
This wonderful set has Laurence Olivier's best Shakespeare movies-- Henry V, Hamlet, and Richard III. I enjoyed all three of them, although Richard III was perhaps the best with a gentle man like Olivier playing a villain! Such a great actor in versatile roles. Henry V was fine interpretation of an historical play with Olivier as both actor and director. I thought he was also very good as Hamlet in creating the melancholic personality of the character. By all means get this set if you love Shakespeare and Olivier's acting. It is much less expensive than the BBC sets of Shakespeare, and the acting is just as good if not better. Olivier's King Lear and Othello are available on separate DVD's if you wish to watch more great acting.