The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. An historic BBC production taped on location in and around Kronborg castle in Elsinore (Denmark), in which the play is set.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Christopher PlummerHamlet | Hamlet |
 Robert ShawClaudius | Claudius |
 Alec ClunesPolonius | Polonius |
 Michael CaineHoratio | Horatio |
| JJune TobinGertrude | Gertrude |
| JJo Maxwell MullerOphelia | Ophelia |
 Roy KinnearGravedigger | Gravedigger |
 Philip LockeOsric | Osric |
 Dyson LovellLaertes | Laertes |
| PPeter ProwseMarcellus | Marcellus |
 David CalderisiRosencrantz | Rosencrantz |
 Bill WallisGuildenstern | Guildenstern |
 Charles CarsonPriest | Priest |
 David SwiftPlayer King | Player King |
 Lindsay KempPlayer Queen | Player Queen |
 Steven BerkoffLucianus | Lucianus |
 Donald SutherlandFortinbras | Fortinbras |
| JJoby BlanshardCaptain | Captain |
| MMichael GoldieBernardo | Bernardo |
 William HobbsPrologue | Prologue |