Richard Burton's Hamlet Comes to the Web Exclusively On Ampex Internet Video Affiliate AENTV.com
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 1999--Audiences around the world will have a chance to watch the 1964 film of Richard Burton's legendary Broadway performance of Hamlet. Burton won a Tony for this performance on Broadway that was directed by Sir John Gielgud and produced by Alexander H. Cohen. The play ran for 17 weeks at the Lunt Fontaine Theatre in New York City to immense critical praise and completely sold-out performances.
To many fans of Shakespeare and critics alike, Burton's Hamlet is considered the quintessential performance of the William Shakespeare classic. Other members of the cast were Hume Cronyn, Alfred Drake, George Rose, Linda Marsh, John Cullen, Barnard Hughes and Eileen Herlie.
A total of fifteen cameras were used over a two-night period during the last days of the Broadway presentation to capture the live performances. The film was then released in the U.S. for a two-day period, after which Burton ordered all prints be destroyed. However when Burton's widow, Sally, cleaned out the cellar of their chalet in Switzerland five years ago, she discovered three rusty cans containing the only existing print.
The three-hour on-demand streaming video Internet presentation of Richard Burton's Hamlet on the Alternative Entertainment Network aentv.com, will mark the exclusive worldwide broadcast of the filmed masterpiece. Drew Cummings, President & CEO of AENTV says, "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to bring Richard Burton's Hamlet to the Internet using on-demand streaming video technology. This is the Internet at its best
- unique content that can't be found on television or cable." Hamlet has been restored and digitally mastered for superb audio and video.
"I am thrilled that students and lovers of Shakespeare will have the opportunity to see this memorable performance on the Internet," said Sally Burton.
The digitally restored Hamlet will be streamed exclusively on the Alternative Entertainment Network, www.aentv.com, from March 19, 1999, in celebration of the 71st Annual Academy Awards Ceremony. Shakespeare in Love received more nominations than any other film, as well as Best Picture for l998.
Broadcasting and Cable Magazine recently named AENTV, along with ABC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, & MTV as one of the ten great video sites on the Internet. The Alternative Entertainment Network is an affiliate of digital video leader Ampex Corporation (Amex:AXC). |
