Best Picture 1948

The reputation of Laurence Olivier as a stage actor and director cannot be questioned. His representations of William Shakespeare's work is probably the most lauded stagework of the 20th Century.

Film is another medium though, and personally I find his work very staged, unambitious and far too bound to the text. These criticisms can be levelled at Hamlet, but, while the film suffers these very crutches, the atmosphere and interaction between the fine cast makes up for it. Which is entirely necessary in light of the two and half hour running time, that does outstay it's welcome. For example, is the plot involving the travelling performers essential. A lot has changed between the first production of Hamlet and 1948 and great adaptation sometimes depends on the ability to cut and actually adapt.

What I ultimately came out think though was the reason for the film to be made. Was Olivier committing to celluloid what future generations wouldn't be able to see (in which case his ego could overshadow the achievement) or were his intentions more honourable? Judging from this film alone, it is possible only to speculate.

Other nominees of 1948:

Johnny Belinda
The Red Shoes
The Snake Pit
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Worthy winner?
No - Both the achievement of The Red Shoes and The Treasure of Sierra Madre are more impressive. Powell and Pressburger's opus is a masterwork in passion, obsession and dedication and Huston's coiled and explosive film is one of great excitement and the spiralling madness of, again, obsession. I'm afraid the Academy got it wrong this year.