Silent Movie Series: Hamlet

Each season The Washington Center presents a Silent Movie Series curated by our own house organist Dennis James. Mr. James provides live musical accompaniment on our historic Mighty Andy Crow Wurlitzer Organ—a treasure restored from 1924.

This radical 1921 interpretation, starring Danish actor Asta Nielsen, casts Hamlet as a female character—a princess forced to masquerade as a man by her scheming mother. This gender-swapping sets the stage for an exciting re-imagining of the play, with Hamlet secretly in love with Horatio and rivaling Ophelia for his love. The New York Times said this film, “holds a secure place in class with the best.” This performance will also feature Michael Tsalka on fortepiano and harpsichord, and Melissa Plagemann, a Mezzo-Soprano vocalist.