A Midwinter's Tale is a 1996 romantic comedy directed by Kenneth Branagh. Romantic comedy films are a sub-genre of comedy films as well as of romance films. ... Kenneth Charles Branagh (born December 10, 1960) is a versatile British actor and film director. ...

"A Midwinter's Tale is a comic look at the actor's eternal despair." Beginning with a monologue by out-of-work actor Joe Harper (Michael Maloney) about his slow decline into depression, this film encapsulates the hilarious and heartbreaking struggle of actor vs. situation vs. life, and often vs. each other.

Synopsis

The story is set in Hope, England. It's Christmastime, and 'tis the season to put on Shakespeare's most cheery seasonal play: Hamlet. Joe Harper takes the project on as a Final Stand of sorts under the encouragement of his catty agent, advertising the local newspaper for actors at a low price. From the rabble of actors both strange and untalented, he chooses the following: Hope is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, in England. ... The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a tragedy by William Shakespeare and one of his most well-known and oft-quoted plays. ...

Hamlet: Joe Harper himself. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a tragedy by William Shakespeare and one of his most well-known and oft-quoted plays. ...

Ophelia: Nina Raymond, a shortsighted well-meaning space cadet who has been using low-calorie mayonnaise for lotion because she can't make out the label. Mikhail Vrubel Hamlet and Ophelia, 1883 Ophelia is the submissive daughter of Polonius, a chief advisor to the new King Claudius, in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. ...

King Claudius: Henry Wakefield, a long-suffering and cynical old Englishman with a sharp tongue and a list of prejudices five miles long, forced to room with Queen Gertrude's player. Claudius is a character from William Shakespeares play Hamlet Claudius is brother to King Hamlet, second husband to Gertrude and uncle to Hamlet. ...

Queen Gertrude: Terry DuBois, a flamboyantly gay theatrical actor with a preoccupation for costume and an estranged son.

Laertes, Fortinbras, and various: Tom Newman, an uptight, self-righteous character who foists his values on everyone else and attempts to distinguish his many characters with a variety of outrageous accents. Laertes is a character from William Shakespeares play, Hamlet. ... Fortinbras is a minor fictional character from William Shakespeares tragedy Hamlet. ...

Horatio, Bernardo: Not-so-subtle Carnford Greville, an alcoholic in denial and a kindly bachelor with no memory for lines whatsoever. Horatio is Hamlets constant friend in William Shakespeares play. ...

Polonius, Marcellus, and the First Gravedigger: Vernon Spatch, the ambitious techie's techie, self-imposed marketing director, and unofficial documentarian of the proceedings. Polonius is a character from William Shakespeares Hamlet. ... The name Marcellus may refer to: People Marcus Claudius Marcellus (c. ...

Set Designer: Fadge, just Fadge, specializing in new-age art and obscure statements about "air," "space," and "fog." Close friends call her "Fa".

Trivia

• Kenneth Branagh wrote many of the roles in the film for specific actors.