The King of Denmark suddenly dies and is succeeded by his brother Claudius, who hastily takes the kings widow (and Prince Hamlets mother) as his bride. Hamlet the kings son and rightful heir believes his father was murdered by Claudius in a plot with his mother to seize the throne. Hamlet swears to avenge his fathers death after a ghostly revelation, where it is revealed that his suspicions are correct. William Shakespeares play of murder and mystery set within the royal house of Denmark; in this classic film adaptation from 1948.