Hamlet and Guildenstern's belongings and replaced it with a forged copy indicating that his former friends should be killed instead. A foppish courtier, Osric, interrupts the conversation to deliver the fencing challenge to Hamlet. Hamlet, despite Horatio's pleas, accepts it. Hamlet does well at first, leading the match by two hits to none, and Gertrude raises a toast to him using the poisoned glass of wine Claudius had set aside for Hamlet. Claudius tries to stop her, but is too late: she drinks, and Laertes realizes the plot will be revealed. Laertes slashes Hamlet with his poisoned blade. In the ensuing
Hamlet (1907 film) Méliès also dabbled in Shakespeare in his 1905 film "The Venetian Looking-Glass", which incorporates the character of Shylock from "The Merchant of Venice". However, these earlier films had merely borrowed elements from Shakespearean works; by contrast, Méliès's 1907 version of "Hamlet" was a true Shakespearean adaptation. Méliès himself played Hamlet. Special effects used in the film included multiple exposures. The film was the first multi-scene cinematic adaptation of any work by Shakespeare. Later in 1907, Méliès made his last Shakespearean film, "Shakespeare Writing "Julius Caesar"", in which Méliès played Shakespeare himself. "Hamlet" was released by Méliès's Star Film Company, and